- Espanyol fans racially abuse Athletic Bilbao's Maroan Sannadi
- Inaki Williams calls for stronger action against racist abuse
- Incident sparks debate over racism in Spanish football
Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams has condemned the racial abuse directed at his teammate, Maroan Sannadi, by Espanyol fans during their match on Sunday at the RCDE Stadium. Sannadi, a Moroccan international, was subjected to racial insults in the first half, prompting Williams to alert the referee and trigger football’s anti-racism protocol.
Williams, who witnessed the incident, confirmed hearing the racist remarks directed at Sannadi. In a post-match interview with Cadena SER, the Ghana international emphasized the need for stronger measures against racism in football. “Starting with the basic idea that people come to enjoy football, I believe this cannot happen. Maroan made an individual play and was insulted with ‘f***ing moor.’ This is not the first time it’s happened here; it has happened to me too, but it shouldn’t taint the whole of Espanyol’s fanbase.”
Williams stressed that the issue extends beyond individual clubs and requires a collective effort to address. “Football must be supported; Espanyol needs its fans, not the four idiots who tarnish true football. It’s a shame. The referee acted very well, although I didn’t understand why the Espanyol fans then whistled at me. Let’s hope it is corrected, given visibility, and that those responsible are punished.”
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Williams detailed how the situation unfolded during his post-match interview. “It was a quick play, the ball went out for a corner, we both heard ‘f***ing moor.’ We stood there looking at each other, and I told the linesman to make them aware. The linesman informed the referee, who then told me he was going to activate the protocol.”
Racist abuse has become a growing concern in Spanish football, with high-profile incidents involving players like Vinicius Junior. While stricter punishments, including prison sentences, have recently been introduced, there is still ongoing debate over whether the current measures are enough to deter offenders.
