The Ghana international says he hopes his case becomes the turning point in the fight against racism
Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari is delighted to have had his one-match suspension resulting from protesting a racist abuse in the Italian Serie A last weekend overturned.
After picking two yellow cards in Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Cagliari, the Ghanaian was to serve a mandatory one-match ban this weekend.
However, an appeal by the 32-year-old, assisted by the Italian players union, Associazione Italiana Calciatori, had the ban rescinded on Friday.
“I feel that someone has finally listened and heard me,” Muntari told the worldwide representative organisation for professional footballers, FIFPro.
“The last few days have been very hard for me. I have felt angry and isolated.
“I was being treated like a criminal. How could I be punished when I was the victim of racism?
“I hope my case can help so that other footballers do not suffer like me.
“I hope it can be a turning point in Italy and show the world what it means to stand up for your rights.
"This is an important victory to send a message that there’s no place for racism in football, or society in general.”
The first of Muntari's bookings was for dissent after he complained of racist chants directed at him by Cagliari fans while the second was for walking off the pitch at Stadio Sant’Elia.
FIFPro had called for the bookings to be "rescinded", arguing that "Muntari was well within his rights to approach referee Daniele Minelli, as the first point of reference, to make his grievances known and seek a solution".
“Many people and organisations such as FIFPro and the UN supported me and I would like to thank everyone who assisted me," Muntari added.
On Tuesday, a Disciplinary Commission upheld the ban, saying "the racist chants came from approximately 10 people, which was less than one per cent of about 2000 people who occupied the area of the stadium where the chants came from".
Muntari is now available for selection when Pescara host Crotone on Sunday
Source: goal.com
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@YEBOPOWER,Yes we all know tribalism etc is rampant in Ghana and accross Africa that doesnt mean it should be tolerated ,no matter where in the world no one should tolerate tribalism,racism and discrimination, the man Sulley stood up for himself which is a way of motivating Ghanaians and other people feel who are been discrimated against not to tolerate it but rather stand up.how would you feel if people from another city discrimite against you and expect you to accept abuse because you benefitting from living there
You are my Hero, Muntari.
There is more racism and tribalism in Ghana than Europe. All the ***barred word***, corruption and party loyalism and job for the party boys only amounts to racism in black Africa and Ghana in particular. Be real. Where did Suley made his money? Is it not so called racist Italy where African ply the dangerous Atlantic ocean for their destination thinking of heaven. Africans must be real and stop being hypocritical. Africans abroad all have to deal with racism and bigotry. What happened to Suley is not new. He can chose to ply his trade in Ghana or elsewhere. No body forces anyone to travel abroad to do anything. Everyone has a choice. But what happens in Africa is worse than what happens in Europe and USA. So let us have our peace.
Well done brother we need people like you to stand up against social injustices.We need more brave guys like you.MEDAAAAAAAAASE!!!!!
I think is hard time racism issues are brought to notice by the authorities to be solved forever. Until when will all this stop for Godsick. After all football is not made for one particular colour of of human.