'NO MORE' ... Eto'o tries to
leave the pitch during match last year
SAMUEL ETO'O has called on players to walk off the pitch if
they face racist abuse.
The Barcelona striker, 26, is furious with UEFA's lack of action on
racism.
And he believes he must make a stand for football's authorities to
take notice of the problem.
Eto'o said: Promises have been made for change - for sanctions to
be enforced - but the first move needs to be made and it needs to
be made by those who are being subjected to racism.
"Part of me hopes that one day someone will manage to walk off the
pitch in protest.
A recent England Under-21 clash was marred by Serbian supporters
chanting racist taunts at defender Nedum Onuoha.
But Eto'o believes racism is not just an issue in football.
He thinks the general public have a role to play in clamping down
on the problem.
Eto'o added: If we experience this in football it means our
society is rotten and that means we're in a dangerous
situation.
"That's what we need to be fighting against. I think that football
is a small thing, but society - just imagine!
I am treated first and foremost as a footballer, as Samuel Eto'o,
but away from the cameras a black man is suffering from racism and
nobody cares.
"That's the problem."
Etoo tried to walk off the pitch when he received abuse in a match
with Real Zaragoza in February last year.
He could be seen saying "no more" but he was convinced to stay on
by other players and Barca boss Frank Rijkaard.
He added: I think people tried to shoot me down as if I was making
too much of it.
"But the whole time I was just expressing how I was feeling,
something that no one at that time could have felt.
I think that education is the problem. Its just ignorance, that's
what it is.