Italian rugby has been rocked by a racism controversy after Benetton’s Guinea-born prop, Cherif Traore, revealed that he had acquired a banana within the membership’s Secret Santa.
The 28-year-old, who arrived in Italy on the age of seven and has gained 15 caps within the entrance row for the Azzurri, printed a social media put up which revealed the ugly episode.
He wrote: ‘Christmas is coming and as historically in a staff, it’s Secret Santa time. Yesterday, when it was my flip, I discovered a banana inside my current. A rotten banana inside a bag of moisture.’
Cherif Traore revealed on social media that he had acquired a banana within the membership’s Secret Santa
Traore went on to elucidate that the response of a number of team-mates was a part of what satisfied him to talk out concerning the prejudicial behaviour he had been subjected to, including: ‘Other than calling the gesture offensive, what damage me most was seeing most of my mates current laughing. As if every little thing is regular, I’m used to it or, higher, I’ve needed to get used to it – having to make an excellent face every time I hear racist jokes with the intention to strive to not hate the individuals near me.
‘Fortunately, some comrades, particularly foreigners, tried to assist me. Outdoors Italy, a gesture like that is severely condemned.’
Treviso-based Benetton launched a press release in response to their participant’s public criticism. It learn: ‘Benetton want to reiterate that it has all the time condemned any expression of racism and/or type of discrimination. That isn’t a part of our tradition.’
The 28-year-old arrived in Italy on the age of seven and has gained 15 caps for the Azzurri
There was no point out of any investigation into the occasions or any dedication to establish the perpetrator and punish them.
This half-hearted Benetton response quickly drew fierce criticism as there have been requires significant motion.
Munster and Eire wing Simon Zebo wrote on Twitter, as a reply to Traore’s earlier social-media put up: ‘Identify and disgrace the scumbag. Ought to be out of a job.’
