Traore accuses Benetton team-mates of racism after they gave him a banana in club’s Secret Santa
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‘What hurt me the most was seeing most of my teammates laugh’: Black Italy mainstay Cherif Traore accuses his Benetton teammates of racism after they gave him a ‘rotten banana’ at Secret Santa of the club
- Traore said the reaction from several teammates convinced him to speak up.
- He revealed on Instagram that he was given the obscene gift in a garbage bag
- The prop arrived in Italy at the age of seven and has played 15 games for the Azzurri.
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Italian rugby union has been rocked by controversy over racism after Guinea-born Benetton mainstay Cherif Traore revealed he had been given a banana at the club’s Secret Santa.
The 28-year-old, who arrived in Italy at the age of seven and has won 15 front-row caps for the Azzurri, posted a social media post revealing the ugly episode.
He wrote: ‘Christmas is coming up and, as traditionally on a team, it’s Secret Santa time. Yesterday, when he touched me, I found a banana inside my gift. A rotten banana inside a bag of moisture.
Cherif Traore revealed on social media that he had received a banana at the club’s Secret Santa
Traore went on to explain that the reaction from several teammates was part of what convinced him to speak out about the disruptive behavior he had been subjected to, adding: “Besides calling the gesture offensive, what hurt me the most was seeing most of my classmates present laughing.As if everything is normal, I’m used to it or rather I’ve had to get used to it, having to put on a brave face every time I hear racist jokes to try not to hate the people close to me.
‘Fortunately, some comrades, especially foreigners, tried to support me. Outside of Italy, a gesture like this is severely condemned.”
Treviso-based Benetton issued a statement in response to their player’s public complaint. He said: ‘Benetton would like to reiterate that it has always condemned any expression of racism and/or any form of discrimination. That is not part of our culture.
The 28-year-old arrived in Italy at the age of seven and has made 15 appearances for the Azzurri.
There was no mention of any investigation into the events or any commitment to identify the perpetrators and punish them.
This half-hearted reaction from Benetton soon drew heavy criticism, as there were calls for significant action.
Munster and Ireland wing Simon Zebo wrote on Twitter, in response to Traore’s earlier social media post: ‘Name and shame the scum.’ She should be out of work.