Robert Page: Wales ready to leave the pitch if the team face racist abuse

[ad_1]

Wales boss Robert Page has said his players are ready to leave the pitch in their World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic if they face unacceptable racial abuse.

Pages’ side are heading to Prague just a week after Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara was racially abused during a Europa League game in the Czech capital.

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

Sparta fans were banned following racist abuse against Monacos Aurelius Tchouameni in August, but around 10,000 schoolchildren were allowed to attend the game and Kamara, who received a racist insult from Slavia Pragues Ondrej Kudela in March, was targeted with what the Scottish players. union said the sickening abuse.

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

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

Protocols are in place and every player in that dressing room will know they are backed and backed by the right governing bodies, Page said.

The Welsh players will kneel in Prague, just as they did against the Czech Republic in their Cardiff clash in March (Nick Potts / PA)

(AP Archives)

If action needs to be taken, we will absolutely do so as a group. We will not tolerate it and there will be zero tolerance for any racial abuse.

We’re going to get down on our knees because that’s what we think is the right message to keep showing.

How the crowd reacts, we cannot influence it. But what we will do is conduct ourselves in a fair and appropriate manner. We know as a group what is acceptable and what is not.

Welsh captain Gareth Bale said last month following racist abuse suffered by England players in Hungary that he would support his players to leave the pitch in the face of such behavior.

If action needs to be taken, we will absolutely do so as a group. We will not tolerate it and there will be zero tolerance for any racial abuse

Welsh coach Robert Page

Bale misses his 100th selection for Prague due to injury, but Page has said he fully supports the Real Madrid forward’s point of view.

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

We are all united and if it needs to be done, we are absolutely ready to do it.

Aaron Ramsey takes over as captain in Bales’ absence after another frustrating season of injuries.

And Page believes the former Arsenal midfielder of Juventus would benefit from returning to the Premier League, which he left in 2019.

Aaron Ramsey has taken over the Wales harbor master’s office with Gareth Bale sidelined with injury (PA)

(PA wire)

You see him train and he inspires the players, Page said. After Balo, it’s natural for me.

It’s a shame he doesn’t play week after week and I would love to see him play in the Premier League.

He deserves to play week after week in the Premier League and fans need to watch him and see what he is capable of.

We didn’t have Gareth on this occasion, but we have a DJ [Daniel James] who is enjoying his football right now. Kieffer [Moore] is a constant threat, and when you have people like Aaron on the roster, opposition officials will take notice.

In big games, he steps up, and it’s a big game.

Wales are tied on points with the Czech Republic, second with one game short.

The two nations are engaged in a battle for second place and the place for the play-offs of the World Cup that accompanies it, while the runaway leader Belgium seems certain of securing the automatic qualifying place.

Were faced with a very good team, said Page, who also lost defensive line Ben Davies, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Tom Lockyer and forward David Brooks to injury and illness.

But I want to be positive in our training and our staff and aim for victory.

[ad_2]