Some say show racism the red card, well I like to say show racism it can’t faze you and keep it moving. This is what I had to do last week during our Europa tie against PAOK Salonika in Greece. Coming to the stadium from our hotel was a very long drive. I was running through the game in my head like I do before every game. I gave a little thought to the fact that I was playing in a country where I may face a bit of racism. It’s not something I like to worry about, even though it’s likely to happen.
As we warmed up I could see the crowd slowly building up to what turned out to be around 20,000 PAOK fans. What a great atmosphere it was! I was on the bench to start with and I was chomping at the bit just to get on the pitch to do my thing.
So anyway, as the game kicked off, I took my seat on the bench and watched as PAOK started off brightly without really hurting us. It must have been after 20 minutes when I felt like taking a pee, so I got up and made my way to the changing room. I had to go down some steps to get there and a portion of the PAOK fans sit directly in front of these steps. I expected to get a bit of flack off them but I did not expect one of them to shout out ‘ NIGGA ‘! To which my reply was a thumbs up and a smile, while making my way down the stairs to the toilet. This prompted a loud roar from the fans who were sitting there.
As I was in the changing room, I noticed a bunch of bananas sitting on the side. I thought I would take one out with me to show these fans how much of a NIGGA I really am. Damn ignorant people. Rather than reacting to their negative energy which could have caused real uproar, I converted it into a complete mockery!
So as I came back up the stairs, I had the banana in my mouth, swinging it so they could all see. I knew this would show them that I couldn’t care less what they called me because I was more than aware and proud of what colour I am. They all reacted exactly how I predicted. With a big cheer. Heeeeeeey! I just laughed and raised the banana to which made them laugh and cheer even louder. Now this was not jeering or them hurling abuse, it was people laughing at what I had done to their malicious gesture.
Anyway as the half came to an end I got up to warm up and I took the banana with me just to show them once more, that I wouldn’t let their small-minded action have a negative effect on me. I would just deflect it back on them, very subtly.
Before I stepped on the pitch to warm up at halftime, I turned to them with the banana in hand and I held it up as if it were a Olympic torch. They roared with laughter. I then threw it on the bench and went to warm up. They could not take their eyes of me at this point, cheering every time I touched the ball. It was funny how this so called NIGGA had now got their full attention and I was not even playing. I had now converted them into in my role as an entertainer. Using my humorous tactic and making them laugh, silenced them so they wouldn’t even think to say a word about my skin colour for the rest of the game.
Anyway, the second half started and then finished in a 2-1 win for PAOK. I thought we should have got a draw but we did not finish off our chances.
As the final whistle went and the players headed down the stairs back to the changing room, the fans who I had the encounter with, all rushed to the fence stretching out their hands screaming for my shirt and for a touch of my hands. I could only smile and laugh at how I had transformed them. Without too much hesitation I told them to f**k off…..naaaa I’m only joking. I would never do that. Instead I reached out and gave at least a dozen of them a high five which led to even more fans coming forward. I couldn’t give them my shirt because it wasn’t that kind of party but I did give them a nice little lesson.
If any of you reading this get confronted in a similar situation with racism, find a way to manipulate it. Obviously if you are outnumbered by a gang, it’s better to get your Usain Bolt on and zzzing. But when it’s just people making remarks like those I faced last week, just smile and give them the thumbs up to show that you have no problem being the NIGGA or whatever race you may be.
Show racism it won’t faze you!
RR
Ricketts: How I take Racism in my Stride,Related Articles
Share
About Author
(28) Readers Comments
Leave a Reply
The iPhone is the only 'games console' you need in 2012
An interesting point. Am sure the writer doesn't think a iPhone is act
Quiet British Accent – Making Noise in Sports Fashion
3 July 1990 On that day in Nápoli, I was greeted and welcomed by the
Win: The rain came down and the kids played out
With a 2.5 yr old and a 7 month boy these boots would be great to run
Neil Smythe
Insightful and thought-provoking comments as ever Rohan. Not sure how playing their game teaches the ignorant to be less racist but I guess it’s up to every individual affected to tackle the issue in their own way and you found a way which worked for you.
jerseyterrier
I always feel uncomfortable in giving bullies what they want as well, but it is a recognised form of an anti bullying technique called fogging. But well done Rohan.
Tim Lloyd
Good article Rohan and a shame you have to even put up with this in the first place. It goes to show how ignorant and narrow minded they that they laugh at your reply and suddenly warm to you. They only say things to get a reaction and to give themselves an ego boost and make them think they are above you when we all know skin colour doesn’t make you better or worse than anyone else. Rising above it is the answer and good on you for doing that
Craig Broadbent
I’m suprised by the act of the PAOK fan as both them and ARIS (who are rivals, I love ARIS by the way and hate PAOK) both have large sections of Antifa(Anti-fascist) support. This will be why you were cheered for mocking the racist! Well done Rohan.
Li
Great piece Rohan! Being black myself i don’t think i’d have had such self control like you had. I would’ve just broken down to be honest. Good on you
paul smith
Great article.just a thought is the forming of a secular group not a form of racism. Ie federation of black policemen. A few nights ago there was an awards night for black footballers everyone turns a blind eye showing in most cases its best to ignore it by the way I am from an ethnic minority my mother came to this country 50 years ago not able to speak English this is a great country and I would say sometimes too tolerant
Pingback: UEFA’s “laissez faire” attitude towards racism is selling players short | Combine, Pass, Play
Rob S
I’d admire your attitude to not let their small mindedness negatively effect you.
However, surely this was almost endorsing their behaviour. Signalling to them that its nothing but a bit of a joke, fun and games. They’ll just repeat the racism at the next match and some may just expect the next player to take it in his stride as well.
There has to be a stance somewhere that it’s no ok, not just that it’s doesn’t get to you.
Laura
This is great advice, and I think reacting with humor and turning things around is probably always the best way to react to any sort of bullying or taunting or hate. Unfortunately, it’s not really always possible. Some people are very shy or just never know what to say or do to make a situation humorous or put themselves in control. They might be too intimidated to do so.
Sure, people should be thinking about ways to protect themselves from this sort of hate, and it is productive, but it shouldn’t be their responsibility. I might not be able to make everyone laugh with me instead of at me, but I’m certainly capable of not shouting hate speech at someone. The latter is much easier and should be something that we can expect from everyone.
ralfvandersluis
Great article. Meet ignorant bile with humour. Shows who the more elevated human being is. I am of mixed ethnic descent but look white so I don’t know how it is to have racial abuse directed at me growing up in a majority white environment. I was clever at school, used fanc words, wore glasses and was not good at sports so I got my share, but appreciate that it does not quite equate racist abuse. Still I often wondered how I would respond to monkey chants, and verbal abuse, I always thought I probably would do a monkey dance, or do a banana stunt like Mr. Ricketts. Excellent call.
Misha
Good for you mate. Anyone who takes any stand against racism is doing a bit of good for everyone everwhere. I have lived in Greece for 30 years: the situation on the terraces is often primitive and violent, but there are good people too and plenty who will speak out against the racists, especially if they get a bit of encouragement. btw, our team is called PAOK and not POAK, and Shamrock Rovers made a very good impression here. Best of luck to you in the remaining games.
Paul
Re the comment above about forming of special interest groups: where the unfiying theme is colour or ethnicity then some people tend to assign racist motiives – most noticeably when the skin colour differs (I doubt if many Polish clubs in Manchester get fire-bombed). Whilst there are significant problems with racists then I’d be surprised if groups based on race didn’t exist – for self-support and protection if nothing else. Oh for the day when Black Police Officers, Lesbian/Gay Soldiers etc attract as little attention as the WI.
Patrick
While I will give you the fact that sometimes ignoring racist taunts is the way to go, I would never condone what you did that night. You don’t realize it but you have not changed their minds at all. You just encouraged them to continue on their behavior. So instead of singling out those fans to have them kicked out and show them this is unacceptable, you made fun of the taunting and actually went as far as turning yourself into a prop for their racist taunt. You were acting just like the black entertainers back in the days who used to play out stereotypical fantasies for the white folks, except that those poor souls were forced to do so. Next time they see a black player on the field do you think they will be cheering him up or stop using the word? Next time they see you do you think they will not use the word? Think about it. You accomplished nothing in term of making them aware that it is not OK to do what they did. It is reactions like yours that are preventing this issue from being tackled properly and fought.
Pingback: Rohan Ricketts: How I Take Racism In My Stride | (PLAYERS BLOG) | The Players Net
Spiros Destounis
Hey,
First of all i want to say a big hello to you and the fans of Shamrock Rovers from Rhodes,Greece.
I dont live in Thessaloniki but i am PAOK fan.You just write lies.
First of all how its possible to see fans in the locker room of your team?The fans cant even enter the room of PAOks players.So you didnt found a banana when you went for the first time in the locker room before the game but you found while the game was playing?The locker room suppose to be locked and the keys suppose to be to the people of Shamrock.
PAOK fans are well known as Antifascists.Anyway you can understand that theres not any problem with any black skined people from my team because we had and have (and will have) players with that colour.And we love them.
We respect every team and fans who come in Toumba,because we expect the same when we travel.
At the end of the game Rovers had a biiig aplaud from the fans for the good effort even if you lost.
I doubt about what you are writing 99,9%.Please prove it somehow.
You are very welcome here in Rhodes where i live,many Irish people comes here.
Many congratulations to be the champion once again!
I wish you the best and good game on Thursday,
Spiros Destounis,
Rhodes,Greece
Pingback: Racism – The Lurking Cancer… « WNOL Westminster News Online
asjdik
Hey no PAOK fan does these things you say cause we respect everybody and you can see it in our clubs which all anti – racism. Stop posting hurtfull things one week before the game and provoking people
Kozani
Hello from Greece,
firstly i’d like to say how embarassing it is for us to learn about facts like that.
Greeks get many times victims of racism the last two years due to the financial problems we face. Many people in Central and Northern Europe call us lazy and useless .However, i believe that many people all over the world share the idea that we cannot solve the universal problems, as much as we can, unless we show solidarity to each other.
And racism is a social phenomenon, opposite to solidarity.
Excuse me for my English,
Goodbye
Yannis
Well, it’s a very nice story and I ‘ll tell it to my kids when I put them to sleep. Of course it was very convenient that there was a bunch of bananas ’round there, but on the other hand Greece is a tropical country and you can find bananas almost anywhere. On top of that PAOK fans had never seen a black player before and PAOK had never had a black player in its roster. Oh! Wait a minute… we have three of them right now! But they ‘re lighter in color so I guess they don’t count… I ‘m sure you all hate me by now so I ‘ll start packing. The fact is that we ‘re called as “gipsies” by other fans because the founders of our team were immigrants, including my grandparents. We also have the biggest percentage of immigrants in our supporters. So racists? Mmmmm.. no! I choose to believe that the story is true, but don’t believe that they were racists and you transformed them. They were just trying to break your spirit. If they were racists they ‘d never asked for your shirt. You ‘re not that good player. Anyway, I wish you good health and a nice career. And as a wise man said: It’s not personal, it’s just business.
gatonegro
well done !
perastikos
Isn’t it a bit unfair branding PAOK fans racist because of the actions of one moron? Just saying…
P.S. Racism goes both ways, you know. “I gave a little thought to the fact that I was playing in a country where I may face a bit of racism.” Isn’t that kind of racist too? “Hey, they’re from Eastern European country, they’re probably backwards and racist”
Bakes
No that is not “racist” parasitikos… stereotyping, perhaps, but not racist. It might do you a world of good to know the difference before you say such stupid things in future.
victor thomas
this story is somewhat exaggerated. i don’t think young greek fans would know the “N” word, they may use ‘mavros’ (black), ‘jugla’ (wild animal), xenos ‘foreigner’ or even ‘lua-lua’ the name of a popular african player who had two spells with olympiakos. taxi drivers sometimes use it when they see groups of african immigrants on the streets of our newly run-down neighbourhoods.
two brothers who play for man city, the toure brother,s both have given names that are quite comical in greek ‘yaya’ granny and ‘kolo ‘ anus but i have never heard any cracks about those and one of them played for olympiakos. cisse was adored by panathiniakos fans and has gone to play with lazio, home base of the ‘ultras’ notoriously hard core fascist, racist fans. if racism is as widespread as this blog suggests it seems like an unwise move. just as jewish friends of mine in the states saw antisemitism in seemingly innocent incidents and remarks i think you went to paok seeking a self fulfilling confrontation. stick to football. being on the bench for shamrock rovers can’t be the height of your ambitions. by the way,have you heard any ‘paddy’ jokes lately. grow up son.
Ian
Ronan says in the article that “one” fan said this to him and that the fan was laughed at by all around him. I don’t think he painted a racist picture of PAOK but rather the oppisite. Great fans, roll on Thursday!
Dimitrius
this is sad…but also funny..
youre just trying to live your life as happy as possible, and this things happen to you. you may pretend that it doesnt bother you, but we all know it does. i am half greek and my mother is from asia i have seen and even sensed racism or a negative aura by my greek family members toward my mother, and it hurts her because she just wants to live her life happy, but certain people may ruin her day and i feel her sadness. But also being greek i know that to get respect here you have to earn it. just because the media is flooded with stories of “black” people being oppressed in America during slavery, doesnt mean greeks will give you sympathy as we greeks were also oppressed enslaved but by the ottoman turks but you dont hear us crying all over the media if a turkish fan says racist things to greek soccer players. in all respect is earned here in greece, just as the armenians, most arabs and even the gypsies that have assimilated to greek culture and religion. as for sub-saharan africans you have a long way to go, but what this guy is doing is the right way to go
….p.s to people reading, dont be angry this is all the truth..think in prespectives even in africa there is racism..it exists all over the world and it will always exist, something like that can never be destroyed unless we all share the same culture and religious beliefs
john gill
My relationship to football would probably best be described as an aversion, but I stumbled on your piece listed at an English-language newspaper [Athens News] website, so clicked in here, as my work (dimosiografos, journalist) happened to involve me researching racism in Greece recently. I would probably agree with the commenter who suggested that the herbert employing the N-word was a solo rogue idiot, and that your handling of the situation turned the laughter on him. (As a sometime queer activist, I would also disagree with your critics on how you handled it; it’s surely the recipient’s decision how to handle bigotry.) My researches suggest that Greece’s two biggest teams, Panathinaikos and AEK, are possibly even more racially mixed than their British and continental counterparts, which probably pains the conehead minority in the crowds at their games as much as it does their counterparts at Millwall or AC Milan. But they are a minority; after a lifetime living in SE London (Lewisham, to be precise, where I got caught up in the anti-NF riots in 1977), one of the reasons I moved to Greece was the tolerance the vast majority of the population show to anyone who might be perceived as “different”. And if it takes a banana to turn the tables on the minority, perhaps better a piece of fruit than a house brick.
Jimmy 24
Um yeah, they liked you because you turned yourself into their monkey (I mean a monkey that entertains, not the racist trope monkey)
Pingback: Rohan Ricketts sticks it to the racists | JOE.ie