Zoro in tears after fans’ racist insults
ROME: Messina’s African defender Marc Zoro was reduced to tears after being subjected to racial abuse by the visiting fans in Sunday’s Serie A match at home to Inter Milan.
The Cote d’Ivoire international was targeted when he went to collect the ball near the away supporters’ section and after a chorus of monkey chants he decided he would take no more part in the game.
Inter’s Brazilian striker Adriano went over to console Zoro before he broke down in tears.
Zoro’s teammates managed to then persuade him to play the remainder of the match and his decision was applauded by the Messina crowd.
Officials from the Italian football federation talked to Zoro about the incident after the match and the matter is likely to lead to an official enquiry.
Zoro said it was about time the Italian football authorities took a stand against the racists.
“I don’t want to become a celebrity, but I don’t accept it when people come to my home stadium and shout racist insults,” he said.
“I’m used to it when it happens away from home, but not here. These people don’t love the sport and they must understand we are not animals – I want respect.
“They travel many kilometres to come and see their team and then they give me this crap.”
Zoro explained why he decided to stay on the pitch.
“I picked up the ball and went over to the fourth official to try and get him to stop the match, but then I thought I couldn’t end the match this way,” he said.
“It was out of respect for my team and the Inter team that I decided to carry on.”
Last month, in an interview, Zoro said he constantly suffers racial insults.
“I have been playing in Italy for three years and I see this happening almost daily,” the 21-year-old said.
“All this makes me really sad. It’s not easy for me and it hurts. I don’t deserve this.”
On the first day of this season, Zoro was subjected to racial abuse by a large section of Lazio fans at the Olympic Stadium.
His anger almost boiled over at the final whistle and he had to be restrained by his teammates.
Afterwards Lazio president Claudio Lotito went into the Messina dressing room to apologise on behalf of his club.
In other matches on Sunday, Juventus restored their five-point lead after defeating Treviso 3-1.
AC Milan had closed the gap to two points with a last-gasp win over Lecce on Saturday but Juve responded to the pressure with a victory in Turin where they came from a goal down.
Third place Fiorentina's five-match winning run was ended but they managed to salvage a 1-1 draw at Roma while Ascoli drew 1-1 with Palermo and Siena played out a goalless draw with Reggina.
On Saturday at the San Siro, Filippo Inzaghi scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give AC Milan a 2-1 home victory. – AFP
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