Kevin-Prince Boateng has claimed that 'nothing has changed' in football to tackle racism after Brescia's Mario Balotelli walked off the pitch after receiving racial abuse at the weekend.
The Fiorentina midfielder reflected on his own experience with racist abuse by posting a video on Twitter which shows him walking off while playing for AC Milan almost seven years ago - and he has now called for unity over discrimination.
Brescia away game at Verona on Sunday was marred by reports of racist chants by the home supporters aimed at ex-Man City star Balotelli, who booted the ball into a section of the crowd where he could hear the abuse.
He then left the field of play before being convinced to carry on by his team-mates, and he went on to score late on.
In Boateng's post, his video was accompanied by a message saying that nothing has changed to stop racist chants from fans in football despite his own episode taking place several years prior.
He wrote: '6 years later NOTHING has changed but we don’t give up! Let’s keep fighting ALL TOGETHER against racism! #NOTORACISM'
The clip shows a similar situation to Balotelli's, where Boateng is dribbling in the attacking third in a friendly against Pro Patria in January 2013, before quickly picking up the ball and punting it into the stands after the chants were aimed at him.
He has an angry altercation with a groups of fans as players try to reassure him, but the former Spurs and Portsmouth star walks away and takes off his shirt before making his way off the pitch.
The video ended with an image of Balotelli, showing solidarity towards the player.
At the time of Boateng's clash with fans, campaigners had hoped his walk-off would be a defining moment in the battle against racism, but clearly there is still work to be done after a number of reports of abuse aimed at players recently.
England's game in Bulgaria last month was marred by monkey chants from a group of home fans, with Gareth Southgate's men almost walking off in protest.
And in the Premier League this weekend, Heung-min Son was allegedly targeted by Everton supporters after he was sent off for a tackle on Andre Gomes.
NPP Performance Tracker prioritise toilets over substantive infrastructure dev’t...
Ghana, other election bound-countries must build fiscal buffers – IMF admonishes
Parliament reconvenes late May, denies Speaker Bagbin delaying recall over NDC t...
$100m needed to revitalise Ghana's poultry sector — GNAPF
Driver arrested for causing train collision on Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line
Police grab trucker for Tema-Mpakadan rail accident
Gov't plans to revise traditional customs following Gborbu child marriage
Franklin Cudjoe fumes at unaccountable wasteful executive living large at the ex...
I'll 'stoop too low' for votes; I'm never moved by your propaganda — Oquaye Jnr ...
Kumasi Thermal Plant commissioning: I pray God opens the eyes of leaders who don...
