Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo has revealed he is much ready to walk off the pitch the next time he is racially abused in his career, after saying an opposition player called him “all sorts of names” in China.
While talking about the racial abuse he encountered in China, Ighalo said he reported the abuse to the Chinese FA but after nothing was done, he decided to “let it go.”
The 30-year-old has called for “justice to be done” following George Floyd’s death in the United States and has also said he would be ready to take further action if he encounters racial abuse on the football pitch.
During his chat with Sky Sports News, Ighalo said: “If it happens to me I would report it to the referee and see what they do, but if they don’t take action about it then I’m going to walk off because it should not be done to any player or anyone in the world.
“In one game in China I got called all sorts of names and after the game, I didn’t shake his hand. I walked straight into the dressing room, I was angry, I reported it to the FA.
“I didn’t press forward with it, I just let it go because I’m just this kind of guy. I don’t like to drag issues out. But I don’t think it should be condoned in any country.”
He added: “Nobody should condone racism,” said Ighalo. “We are all human. Despite the colour of our skin, we are all the same, we live in the same world, the same life.
“I don’t condone racism, but at the same time, I don’t condone riots.
“It didn’t start today, it’s not going to end today. It’s going to take time. We are hoping this situation can change the narrative and make it more limited. It’s going to reduce it to a minimum.
“We are fighting now so that for the next generation it will be cut off, finally.
“We have to start from the younger generation, educate them, let them see that all humans are the same. We should fight for humanity not colours.”
