Richarlison calls for punishment after banana incident

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Ghana - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - September 23, 2022 Brazil's Richarlison REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Richarlison responded angrily on Wednesday to racist abuse
after he scored as Brazil thrashed Tunisia in a friendly in Paris.
"As long as you continue to 'blah blah blah' and don't
punish, it will continue like this, happening every day and in every corner. No
time left, man!" he tweeted in Portuguese.
Richarlison was pelted with objects from the stands after
putting Brazil ahead for the second time in the 5-1 win at Parc des Princes on
Tuesday.
The Tottenham forward celebrated in front of the Tunisian
supporters, who responded by throwing a banana and plastic cups in his
direction.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) said later on
Wednesday that it "strongly condemns" any racist act in stadiums but
added it was not certain a Tunisia fan had thrown the banana.
Brazil midfielder Fred kicked the banana off the pitch,
before extra security guards took up residence on the side of the field.
"Unfortunately... a banana was thrown on the pitch
towards Richarlison, scorer of the second Brazilian goal," the Brazilian
football confederation (CBF) said on Twitter, including a photograph of the
banana lying by the touchline.
"The CBF reinforces its position to combat racism and
repudiates any prejudiced act."
Another Brazil scorer, Pedro responded to more boos and
missiles from the crowd by bowing in front of them in celebration.
"It's a shame, it's difficult to see images like
that," said Brazil captain Thiago Silva, whose team posed for a team photo
before the match with a banner bearing an anti-racism message.
"Unfortunately it seems that we can't change people's
mentality.
"I hope they will realise that this doesn't work, it's
the past, we have to change. Unfortunately, people continue with this
mentality."
In its statement, the FTF stressed, that "the
overwhelming majority" of Tunisian fans at the match had behaved in an
"exemplary manner" and that it was not possible to say whether the
person who threw the banana was a Tunisian fan.
"We strongly condemn any racist act that would occur in
any stadium in the world, and if the author of the banana throw were to be
identified as Tunisian, we would apologise on his behalf and on behalf of all
Tunisians present at the stadium," said the statement.
The scene for a bad-tempered match was set when the vast
numbers of Tunisia fans jeered the Brazilian national anthem before kick-off.
"I was puzzled, I was saying 'No, it's a lack of
respect'. Football is a sport that promotes inclusion," said Brazil coach
Tite.
The match was also briefly interrupted in the first half
following the use of laser pointers aimed at the players.
Earlier this month, another Brazil star Vinicius Junior, was
the target of racist chants when Real Madrid visited neighbours Atletico
Madrid. Spanish prosecutors have opened an investigation.
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