Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 18:32
| Updated 7:48 p.m.
Another embarrassing episode of racism in football. The last player attacked is <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2023/07/athletic-signs-a-liverpool-footballer/" title="Athletic signs a Liverpool footballer”>Elijah Gift, a member of Athletic. The winger has suffered a xenophobic insult at the conclusion of a friendly between Romania and Spain at the under-19 level. The red and white man accused him of throwing it at a young man from the rival team, and pointed him out in front of everyone. Federal sources consulted by EL CORREO indicate that the contempt he threw at him was in English. It could have been “nigga”, an expression that can be translated as “black” and is considered a clear racial insult.
Gift’s reaction was immediate. While the players gathered in the center of the field to greet each other after the end was signaled, the attacker, visibly affected, decided to ask his attacker for an explanation.
A small brawl broke out and his companions tried to prevent him from reaching the person who had insulted him. Even so, he had the opportunity to reach him and give him a push before some of the Spanish footballers pushed him away.
They then consoled him with members of the coaching staff. In that emotional moment some tears were removed from her face. Still outraged, the player pointed at the alleged perpetrator of the racist attack.
Gift’s companions closed ranks with him. The wave of solidarity was started by Marc Guiu, a Chelsea player trained in the Barcelona youth team and one of the ‘heavy weights’ of the locker room. The attacker uploaded a message to Instagram in which he stated in English: “There is no room for racism in football. I respect. God is with good people.
Guiu’s message was shared by Gift, which confirmed that there was a racist attack. Other colleagues and witnesses such as Dani Díaz, Alejandro Granados, Óscar Marcos and Pablo López also did so.
The Spanish Federation reacted immediately. “Our player Elijah Gift has suffered a racist incident in Spain-Romania,” he denounces before warning: “We strongly condemn any type of discriminatory attitudes in the world of football and we send all our support to Elijah.” Athletic also joined in supporting the player. «Zero tolerance for racism. Zurekin gaude, Elijah!
Born in Corella (Navarra), Gift came to Athletic from Liverpool, a club to which Athletic paid 1.5 million euros in the summer of 2023, according to the report from last season. He plays for Basconia in the Tercera, with whom he has played four games this season and scored a goal. In addition, he has played two other matches with a goal with Athletic under-23 in the Premier League International Cup. The duel in which he received the racist attack was the third in which he played with Spain under-19.
