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French defender Lillian Brassier has been the subject of racist abuse online after a shocking tackle on fan-favourite Kylian Mbappe
In a disturbing aftermath to Stade Brestois' recent defeat in the Coupe de France against Paris Saint-Germain, defender Lillian Brassier became the target of racial abuse online following a second-half foul on superstar Kylian Mbappe.
The 24-year-old was sent off for the challenge, an incident that sparked a wave of reprehensible racist insults towards Brassier on social media platforms X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.
Brassier apologises for horror tackle on Mbappe
Brassier, deeply remorseful for the incident, spoke to France Bleu, expressing his regret over the tackle. "I feel guilty. I hope for him that there is nothing serious. It’s part of football. I wanted to intervene directly with the ball, unfortunately, I missed," he said. Despite his apology and the unintentional nature of the foul, the reaction on social media was swift and vile, using the incident as a pretext for racial abuse.
In response to the onslaught of hate, measures were taken to restrict replies on Brassier's Instagram and X accounts, attempting to curb the spread of the abusive comments. Stade Brestois has publicly backed Brassier, stating, "its full support to its player." The club also announced it would consult with The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism's (LICRA) legal services to explore potential criminal proceedings, following the advice of the LFP.
Brassier incident highlights racism problem in football
This incident is not an isolated one in French football, which has seen several racist incidents this season. Notably, a match between Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais was abandoned due to Nazi salutes and SS-inspired flags in the Lyon away end. Additionally, Lille OSC fans were reported to have racially abused players during their Coupe de France match against Racing Club de France.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has recently proposed stringent measures to combat racism in football, suggesting that teams could forfeit matches if their fans engage in racist behavior. This comes after Mike Maignan faced abuse from Udinese fans. FIFA has also established an anti-racism task force, with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior serving in an advisory role, despite disbanding a previous task force in 2016 after it reportedly "completely fulfilled its temporary mission."
The continuous emergence of racist incidents underscores the persistent struggle against racism in football. While FIFA and other governing bodies have taken steps to address the issue, incidents like the abuse directed at Lillian Brassier highlight the ongoing challenges and the urgent need for effective measures to eradicate racism from the sport. The football community must unite in solidarity against racism, ensuring that the beautiful game remains a symbol of unity and diversity, free from hate and discrimination.
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