FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he was horrified by the racist abuse that Barcelona player Alejandro Balde was subjected to at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez during the match between Barça and Getafe on Saturday evening in La Liga.
Infantino said in statements published by the Spanish daily “Mundo Deportivo”, “I am horrified by the racism that Balde suffered during his match against Getafe in La Liga. Such behavior has no place in society or in football.”
The FIFA President added, “We must unite and stand together to fight the scourge of racism and eliminate it. No to racism and any form of discrimination. I condemn the racism that Balde suffered.”
“Mundo Deportivo” explained that FIFA’s swift rejection of the racism that Balde was subjected to highlights the clear contradiction due to the lack of reaction from the Spanish league, “La Liga”, so far.
Barcelona’s left-back had publicly denounced, via social media platforms, the racist insults he heard in the stands of the Madrid Coliseum during the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.