MX23RW : Monday, November 25 04:44:36| >> :120:27410:27410:

Yaya Toure: Racism getting worse because 'fans are more stupid than before'

Yaya Toure: Racism getting worse because 'fans are more stupid than before'
© Reuters
In recent months there have been a number of incidents at matches and the trend shows no signs of declining.

Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure believes racism in football is getting worse because "fans are more stupid than before".

In recent months there have been a number of incidents at matches and the trend shows no signs of declining.

In November, Brescia's Mario Balotelli – a former team-mate of Toure – called fans who shouted racist abuse at him "small-minded" and "imbeciles" while Cagliari fans made monkey noises towards Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku earlier in the season.

This month Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport was criticised for the headline 'Black Friday' alongside images of Roma defender Chris Smalling and Lukaku.

But the problem is not restricted to Italy, with a man arrested after this month's Manchester derby for allegedly making a racist gesture.

Toure has spoken with FIFA about what can be done but knows there is no quick fix.

"I've had a chat with FIFA because this is something very important which we have to look at carefully," said the former Ivory Coast international.

"I know it will be difficult because the way to win this case is going to be very long.

"Fans, people, now are more stupid than before.

"Of course it is shocking because we are in 2019. In 2020, 2025 we have the kids coming through – what are we going to do? You can't continue like that."

Toure is out in Doha at the Club World Cup as a guest of FIFA and, while he was not that impressed with Liverpool's last-gasp win over Monterrey in the semi-final, he believes Jurgen Klopp's side are well set to win the Premier League title ahead of his former club City.

"Liverpool are great, they are doing very well and they deserve their position at the moment," he added.

"There is a long way to go but Liverpool are a good side and they look much stronger than last year.

"The way I see City is their form this year has been quite complicated but 10 points in front Liverpool have a good, good chance.

"When you see the league today there are a few teams who are quite disappointed, like Arsenal and a couple of others, but Liverpool have the chance to have the honours this year."

Toure feels Sadio Mane should have won the Ballon D'or
Toure feels Sadio Mane should have won the Ballon D'or (Peter Byrne/PA)

Toure is also a fan of Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, whom he believes will win next month's African Player of the Year and should have won the Ballon d'Or which was awarded to Lionel Messi a couple of weeks ago instead of finishing fourth.

"To be honest he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or first. In Africa we don't see any better players than him," added the Ivorian, who said he wants Liverpool to beat Flamengo in Saturday's Club World Cup final.

"Did you see the votes, did you see what he did in the last year, how many goals he scored, what he achieved with Liverpool?

"For me it is a shame when a team wins this trophy (the Champions League) and the winner of the Ballon d'Or is not coming from there."

ID:383456: cacheID:383456:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7049:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta pictured on December 18, 2019
Read Next:
Arsenal cancel usual press conference as Arteta deal draws closer
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!