Once again, football goes beyond the pitch, and once again in the worst possible way: racism.
In the match between Sunderland and Tottenham, the incident involving Brobbey, Romero and Kinský ended up defining the game. It was a completely controlled situation, Romero was shielding the ball so the goalkeeper could collect it without any issue and, for no reason at all, Brobbey pushes him, creating a dangerous moment. The outcome was serious: Romero leaves injured and in tears, which is a terrible sign just months before a World Cup, and Kinský ends up with a head injury, bleeding.
In my opinion, this was a red card offence. Not just because of this specific moment, but because of the overall context of a match that was already far too aggressive. There are limits to physicality and intensity, and here they were clearly crossed.
Up to that point, though, we are still talking about football. Decisions, mistakes, intensity, all part of the game. The real problem starts afterwards.
The match ends and the usual ugly spectacle begins: racist abuse on social media. And it is impossible not to ask: why? How do you go from a moment in a match, something that can be criticised, to attacking someone because of the colour of their skin? Since when does that make any sense?
Was Brobbey in the wrong? Yes. The incident was unnecessary and should have consequences within football, whether that is a suspension or another form of punishment. But does that ever justify going onto social media and calling him “a monkey” or flooding his phone with abuse? No. Never.
This goes beyond football. It is a cultural and structural problem. The internet has become a space where many people think they can say anything without consequences. A circus of opinions, frustration and free hatred. And the worst part is that this is neither new nor isolated.
Today it is Brobbey, yesterday it was Vinícius Jr, other times it is Mbappé, and it will keep happening. All it takes is one moment, one action, one mistake, and racism immediately appears as a response, as if it were something “normal”.
The example of Vini Jr is perfect: he scores, he dances, he provokes within the game, and that is part of football. People may not like it, but it belongs to the competitive context. But responding to that with racism? That is no longer football, that is a complete lack of character.
Conclusion
Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies racism. The problem is that too many people still think they can say whatever they want, especially behind a screen. And as long as that continues, these cases will keep happening.
But accepting it can never be an option. Because that is exactly what those “people” want: to normalise the unacceptable.