It’s not even been a month since the start of the 2019/20 season and there has already been more than one instance of footballers being subjected to racist abuse, both on and off the pitch.
For example, a few Chelsea fans directed racist abuse towards Tammy Abraham after he missed the penalty kick in the UEFA Super Cup against Liverpool, while Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was also abused on social media platforms after he failed to convert from the spot against Wolves.
AFC Bournemouth’s Joshua King has expressed his disappointment after these incidents.
“Of course, it’s sad. We are in 2019. That is still happening in the world – not just in sports – but in the world, I think it’s sad,” King told Norway’s TV2.
“We are football players. We just have to behave professionally, and I’m pretty sure many people react with anger and aggression. We are football players; we are role models for young children. They see what we do, what we write on Instagram and post.”
While staying on the topic of racism, TV2 asked the Cherries striker if he would still be open to the idea of moving to the Serie A, despite several incidents in Italy in the past.
The 27-year-old still has two more years left on his contract at Bournemouth and after thinking about it, King responds: “Personally, I don’t really know if Serie A is for me, to be perfectly honest. But I wouldn’t stop a move to a top club in Serie A because of some stupid people, I wouldn’t.”
King is currently with Norway preparing for their upcoming international fixtures against Malta and Sweden.
The 27-year-old has started all four of Bournemouth’s Premier League games so far this season, scoring one goal (from the spot against Aston Villa).
