May 7 – Sulley Muntari has had his controversial one-match ban for protesting against racist abuse overturned by Italy’s football authorities but says he was “treated like a criminal” for complaining.
Pescara’s former Ghanaian international midfielder was booked during last weekend’s match against Cagliari after he reported the abuse to the referee, then cautioned again and dismissed after walking off the pitch in protest, resulting in a one-game ban.
Now, after having the ban lifted on appeal with the support of the Italian players’ union, Muntari has spoken out over the incident which even prompted a reaction in his favour by the United Nations’ top human rights official.
“I feel that someone has finally listened and heard me,” Muntari said in a statement released by FIFPro, the world players’ union.
“The last few days have been very hard for me. I have felt angry and isolated. I was being treated like a criminal. How could I be punished when I was the victim of racism?
“I hope my case can help so that other footballers do not suffer like me. I hope it can be a turning point in Italy and show the world what it means to stand up for your rights. This is an important victory to send a message that there’s no place for racism in football, or society in general.”
The rescinding of the ban means Muntari can play for Pescara against Crotone this weekend.
FIFPro Division Europe president Bobby Barnes said common sense had prevailed. “Anyone with a sense of justice will look at the situation and see the right thing has been done,” he said. “For the lad to have been racially abused is bad enough but to receive a ban as well because the correct protocol had not been carried out was very unfair, to say the least.”
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