Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
BRAZILIAN superstar Vinicius Jnr was the talk of the world of football yesterday after reports that he was racially abused by Benfica’s Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni.
The UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for 10 minutes amid the chaos which followed after Vinicius reported to the referee that he had been racially abused.
Vinicius’ teammate, Kylian Mbappe, has claimed the Argentine forward covered his mouth and called the Brazilian star a monkey FIVE times.
Prestianni, who is only 20, has denied the racism claims but UEFA have opened investigations into the case. In the wake of this explosive case, H-Metro looks back at Zimbabwean footballers who have been racially abused.
Costa Nhamoinesu, March 2016
UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Lazio after the Zimbabwe international was racially abused by the Italian club’s fans in a Europa League match in Prague.
The towering defender was then playing for Czech Republic giants Sparta Prague.
A group of Lazio fans appeared to aim racist chants at Nhamoinesu during the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The referee was forced to briefly stop the match because of the racist chants by the Lazio fans.
The referee then ordered the public announcer to broadcast a warning to some of the visiting fans about the dangers of targeting Nhamoinesu with racial abuse. UEFA said Lazio were cited for their fans’ “racist behaviour” and “illicit chants.” in the Czech capital.
Lazio were ordered to play their UEFA match behind closed doors at Rome’s Stadio Olympico.
Shingi Kawondera, June 2005
In June 2005, some Algerian fans turned on Shingi Kawondera and called him a monkey during a 2006 World Cup/AFCON qualifier in Oran.
He responded to the abuse by scoring and celebrating like a monkey in a match that ended 2-2.
“The fans were making monkey chants to try to unsettle us and that is why I celebrated like a monkey because I was hitting back at them,” he told The Herald.
Marvelous Nakamba, Oct 2019
Aston Villa said they were “disgusted and appalled” by social media footage which appeared to show fans “chanting a racist song” which was in reference to two of their first-team players.
Nakamba was one of the players targeted.
The video following Villa’s 5-1 win at Norwich.
It shows a group of Villa fans singing about Nakamba, and another player, and using several racial stereotypes in their songs.
“Chants of this nature besmirch the good name of Aston Villa Football Club and our fans. If the perpetrators are identified they will be dealt with in the strongest manner by the club and be reported to the police immediately.”
Tendayi Darikwa, September 2014
Darikwa was one of a number of black players who were targeted by racists while he was playing for Chesterfield at Port Vale in 2014.
During his time as Lincoln captain, Darikwa warned that racism was “clearly not going away” in football.
“We need to speak about it even though it can be uncomfortable,” he told the Red Imps Club podcast.
“If it’s happening at Premier League level, you know it can happen all over the country at every level,” Darikwa said.
“It’s sad to see that it’s still in our game.”
Martin Mapisa, April 2022
The goalkeeper was a victim of racist abuse during his time in Spain.
The abuse came when he was on loan at UD Llanera.
He tweeted:
“Sometimes it’s very difficult with our career in a foreign country, we are just trying to make our dreams come true and to make our family and our loved ones happy so that we can have a better and happy life. We just pray for strength and a very good heart.
“Thank you for your encouragement @palenciacristo_.NO TO RACISM.”
Palencia Cristo Atletico, the club whose fans abused Mapisa, apologised to the goalkeeper.
“We want to ask for forgiveness from Martín Mapisa for the incidents last Saturday.
“We ask for co-operation to identify (those) responsible for the deplorable behaviour.
“MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN, #saynotoracism #blacklivesmatters.”
Mathew Masinge