Olivier Dacourt has known everything during his career.
The joys of the French team, of Ligue 1 in Lens and Strasbourg, of the Premier League in Everton or Fulham, of Serie A with Inter Milan and AS Roma… But also racism on the pitch, in stadiums.
After the insults against Samuel Umtiti, this Wednesday, he wanted to recall that in Italy or in France, the fight was the same.
What was your first reaction after the events on Wednesday in Rome?
OLIVIER DACOURT
.
It's no longer a surprise.
It feels like people are amazed how racism continues.
Whether in Italy and France, it's the same.
When we see what the controversy around Omar Sy's film could have created… We understand that it's not just in Italy, and it's not just in football.
Former French international, Olivier Dacourt is co-author of the documentary "I am not a monkey".
SPORTS PRESS/LAHALLE PIERRE
How to make racism disappear from football stadiums?
Zero tolerance.
We can see that when we want to sanction on certain subjects, we do it.
Today, you can be openly racist and not be punished.
If in everyday life the racist person is not condemned, when he arrives at the stadium he can do whatever he wants.
In a stadium, there are enough cameras, security guards to know who did what.
We identify the author, we come looking for him, and we release him.
If the club does not take sanctions against the supporters, it is necessary to remove points, disqualify from a European competition…
Is there a country in which the subject has been well covered?
If there is a country that has been exceptional in this respect, it is England.
It doesn't happen there anymore.
Recently, a fan was banned for life because he made fun of Son, the Tottenham player.
It deters, that's the principle.
There are penalties of three or four years, even life.
We need examples.
In England, they succeeded but in France and in Italy, it is the same fight.
We have no lesson to give Italy on racism.
We have exactly the same people in the stadiums.
World Cup: the French Federation will file a complaint following racist insults targeting the Blues
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— The Parisian |
sport (@leparisiensport) December 20, 2022
You have played more than 150 matches in Italy, have you been the victim of racism?
I played at AS Roma, and at Inter Milan.
I was their player so obviously they are a little easier with us.
The difference is that when I got on the pitch, I didn't give a fuck about what they said to me.
I had experienced the same discrimination in France since I was little, I was used to all that.
You have to realize what is happening in France after a while.
When Tchouaméni gives the qualification against England in quarter, it is fantastic.
He misses his penalty, are we insulting him?
You have to see all the monkeys and insults on social networks… It was not Italians who insulted.
They are French.
Maybe the Italian just isn't hiding behind his screen.