Benetton releases statement following racist Secret Santa gift

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Benetton Rugby has released a public statement following a social media post from Cherif Traore.

Guinea-born prop Traore was given a rotten banana at Benetton’s Secret Santa team and took to Instagram to speak out against the behavior.

“Christmas is approaching and as traditionally in a team, it’s Secret Santa time. A friendly and fun time. A time when you can afford to offer anonymous gifts to your friends, even stingy and ironic, ”wrote Traoré in Italian.

“Yesterday, when it was my turn, I found a banana in my gift. A rotten banana, inside a moisture bag. Other than calling the gesture offensive, which hurt me the most and seeing most of my comrades in attendance laughing. As if everything was normal.

“I’m used to, or better, I had to get used to, having to make a good face about a bad game every time I hear racist jokes to try not to hate people close to me. Yesterday was different though.

“Fortunately, some comrades, especially foreigners, tried to support me. Outside of Italy, a gesture like this is harshly condemned even in small realities, and this time I mean mine.

“I’ve been up all night. Young people from different backgrounds attended this Secret Santa. I decided not to be silent this time to make sure that episodes like this don’t happen again to prevent other people from finding themselves in my current situation in the future. And hoping that the sender will learn a lesson…”

Following the publication, Benetton issued a statement on its official website condemning the behavior.

“In reference to the message published this morning on the social profiles of the biancover player Cherif Traoré, Benetton Rugby would like to reiterate that it has always condemned in the strongest terms any expression of racism and/or form of discrimination”, indicates the press release. read. “They are not part of our culture and do not represent our identity and our values.

“We have always proven it with deeds, not just words, and we will continue to stand firmly behind it.

“Similar behavior has nothing to do with sport and in the face of episodes like this, Benetton Rugby will always be on the side of respect for people, their culture, their ethnicity, their faith and their dignity. “

It’s not yet clear whether the donor was a teammate of Traore or a member of staff.

Traore has been a member of the Benetton squad since 2015, landing over 80 appearances for the club while also making several appearances for the Italian national team.

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