Henry makes anti-racism stand at awards ceremony

Thierry Henry chose a blazing red Che Guevara T-shirt and a black-and-white wristband for his appearance at FIFA’s world player of the year awards gala to make a point about racism in football.

Arsenal’s French striker wore a smart dark suit when he came to the event a year ago but he chose a revolutionary outfit in Zurich tonight, including a new bracelet to highlight an anti-racist campaign.

Henry said: “The wristband is just about racism. The players can not do very much when they are on the pitch, but this is a symbol of how we feel, it is part of a campaign.

“Perhaps we can help to make the public do something. I know it is difficult, but if we can stop it for an hour and a half at every match, if we can get fans to stand up and speak out, that is something good. That can be a victory.

“Maybe we cannot change the mentality of these people, but we can have a victory for an hour and a half each week at least. That is why I am wearing the bracelet – to help people be aware. It is a symbol of what we do.”

Henry said he chose the T-shirt because he has been reading the diaries written by Guevara, the Argentinian who helped bring about the revolution in Cuba.

“He is a man that I admire for what he did and I have been reading his books - as simple as that.”