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Despite the international attention Sulley Muntari’s one-match ban for protesting racial attacks at him during last weekend’s Serie A match between Cagliari and Pescara, it has been revealed that the player’s club made no attempts to appeal his ban.
Muntari was booked by in the 90′ by Referee, Daniele Minelli for his protest of something happening in the stands and eventually walking off the pitch to a section of the home crowd.
Subsequently, the 32-year-old was slapped with a one-match ban.
On Friday, news emerged that the Associazione Italiana Calciatori (AIC) had lodged a successful appeal overturning the earlier decision against the Pescara midfielder.
BREAKING: Sulley Muntari appeal, lodged by @assocalciatori, could be heard tonight. Watch this space for updates. We wish him well. 🤞🏿✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/lDAWWuY6UL
— FIFPro (@FIFPro) May 5, 2017
JUST IN: @MuntariOfficial won! His ban has been overturned tonight by @FIGC. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— FIFPro (@FIFPro) May 5, 2017
According the global footballers’ Union, FIFPro, :
“Muntari was badly let down when he received two yellow cards after he unsuccessfully sought help from the referee over racist abuse while playing for Pescara.”
The union also revealed that the Serie A club turned its back on the player :
“FIFPro is surprised that Muntari’s club, Pescara, did not lodge an appeal to overturn the sanction. It took a last-minute appeal by the Ghanaian himself, assisted by the Italian players union, Associazione Italiana Calciatori (AIC), to have the ban rescinded.”
Speaking after the FIGC’s reversal of the ban per FIFPro, the Ghana International said,
“I feel that someone has finally listened and heard me,” Muntari said. “The last few days have been very hard for me. I have felt angry and isolated.
“I was being treated like a criminal. How could I be punished when I was the victim of racism?
“I hope my case can help so that other footballers do not suffer like me.
“I hope it can be a turning point in Italy and show the world what it means to stand up for your rights.
“This is an important victory to send a message that there’s no place for racism in football, or society in general.”
“Many people and organisations such as FIFPro and the UN supported me and I would like to thank everyone who assisted me.”
