New episode of racism in Spain. This time it is Nico Williams to be a victim of rude chants during Atletico Madrid-Athletic Bilbaoa challenge staged at “Metropolitan” yesterday evening. The striker of the Basque team heard it coming racist howling from the stands of the Capitoline sports facility, sparking fierce controversy. Maximum solidarity by the team coached by Diego Pablo Simeonewith the League which continues to make headlines for a social plague that appears difficult to eradicate. After Vinicius caseit is again chaos in the world of Spanish football.
Racism in La Liga, insults to Nico Williams: what happened
The first half of Atletico Madrid-Athletic Bilbao it certainly won’t go down in history for the technical gestures of Griezmann and his teammates. At the dawn of the interval, in fact, Nico Williams he called the race director’s attention after hearing it coming racist howls from the stands of the “Civitas Metropolitano”. An episode that shook the players on the pitch and pushed them DePaul And Koke to approach the Basque striker, to reassure the boy and apologize on behalf of the Colchoneros. Simeone’s players, in the throes of general embarrassment, looked at their fans present near the corner flag, dumbfounded.
“I went around the corner and heard the monkey sounds – Nico confirmed after the race –. There were few of them, there are stupid people everywhere. I hope this changes little by little.”, added the class of 2002 on the sidelines of the 3-1 final. A result that inevitably takes second place, considering what happened.
Nico Williams’ celebration, the gesture after the goal
A few weeks after Vinicius Jr’s tears at the press conference, La Liga is forced to deal with a new episode of racism, which ends up further tarnishing the image of the Iberian Football Federation. A problem that involves society and not just the world of football. He is aware of it all the same Nico Williamscapable of starting to play again after racist insults of the “Metropolitano” and to find the goal in the 45th minute of the first half of the game, finalizing Guruzeta’s assist.
Once Oblak was punished, the Spanish player found himself in front of the Atletico fans and sent an important signal, with an eloquent gesture: at the moment of celebration, the 22-year-old from Pamplona showed his forearm and touched him with strength and pride, emphasizing the color of his skin.
I celebrated it like this, with anger. It is not normal to be insulted for the color of your skin.
Koke’s message to Nico Williams
In the post-match of Atletico Madrid-Athletic Bilbao, thanks to the situation, there was no shortage of demonstrations of solidarity from footballers and professionals. Among these, also the symbol of the Colchoneros Kokemidfielder who opened his interview by sending a loud and clear message to Nico Williams.
“I want to send great encouragement to Nico, – Koke began – in our society and in football there are many people like this. All of Atlético is in favor of Nico and against these things that happen on a football pitch. These things cannot happen in a stadium in 2024.”reiterated the Cholo midfielder Simeone.
