Sayeh called a ‘black bastard’, but ‘things are getting better’

Paul Keane Westmeath defender Boidu Sayeh has revealed he’s been called a ‘black bastard while playing, but didn’t take it personally and he believes the issue of racism in the game is improving.

Westmeath defender Boidu Sayeh has revealed he’s been called a ‘black bastard while playing, but didn’t take it personally and he believes the issue of racism in the game is improving.

The corner-back, who could be promoted with Westmeath to Division 2 of the Allianz League this weekend, arrived in Ireland from war-torn Liberia in 2004. His first experience of a GAA match was to attend the drawn Leinster final of 2004 between Westmeath and Laois, though he initially impressed at soccer. He quickly excelled at Gaelic games and has come up through the ranks with Westmeath, emerging as one of the first black players to compete at senior county level. He acknowledged he had experienced racial abuse as a GAA player.