Balde says he's suffered racism, but not in football

BeSoccer 2 years ago 471
Balde says he's suffered racism on the street. EFE

While being intereview for 'GQ', Alejandro Balde said he has suffered racist abuse on the street, despite saying that, in his somewhat short career to date, has has not suffered the same thing on a football pitch.

Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde, who has really come through this season, spoke to 'GQ', and was asked about racism in football after what happened with Vinicius last week.

The youngster denied having suffered anything similar on a football pitch, but he said he had on the street: "In the footballing world, I've not had any problem with racism, but I have on the street. My family and myself".

"When I was younger, I remebering wanting to play a game in a park and the kids said to my brother and I that their families didn't let them play with black people. My parents have had problems getting jobs because of their skin colour. My brother has been stopped and asked for ID for no reason. They ask you 'What are you doing here?' just because you're black", Balde said, who has Dominican ancestory.

After recounting those shocking events, he was questioned about how it can be solved in football, and he has ideas of concrete measures he would take: "When the first racist insult is noted, the game should be stopped and it shouldn't be replayed. That would make people stop doing it. On the street it's harder to prevent, but in football something big can be done".

Mentioned in the news story

Barcelona
Álex Balde