CORK CITY PLAYER Kieran Djilali has revealed he has been racially abused on three occasions since moving to Ireland.
The London-born midfielder moved to the SSE Aitrticity League in 2013 after being released by AFC Wimbledon, and has played for Sligo Rovers and Limerick, as well as current club Cork City, since then.
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“I’ve never been abused on the pitch, but there were three incidents off the pitch,” he told The42.
“Two were in Sligo and one has been in Cork so far where I’ve been racially abused.”
The 24-year-old former Crystal Palace player says he does not get too upset over these incidents, and adds that he experienced similar abuse during his time in England.
“It doesn’t really affect me too much, to be honest. I know there’s ignorance everywhere in the world. I’ve been racially abused in England as well. It’s not just been over here.
“So I sort of just brush it off. I’m proud of who I am, where I come from, my heritage, so I don’t really let it affect me.”
Djilali is not the first footballer to have spoken about suffering racist abuse in Ireland in recent times, with former Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers striker Eamon Zayed opening up about similar issues in the past.
'I've been racially abused twice in Sligo and once so far in Cork'
CORK CITY PLAYER Kieran Djilali has revealed he has been racially abused on three occasions since moving to Ireland.
The London-born midfielder moved to the SSE Aitrticity League in 2013 after being released by AFC Wimbledon, and has played for Sligo Rovers and Limerick, as well as current club Cork City, since then.
“I’ve never been abused on the pitch, but there were three incidents off the pitch,” he told The42.
“Two were in Sligo and one has been in Cork so far where I’ve been racially abused.”
The 24-year-old former Crystal Palace player says he does not get too upset over these incidents, and adds that he experienced similar abuse during his time in England.
“It doesn’t really affect me too much, to be honest. I know there’s ignorance everywhere in the world. I’ve been racially abused in England as well. It’s not just been over here.
“So I sort of just brush it off. I’m proud of who I am, where I come from, my heritage, so I don’t really let it affect me.”
Djilali is not the first footballer to have spoken about suffering racist abuse in Ireland in recent times, with former Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers striker Eamon Zayed opening up about similar issues in the past.
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COMP:Airtricity League Eamon Zayed Interview Kieran Djilali League of Ireland LOI Cork City Crystal Palace