Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in AFCON 2023, which concluded in a 1-1 stalemate and was marred by on-field altercations leading to hate and racist messages on social media, Romain Saiss has broken his silence. The Moroccan footballer took to his Instagram account to address the aftermath of the match and appeal for unity.
In a heartfelt message, Saiss emphasized the nature of football as a sport filled with tension and adrenaline.
He acknowledged that mistakes could occur under the pressure and stakes of a major competition but urged everyone not to let the on-field incidents translate into a surge of hatred on social media platforms.
The footballer stressed the importance of recognizing that, despite diverse origins, all players are proud to represent Africa.
“Football remains a sport, with tension, adrenaline, and so on. What is certain is that the field remains on the field, we all make mistakes with the pressure and the stakes of a major competition.
But we must not mix everything up and leave room for an outpouring of hatred on both sides.
We are all proud to represent Africa, proud to be African regardless of our origins
. Let’s not divide ourselves over stupid things; it’s still football. Let’s stay united to show the best face in this CAN and the fraternity that unites our continent.
Africa united,” expressed Saiss in his Instagram post.
The message carries significant weight given the recent surge in online hate and racist messages targeting Chancel Mbemba and Walid Regragui. Saiss’ plea for unity and a focus on the positive aspects of the sport aligns with the broader sentiment within the football community, emphasizing the need to combat racism and promote a spirit of togetherness.
As the football world continues to grapple with incidents of racism and social media abuse, messages like Saiss’ serve as a call for collective responsibility and a reminder of the shared pride in representing Africa on the international stage.
The hope is that such appeals for unity will contribute to fostering a more positive and inclusive environment within the sport, both on and off the field.
