Hugo Ekitike reacts to Mathys Tel as emotional Tottenham message sent
Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike has made all the headlines this week.
Liverpool signed Ekitike in a £69million deal earlier this summer, and he has enjoyed a fine start to his Anfield career.
He scored on his competitive debut in the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, then continued his impressive form with a goal and assist in his Premier League debut for Liverpool against Bournemouth.
The victory was overshadowed by racist abuse against Antoine Semenyo, with Tottenham star Mathys Tel also subjected to similar abuse after the UEFA Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Hugo Ekitike shows support for Mathys Tel
Ekitike has made a brilliant impression on Liverpool supporters so far on the grass, but off the pitch, he has shown his support for his countryman.
Tel took to Instagram on 19 August to send a message to Tottenham supporters, saying: “Everyone,
after the last few days have passed, I wanted to thank you for all your messages of support.
“I was also disappointed about Wednesday night, but racism has no place in our society. Every day is a learning curve, and every day is a lesson.
“I know where I come from, where I started, and none of this will bring me down. With work and humility, respect reigns. Thank you all”
Ekitike reacted by commenting on the post with two raised fist emojis, which is often used to show solidarity.
Liverpool and football must stay strong on racism
Liverpool’s clash with the Cherries was halted in the 29th minute after Semenyo reported the abuse to the referee.
The Reds were quick to condemn the actions of the supporter in a statement released after the match, who has now been conditionally bailed by Merseyside Police.
The 47-year-old man cannot attend a football match in the United Kingdom and is not permitted to go within a mile of a designated football ground.
- Arne Slot told Sky Sports after the match: “It is obvious we do not want this in football. We definitely don’t want this at Anfield.”
- Semenyo said in a statement on Instagram: “Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever – not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together.”
There are several initiatives to attempt to stop racism within football, such as the Kick It Out and No Room For Racism campaigns, but more must be done to ensure that it does not infiltrate the beautiful game anymore.
However, it is a difficult problem to find a solution to, as it is not solely related to football.
It is a societal issue, and the only thing that clubs can do is condemn, educate and work with authorities once incidents like the Semenyo one happen.
The strong stance against discrimination of any kind must continue; there is no alternative, it is not welcome within the game or wider society.
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