The Man Who Fought Racism

And so it appears racism shall not fall by the way side come 2013.

It has taken just three days of the new year for racism to once again overshadow everything the sporting world has to offer.

However this time, the context of the story can be commended

As AC Milan contested a 'friendly' match with Pro Patria, Kevin-Prince Boateng astonishingly picked up the ball and launched it into the crowd. His aim was a small set of supporters who had racially abused he and several of his team mates throughout the duration of the match. The former Portsmouth midfielder went on the take his top off and leave the field of play.

The footage of Boateng simply having enough was what many have pleaded to see for several generations of football. If the seemingly uncaring governing bodies of UEFA and FIFA can't pluck up the courage to use their authority and clash heads with racism, then the players should, and what Boateng has done should be widely acclaimed and applauded by all football purists.

It sounds immoral to find a video consisting of racist abuse beautiful, but seeing Boateng's team-mates harmoniously follow their friend off the pitch and see the majority of the crowd applaud Boateng's actions was the most symbolic image since John Barnes kicked a banana off the pitch in 1988. It showed unity, it showed a joint hatred of racism, it showed progress.

What happened is by no means good news. It's shameful that racism is forever on our lips but the fact of the matter is that it does and that is something we cannot hide from. It is something that must change and doing the same, which is currently next to nothing, will not change it. Meagre fines will not change it. T-shirts will not change it. An awareness day will not change it. A lack of matches will start to make people think twice before they spurt their drivel in the direction of the people that give society so much.

Many will claim that walking away lets the racists win, but if the racists have forever been undermined, why does this taboo increasingly become a problem within sport? What was witnessed today could potentially be a defining moment in the fight against racism. If a player with the calibre of Boateng is willing to walk off the pitch, donning the famous red and black stripes of the Rossoneri, no player should be afraid of taking similar actions and standing in the face of adversity.

It will be intriguing to see how UEFA react. They have a right to fine Milan for leaving the game. Such a stance would be preposterous yet not unsurprising. They have made it clear in the last year especially that they see no objection to days like this, however what can be concluded is that football has made a large step in the right direction and Boateng himself should be applauded for that.