Incident of Racial Abuse
Weston McKennie, a midfielder for the United States men’s national soccer team, faced a troubling incident of racial abuse following Juventus’ 2-0 victory over Parma in their Serie A season opener. The Italian football club acknowledged the situation in a statement released on their social media channels on Sunday.
They reported that while McKennie was on the field performing warm-down exercises with his teammates, he was subjected to “discriminatory racist remarks” from certain individuals situated in the away section of the stadium.
Juventus’ Response
In response, Juventus expressed strong disapproval of the behavior, emphasizing their commitment to combating racism within sports. The club stated their intention to work closely with sporting authorities to help identify the individuals responsible for this abhorrent conduct.
Context of Racism in Football
McKennie, who has been a player for Juventus since 2020, made a late appearance as a substitute during the match held in Turin, where notable Canadian striker Jonathan David also made headlines by scoring in his debut for the team.
The incident comes against the backdrop of ongoing concerns about racism in football, especially in Europe. Earlier this year, Fiorentina faced repercussions after their supporters directed racist slurs at McKennie and other Juventus players, resulting in a suspended partial stadium ban for the club.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently denounced racial abuse in soccer, labeling two separate cases from German Cup matches as “unacceptable.” The continuous pattern of racism in sports has sparked widespread calls for stronger action and accountability.
