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U.N Human Rights chief defends Sulley Muntari, calls him 'an inspiration'

Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein went on to describe the Ghanaian football star as "an inspiration to all of us here at the U.N. human rights office."

The United Nations has waded into the controversy over the weekend in RD Ahich Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari was penalised after he reported racial abuse at a football game.Commenting on the issue, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, implored football's world governing body, FIFA, to do more to end racism at football games.Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein went on to describe the Ghanaian football star as "an inspiration to all of us here at the U.N. human rights office."

“Racism and expressions of bigotry should not be tolerated at major sporting events”, he added.

According to him, his office had already contacted FIFA to talk about the issue and find a way forward.

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The problem of racism at football matches meant that "added attention or deepened attention by FIFA" was required to clamp down on it, he added.

What happened?

Midfielder Sulley Muntari walked off the pitch over the weekend in a Serie A game between his Pescara side and Cagliari. After he complained to the referee and called for a stoppage of the game, he was shown a yellow card by the referee for dissent. Muntari’s own coach criticised him for leaving the field.

In 2013, another Ghanaian player, Kevin Prince Boateng, was at the receiving end of racist chating by Italian football spectators forcing the entire AC Milan team, which included Muntari, to abandon the game they were involved in.

Eyes on FIFA

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FIFA has been criticised over the years for failing to do little to clamp down on racism at stadiums. With the World Cup in Russia, due a little over a year from now, the organisation has endured increased pressure for its anti-racism strategies.

In a shocking move, FIFA disbanded its anti-racism taskforce in September 2016, after describing the taskforce of having achieved its objectives.

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