Inaki Williams receives widespread support after racial abuse Athletic Club Prominent figures voiced their views

Inaki Williams has denounced the racist chants that emanated from of a part of the RCDE Stadium during Athletic Club's away fixture against Espanyol, and he has received plenty of support in the public sphere since the incident.

Athletic's Iker Muniain reported the incident to officials, but they did not immediately respond.

Although Williams defiantly responded to the abuse, the forward appears to have been severly affected by the incident.

Prominent figures in football have since come out in droves to show their support for the player.

In response to the affair Espanyol's board stated made a statement on how they planned to deal with the abuse.

"Espanyol emphatically and explicitly condemn any display of racism on the football pitch.

"The club is already investigating the racist incidents directed by certain fans against Inaki Williams.

"We send our support and stand in solidarity with him."

Athletic Club followed suit with a statement of their own.

"All our support for Williams. Faced with any racist insult, [we show] zero tolerance".

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also chimed in on the matter.

"No. We cannot continue to tolerate this kind of racist behaviour. In football, in sports, we must also educate.

"And we must educate in tolerance and respect. A hug, Williams."

Second Deputy Minister Pablo Iglesias was another who took to social media to denounce racism in football.

"All my support goes to Inaki Williams. Racism has no place in our society.

"The permissiveness of this type of insults compared to others produces misunderstanding and harms the image of our football league."

Williams himself later spoke to the press about the abuse he received.

"I am sad about the draw and because I had racist abuse directed towards me.

"It is something nobody wants to hear and that is totally out of place.

"People have to come to enjoy the match and to help their team. It is a sport of friendship, team spirit and it has been a bit a sad day, because these incidents should not happen, there is no place for them."

LaLiga president Javier Tebas, who also condemned the abuse on social media, has started the usual process of collecting pictures and audio in order to report this situation to the RFEF Competition Committee.

What Espanyol's punishment will be is not yet clear, but it could be anything from a financial penalty, to having to play a match behind closed doors.