Bonface Osano
Swedish team has rallied behind midfielder Jimmy Durmaz, who received racist attacks from own fans following a free-kick miss in a World Cup match against Germany two weeks ago in Sochi, Russia.
Durmaz, who is a Muslim of Turkish origin, gave away a promising free-kick in the Blue-yellow’s 2-1 defeat to the 2014 champions in a Group F match on 23rd June – hence suffering the unfortunate behaviors from a section of the fans.
The Toulouse player’s family also received death threats.
In solidarity with him, the team, led by head coach Jan Olof “Janne” Andersson, released a video statement the next day in training condemning the “completely unacceptable events.”
In the video, Jimmy reads a statement from his phone with the team shouting in unison “fuck racism” at the end.
“We have chosen to begin today’s training differently to usual, in fact in a very different way.
“This is because of some completely unacceptable events following the match yesterday.
“Jimmy will make a statement and I would like to reinforce that the whole team, players and management is standing behind this one hundred percent,” Jan begins.
“I’m a soccer player at the highest level, and that we are criticized is something that we live with. It’s part of job and we can deal with it any day of the week.
“But to be called ‘damned foreigner’, ‘suicide bomber’, that my family and my children get murder threats that is totally unacceptable.
“I am Swedish and it is with pride that I wear our jersey and our flag.
“At the same time, I want to thank all those wonderful people out there who spread joy, who are friends with all of us, we stand united we’re Sweden, Right boys? Fuck Racism.”
Despite the defeat, Sweden made the round of 16 and yesterday booked a slot in the quarterfinals against England after edging out Switzerland 1-0.
Swedish has rallied behind midfielder Jimmy Durmaz, who received racist attacks from own fans following a free-kick miss in a World Cup match against Germany two weeks ago in Sochi, Russia.
Durmaz, who is a Muslim of Turkish origin, gave away a promising free-kick in the Blue-yellow’s 2-1 defeat to the 2014 champions in Group F match on 23rd June hence attracting the unfortunate behaviors from a section of the fans.
The Toulouse player’s family also received death threats.
In solidarity with him, the team, led by head coach Jan Olof “Janne” Andersson, released a video statement the next day in training condemning the “completely unacceptable events.”
In the video, Jimmy reads a statement from his phone with the team shouting in unison “fuck racism” at the end.
“We have chosen to begin today’s training differently to usual, in fact in a very different way.
“This is because of some completely unacceptable events following the match yesterday.
“Jimmy will make a statement and I would like to reinforce that the whole team, players and management is standing behind this one hundred percent,” Jan begins.
“I’m a soccer player at the highest level, and that we are criticized is something that we live with. It’s part of job and we can deal with it any day of the week.
“But to be called ‘damned foreigner’, ‘suicide bomber’, that my family and my children get murder threats that is totally unacceptable.
“I am Swedish and it is with pride that I wear our jersey and our flag.
“At the same time, I want to thank all those wonderful people out there who spread joy, who are friends with all of us, we stand united we’re Sweden, Right boys? Fuck Racism.”
Despite the defeat, Sweden made the round of 16 and yesterday booked a slot in the quarterfinals against England after edging out Switzerland 1-0.
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