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" My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:15 am

Wales boss says team are prepared to walk off pitch if they face 'unacceptable' racial abuse in World Cup qualifier

Wales interim manager Rob Page says his side would be backed fully


Friday 8th October 2021


Wales boss Robert Page says his players are prepared to walk off the pitch in their World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic if they encounter "completely unacceptable" racial abuse.

Page's side take to the field in Prague just a week after Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara was subjected to racial abuse during a Europa League game in the Czech capital.

UEFA has opened an investigation into the events surrounding the Sparta Prague-Rangers tie, which sparked a diplomatic incident between the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.

Sparta fans were banned following racist abuse of Monaco's Aurelius Tchouameni in August, but around 10,000 schoolchildren were permitted to attend the game and Kamara - who was on the receiving end of a racist slur from Slavia Prague's Ondrej Kudela in March - was targeted with what the Scotland's players' union declared as "sickening abuse".

However, Sparta called for "xenophobic attacks" on the children to stop and the British ambassador to the Czech Republic was summoned to a meeting by the country's foreign minister.

Asked how Wales, who have five black players in their squad - Ben Cabango, Ethan Ampadu, Tyler Roberts, Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas - would react to receiving racist abuse at the Sinobo Stadium on Friday, Page said there would be "zero tolerance".

"There's protocols put in place and every single player in that dressing room will know they're backed and supported by the right governing bodies," Page said.

"If action needs to be taken we absolutely will do that as a group. We won't stand for it and there will be zero tolerance for any racial abuse.

"We will take the knee because that's what we think is the right message to continue to show.

"How the crowd react, we can't influence that. But what we will do is conduct ourselves in the right and proper manner. We know as a group what's acceptable and what's not."

Wales captain Gareth Bale said last month in the wake of England players being racially abused in Hungary that he would support his players walking off the pitch in the face of such behaviour.

Bale misses out on collecting his 100th cap in Prague through injury, but Page said he fully endorsed the view of the Real Madrid forward.

He said: "Of course it [walking off] is an option. If it's that bad and we think it's completely unacceptable, the abuse the players are subjected to, then absolutely [we would do that].

"We all stand together and if it needs to be done then we're absolutely prepared to do it."

Wales are level on points with the second-placed Czech Republic with a game in hand.

The two nations are locked in a battle for second spot and the World Cup play-off place that comes with it, as runaway leaders Belgium seem certain to secure the automatic qualification spot.

"We're up against a very good team," said Page, who has also lost defensive trio Ben Davies, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Tom Lockyer and forward David Brooks to injury and illness.

"But I want to be positive in our formation and personnel and go for the win."
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Re: " My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:30 am

I wonder if they actually would if winning the game :?

Re: " My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:53 am

caerblue wrote:I wonder if they actually would if winning the game :?



I'd be dissapointed if they didnt!

Re: " My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Fri Oct 08, 2021 2:34 pm

caerblue wrote:I wonder if they actually would if winning the game :?

I have to agree with this....and what better way to react to these mindless idiots than celebrate a victory right in front of them.

Re: " My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:14 pm

They should grow the f**k up !! Let’s see would they be willing to boycott Qatar over human rights issues if we get there ? No they won’t. They are all full of there own self importance and players believing everyone else is racist except themselves.
And as stated above would they walk if winning ? No they wouldn’t.
Why don’t they shut up and just play football.

Re: " My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Sat Oct 09, 2021 8:40 am

good response from welsh fans when czech fans booing the ‘taking of the knee’

Re: " My players are prepared to walk off the pitch "

Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:25 am

So the players were booed for kneeling, and didnt walk off the pitch?