Updated at 23.24
MAN UNITED MIDFIELDER Paul Pogba has decided to make a personal protest against racism following the ongoing “ignorance” demonstrated at football stadiums throughout Europe.
The 26-year-old France star came off the bench during United’s a 4-1 win at home to Newcastle on Thursday, when he wore black and white wristbands during the warm-up.
‘No to racism’ and ‘We are one’ read the wristbands that Pogba asked his team-mates to join him in wearing before the match, with the World Cup winner then presenting his to a young fan in the crowd.
Pogba later posted an image of that moment on Instagram with a Martin Luther King quote – “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” – and the hashtag #NoToRacismWeAllOne.
“It was my idea to do that,” Pogba said of the wristbands, in an interview with Britain’s Press Association news agency.
I mean, I’ve been thinking about doing this but I don’t want to go through the Uefa or the Fifa. I (have) done it myself.
“I think we have the chance to have this power to show things in football, on TV.
“People see it so I think that will make people understand some things.
“I think it’s ignorance. Ignorance and stuff like that, and just to show people that you are all one. We are all one.”
Pogba was subjected to racism on social media at the start of the season and he also mentioned Antonio Rudiger after the Chelsea defender was subjected to alleged racist abuse at Tottenham last weekend.
“I mean, a lot of players in a lot of leagues — not only in Premier League, in Italy, Spain, everywhere — and we keep hearing this (racism),” said Pogba.
“We are just football players, we want to enjoy that. The fans needs to enjoy coming and seeing some nice football and that’s it.”
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Headline is misleading
Ireland hammered
No matter how much the media keep trying to push women’s sport, they will ever be as popular as the men’s version. #reality
@fergalmoore: the fact you need to point that out is kinda sad but alright mate
@fergalmoore: so what. Let people enjoy it. This is the national team.
France were at a different level. You can’t be that late arriving at the rucks and very very loose line in defense against that side.
@Tommy C: Two trys from pillar in the ruck being asleep. Even with 14 France were far more composed. France pack we’re very impressive and some great offloading in the tackle.
Well beaten with some unacceptable individual errors. New coach on the cards imo.
@Hey TC: lost 7 in 8. Not sure what happened since Scotland. Seemed to have turned a corner?
@James Hughes: crash ball constantly, even when played out the line. No plan re the backs. Don’t get me wrong, strong performance, just lacking conviction in vital areas that let us down.
allez le bleu
What an utterly crazy red card. Ireland were well beaten but that was a shocking decision by the referee. If it had changed the direction of the game it would have been a complete travesty.
@Brian Jones:
Definitely yellow … red was very harsh.
@Camacsaint: definitely yellow, but red was just not correct.
Those girls looked like pure amateurs, as bad as a team of Rory bests
@Chris: it’s embarrassing yeah. I’d rather watch the angelus than Irish women butcher rugby.
@Chris: They are amateurs. They played a semi professional team.
Of course they looked like amateurs.
Reminds me of the many years in the Ireland v France men’s game when we were routinely destroyed, disgraced… Worse than that, Scotland Wales etc had no such problem – it seemed to be that a blue jersey was enough to terrorise us. The Scots, unlike us, had a hang-up about England. Stick at it ladies – you can make things change
Nothing can or will change until we have professionals!!
@BMJF: would 15000 people go to a woman’s rugby game in a year? How can they afford to pay the players on that
@tubbsyf: If it was based solely on attendance then a lot of players in a lot of sports wouldnt be professional.
@Ormond: participant rates as well play a huge part, hardly anybody plays or watched ladies rugby
As long as they noted the run out then who cares