Obi Mikel, the Chelsea legend, has accused the English Football Association of look over his racism complaints during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The former captain of Nigeria, who won the Africa Cup of Nations, a bronze medal with the Super Eagles at the Rio Olympics, and every major trophy in England, bemoaned the numerous occasions in which black players in elite European leagues have been the target of racial abuse.
Early in April, Romelu Lukaku, a Belgian captain, disclosed facing racial slurs during a Serie A game involving AS Roma and Inter Milan, a chant that stirred fresh controversy.
This incident came after Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior was subjected to racial abuse a month earlier.
In a chat with Al Jazeera, Mikel said that while efforts have been made to combat racism, more decisive actions are necessary and that merely banning earring individuals who perpetrate such acts at football stadiums isn’t sufficient to address the underlying problem.
“I get emotional about it; sometimes I say what I’m not supposed to say,” Mikel said.
“But it’s the authorities; they decide. The punishment is nowhere near what they deserve. We are talking about someone being insulted because you’re a certain colour.
“We are the same people and the same humans.
Reflecting on his time at Chelsea, Mikel recounted instances of racism that were reported to the English Football Association but went unresolved, leaving players to endure the mistreatment without recourse.
“When we were playing, I had the same thing as well when we lost games at Chelsea,” Mikel said.
“When I reported to Chelsea and they reported to the FA, nothing was done, ignored, or happened. I had to go back the next weekend, try to put a smile on my face, and continue doing my job. That was what it was then.”
The problem still exists despite the continuous anti-racism activities, indicating the necessity for more extensive and comprehensive solutions.
Mikel joined Chelsea as a young 19-year-old and served the club for over a decade. During his 11-year career at Stamford Bridge, he won every major trophy in England as well as UEFA Champions League and the Europa League.
