Racism at the FIFA 2018 World Cup could mar the tournament, but players walking off the pitch will bring further disrepute to the tournament according to Former Nigeria international Friday Elahor.
Nigeria center back, William Troost-Ekong had suggested the team could walk off if any member of them was racially targeted during a world cup match, but Elahor has advised caution.
We haven’t openly spoken about it in the team,” Troost-Ekong told The Observer. “Everyone is aware of it but I don’t think until that moment, if it were to come, that you can prepare for something like that.
“I think if we felt in any way that there was very apparent racism, which everyone would be uncomfortable with, if anyone said: ‘We’re not going to play,’ then the team would make a unanimous decision. We have a great team spirit so if one player said they didn’t want to play, everyone would stick with that.”
But, in a chat with Brila.net Elahor differed and said, “I don’t think the team should walk out if racially targeted in Russia. Leave it to FIFA, the governing body is in a better place to handle such matters.”
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