Back on 3 January, during a mid-season friendly between Pro Patria and AC Milan, Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng became the target of racist chanting from a section of the home crowd. He reacted by walking off the pitch, with the rest of his team-mates and the AC Milan coaching staff following in support. This powerful statement caught the attention of football.

Upon the invitation of the FIFA President, the AC Milan midfielder visited today the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss issues of discrimination within the game. On the occasion of this meeting, Boateng was invited by President Blatter, and agreed, to join the newly created FIFA Task Force against Racism and Discrimination.

The meeting was also the occasion for Blatter and Boateng to discuss the measures that should be taken to eradicate racism from the game. "We have to work in two directions”, said the FIFA President. "First education, and for that FIFA has a fantastic network through its 209 member associations and its developments and grassroots programs. We need to repeat systematically this same message. But besides that, we also need to have sanctions. Pecuniary sanctions are not enough. We have to deduct points or even eliminate teams from a competition. It’s hard, not everybody is going to agree, but it’s the only way to threaten and stop those that create trouble”.

Following the meeting, Kevin-Prince Boateng spoke exclusively to FIFA.com.

To read the full interview please visit FIFA.com, direct link:

Source: FIFA Media

 

Somali football Media Department

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