SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 14 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Antonio Rudiger wants "justice" after being subjected to racial abuse in Italy

:Headline: Antonio Rudiger wants 'justice' after being subjected to racial abuse in Italy: ID:303795: from db_amp
Antonio Rudiger describes joining Chelsea as a 'dream move' after being made to feel "alone" during his time with Roma when racially abused from the stands.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has insisted that he is fully prepared for his 'challenging' first taste of Premier League football after getting himself away from racist abuse suffered in Italy.

The Germany international had to put up with derogatory chants from the stands during former club Roma's Copa Italia tie away to Lazio in March, while also allegedly being on the end of racial slurs from opposition players.

Following his switch from Rome to West London earlier this month, Rudiger is unwilling to draw a line under the sorry episode and will continue to challenge world football governing body FIFA to take a firm stance.

"I just want justice," he told reporters. "I want FIFA or the FA in Italy just to suspend those people who do that. It is not all the people in Italy who are like that. If we always talk about racism in Italy, people think that all Italians are racist people and it is not like that.

"I just mean those specific people who do it. Those people need to be banned from the stadium or fined. You feel alone. People love to say 'stay calm' or 'don't do anything'. It is easy for you to say those things when you are not black and you never feel what it is like.

"You cannot even put yourself in my position of how that feels. In that moment, it is like this. You are alone. You have to be strong. But each human is different. Someone takes it and doesn't react. Others react. I can understand both.

"I always wanted to play in the Premier League and it is now years since my name was first linked to Chelsea. Now I am here and I am very happy and want to thank all the people that made this come true. At the time (in 2016) it wasn't the right moment and now I am here. The whole squad has helped me feel welcome, they are very nice and very kind and very respectful. I like that."

Rudiger made his unofficial debut for Chelsea in Saturday's International Champions Cup defeat to Inter Milan, playing the final 37 minutes of the friendly match in Singapore.

amp_article__303795 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2017-07-30 19:27:29:
html db last update - 2021-02-28 18:25:25 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Antonio Rudiger

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
Read more about Antonio Rudiger Football
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .