Share

Racism 'ingrained' in Spain

Rio De Janeiro - Brazil right back Daniel Alves has been the victim of racism throughout his time in Spain with Barcelona, he said in an interview published on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old described how he had been called a "monkey" by fans of Barca's rivals at many grounds in Spain.

"Sadly, I've learnt to live with it," he told the Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo while preparing for Brazil's friendly against France in Paris on Wednesday.

"I live with it in all the matches but I don't feel offended. They insult me, they call me monkey," said Alves, who has established himself as one of Barcelona's key players since joining them from Sevilla in 2008.

"The fans do it, the players are against it ... My family are unhappy, they complain but I try to distance myself from it. I consider those people uneducated and don't give them importance."

Alves, from a poor background in the northeastern interior of Brazil, said that despite the efforts of La Liga to sanction fans for racist behaviour, racism "is uncontrollable. It will never stop".

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE