November 21 – World players’ union FIFPro have reacted angrily to a decision to ban a Brazilian midfielder playing in Ukraine for reacting to racist abuse.
Shakhtar Donesk’s Taison was sent off last weekend during the showpiece fixture against fellow heavyweights Dynamo Kyiv after making a one-finger gesture towards a section of Dynamo fans.
“I will never shut up in such an inhuman and despicable act,” Taison, who has six caps for Brazil and has played in Ukraine since 2011, said afterwards on Instagram.
He was reduced to tears yet incredibly has now been handed a one-match ban by the Ukrainian FA.
“We are very disappointed by the decision of the Ukrainian FA to hand Taison a one-match ban,” said FIFPro.
“Sanctioning a victim of racial abuse is beyond comprehension and it plays into the hands of those who promote this kind of disgraceful behaviour.”
Dynamo Kyiv have been fined and ordered them to play one match behind closed doors but it is the ban on Taison that has caused widespread disbelief.
“It’s terrible when such things happen in football,” said Shakhtar midfielder Marcos António after the match. “The game needs real fans instead of the people who come to the stadium and behave like that, not respecting the athletes. We need to work on this because such episodes upset us all.”
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