Getafe president publicly slams his own player for reporting examples of racism
Getafe president Angel Torres has publicly criticised one of his own players for speaking out against racist abuse.
Christantus Uche, who joined the club from third-tier side Ceuta back in February, believes referees are quickly to call out decisions made against him.
The 21-year-old midfielder felt as if officials in La Liga are ignoring fouls committed against him, but quickly blew the whistle when similar incidents were made elsewhere.
Uche also hit out at supporter criticism, as he spoke to media recently to address the ongoing issues he feels are wrong with the Spanish game.
Advert
"First two matches or three matches, I saw it with my eyes the referees are are so bad, they are so bad," he told ESPN earlier this week.
"They will kick me, the referee will just say I should stand up. No, it's a foul, you have to blow it.
"Racism is not good, it has to stop. Everybody is the same, everybody is equal."
The Nigerian midfielder also added how fans in La Liga are quick to judge players with black skin.
"Both the fans, some of the fans, they will be hailing you 'f------ black,' you are a 'black this this, that that.' No it's not good. It's not good."
Torres, who previously prompted controversy for expressing his feelings regarding Mason Greenwood's loan signing last season, has since hit back at his own player.
Quickly dismissing Uche’s comments, Torres suggested that the 21-year-old should refrain from speaking out until he’s experienced Spanish football properly.
“He doesn’t understand,” Torres told El Partidazo de COPE. “How can he tell you that? He can’t tell you that. I think you should be more correct and respectful with those things.
“When he’s spent a year here, two years and he understands Spanish, he can say what he wants. But now… we hope that the corresponding committees understand it and that it’s simply a warning.”
Torres was also asked what he made of Uche's comments on refereeing and added: “I don’t want to blame or (say) the person who interviewed him is the only one to blame but from now on what he’ll (Uche) have to do is not speak.”
Matthew Holt