Racism in football: Moussa Marega, the child of Ulis and Evry who said stop

He used to burst the screen by shaking the nets with Porto. This time, the images of Moussa Marega went around the world for another equally, if not much more, noble purpose. Sunday night, the 28-year-old striker left the Vitoria Guimarães lawn in anger after suffering racist chants and cries from supporters of a club where he played a season.

🇵🇹 Exasperated, angry, not calmed by his teammates or by the words of his coach Sergio Conceiçao, Moussa Marega left the field in the 71st minute, under the bronca of the Guimaraes stadium, following racist shouts against him . pic.twitter.com/01EHDMkV4Q

A strong and symbolic gesture greeted by the entire football planet and which had a particular echo in Ile-de-France, and even more in Essonne. The native of Ulis kicked his first balls there before moving at 13 in the Aunettes district of Evry, where he still played for the local club in DH (6th division) in 2012.

Among the many messages of support, Moussa Marega could count on the comfort of Anthony Martial, from the same district of Ulis. "Strength to the brother. We're together, "tweeted the Manchester United striker.

Force au frero @ marega91 we're together 👊🏾 #NoToRacism #LesUlis

"All the messages gave me incredible strength," said the man on the Team Duga show on RMC on Monday. It was a big humiliation for me. It had started from the warm-up. But it was two or three people. When it's the whole stage that makes fun of our skin color, it's impossible to continue playing. We would all like the match to end, for a strong gesture from the referees and the League. "

"A very good example for young people", according to Mahamadou Niakaté, Ulis coach

A claim welcomed by Mahamadou Niakaté, coach of the Ulis pennant team in National 3 (5th division) who rubbed shoulders with "Moussa very small at the club and in the neighborhood. "" At some point, you have to punch your fist on the table to stop it. It's getting worse. It doesn't surprise me on his part, it's his human side. Her heart spoke. It is not a boot washer. Some are called dirty monkeys and stay on the ground. We are very proud of the courage he had to do this in front of millions of viewers. It is a very good example for youth. "

"A sensitive boy", for Bernard Touret, his former coach in Evry

Foued Mabrouk, his former U19 coach in Evry, left him a message as soon as he saw the images. "When Moussa has something to say, he says it. He was the only one who did that, and in addition, it did not come from a typical player, ”says the emblematic former captain of Evry.

For Bernard Touret, the coach who launched the Malian international future for seniors in Evry, "it's unfortunate and scandalous". "I wholeheartedly support him. He is a sensitive, discreet, adorable boy, but not demanding. If he got there, it was unbearable. "

"Support for all colored footballers", according to his brother Houssein

"He was so touched that, as soon as he had the opportunity to give an answer, after scoring, he showed that he could not let that go, confirms one of his big brothers Houssein Marega, player of Versailles (N 3) after having evolved for a long time in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois. His gesture is to support all footballers of color, who suffer the same thing. But he has a big mind. He knows where he came from, and it is nothing compared to what he experienced. "

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"He's a laid-back boy, but that doesn't mean he has no character. Otherwise, he would not have had this career, ”corroborates Alain Giresse, who called Moussa Marega for the first time in Mali's selection. The striker has indeed experienced an atypical trajectory before becoming professional late.

"We don't play football for that", indignant Alain Giresse, his former coach in Mali

“I am very touched for him, says the former coach. His shell exploded so much there was a fed up. If he does not react, we are in acceptance of this kind of attitude. We don't play soccer for that. Human stupidity has no limits. There are not 36,000 solutions, we must fire these pseudo-supporters of the stadium. You have to go to the next step because that's enough. Moussa Marega led the way ...