23.02.2007 11:56
Thuram, against racism in football
On Thursday Lillian Thuram was a participant in an event to discuss racism in football stadiums. The player was critical of people in stadiums who discriminate against players because of the colour of their skin.
L’Institut Francès de Barcelona was the venue for the meeting of a number of personalities
related to the world of football to speak about racist activities inside football stadiums. The
event was organised in collaboration with the Fundació del FC Barcelona. Participating were Barça
player Lillian Thuram along with journalist Marius Carol, the director of the foundation Lander
Unzueta and French sociologist Michel Wierviorka.
A minority
Thuram acknowledged, “those who shout racist slogans in the stadiums are a minority.
That’s true in both Spain and Italy where the problem is worse, although they are still a
minority”. In the face of such behaviour the Barça defender believes that “we must
learn from what they have achieved in the United Kingdom regarding the eradication of violence from
stadiums”.
Barça, an example
During the debate, the Frenchman praised the achievements of FC Barcelona in aiding the
integration of immigrants and footballers: “Football is a factor in integration into society.
For children to have a coloured idol such as Ronaldinho and Eto’o helps them to grow up
having learned about the values of equality”. Since his arrival at Barça, Thuram has never
felt discriminated against due to the colour of his skin.