Eto'o: Spanish fans would not tolerate black ref

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o believes the problem of racism in Spanish football has escalated to the extent that authorities could never appoint a black referee as fans “would kill him”.

The Cameroon international, who has retained his title as African Footballer of the year, spoke out ahead of Tuesday’s Tsunami charity match after another weekend of La Liga action tainted by racist chanting.

When asked whether a black referee could ever take charge of a Primera Liga game, Eto’o said: “What? A referee here like the black referees in England? If one arrived here, then they would kill him.

“Referees are all hated and seen in a bad light and if on top of this they were black, then you can guess what would happen.”

Eto’o, not for the first time this season, was on the receiving end of abuse on Saturday after monkey taunts reverberated around Real Zaragoza’s La Romareda stadium following his goal in Barca’s 4-1 win.

The 17-goal striker, who was also abused during Barca’s game at Albacete earlier in the season, responded by mimicking a monkey.

“People paid for their tickets to see a monkey and so I did it. I am an actor on the pitch, and they paid to see me,” Eto’o said.

“Each time that this happens then I will do it, the referee did not respond as the one in Albacete but everyone interprets it in their own way.”

Racist chanting has been prevalent at a number of matches in the Primera Liga this season and the situation came to the attention of a greater audience when England internationals Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole were abused during November’s friendly between Spain and England at the Bernabeu in Madrid.

Eto’o initially believed the renewed racist activity would die off but it appears to have escalated and he is worried about the implications it will have for black people in Spanish society.

“If this kind of thing is hurtful to me, then imagine what it is like for blacks in the street – it is a lot worse,” he said. “If for me they shout, then for them they kill.

“I do not know what will happen if this continues. I don’t know what can happen when my son goes to college here, it is a very serious topic.

“When I first heard these shouts, I thought it was just a passing trend but the reality is that it is gaining a lot of weight and this is sad.

“Everyone in the football world, including journalists, is in the same boat and we must all work together to give the right message.”

Eto’o also agreed with comments made by Manchester United’s Gary Neville that Nike’s current anti-racist campaign is nothing more than a publicity stunt.

“The advertising against racism is good and I am grateful for it but in the end it is all about money, we do the filming and then they sell the name,” Eto’o said.