Cherif Traoré: the Italian pillar denounces his Benetton Treviso teammates for a “racist” joke | Rugby Union News

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Cherif Traore, who won 16 caps for Italy including at the 2022 Six Nations, has taken to social media to describe what he describes as an ‘offensive gesture’; United Rugby Championship club Benetton said it takes a strong stance against racism but made no mention of an investigation

Last update: 12/21/22 7:39 p.m.

Cherif Traore

Italian prop Cherif Traore has revealed he was handed a rotten banana during Benetton’s Secret Santa in an incident which left his team-mates laughing.

The 28-year-old, Guinea-born, who has won 16 caps including at the 2022 Six Nations, took to social media to describe what he described as an “offensive gesture”.

After initially responding by issuing a statement condemning all racism, the United Rugby Championship club later said all staff had been called in for a meeting at which the chairman and chief executive addressed the team, before Traoré’s teammates apologized to him.

None of Benetton’s statements suggested that further investigation would be conducted or that no action would be taken against the individual responsible for the incident.

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On Wednesday morning, Traoré wrote on Instagram: “Christmas is coming and as is tradition in a team, it’s time for Secret Santa.

“A friendly and playful moment. A moment when we make anonymous gifts to our friends, even miserly, ironic.

“Yesterday, when it was my turn, I found a banana in my present. A rotten banana in a moisture bag.

“Apart from calling the gesture offensive, what hurt me the most was seeing most of my friends in attendance laughing. As if everything was normal.

“I’m used to it. Or rather, I had to get used to it, making a brave face every time I hear racist jokes to try not to hate people close to me. Yesterday was different however.

“Fortunately, some comrades, especially foreigners, tried to support me. Outside of Italy, a move like this is severely condemned, even in small instances and this time I mean my part.

“I was up all night. Young people from different walks of life attended this Secret Santa.

“I have decided not to remain silent this time to ensure that episodes like this do not happen again and to prevent other people from being in my current situation in the future. And hoping that the sender will learn a lesson…”

Traoré arrived in Italy at the age of seven, making the trip from Guinea to West Africa with his family to join his father, who had already emigrated to Europe.

He has represented Italy at U20, A and senior levels, making his debut for the Azzurri against Japan in 2018 when Conor O’Shea was in charge.

Benetton’s initial statement read: “Referring to the message that appeared this morning on the social networks of Greens and Whites player Cherif Traoré, Benetton would like to reiterate that it has always condemned in the strongest possible terms any expression of racism. and/or form of discrimination.

“They are not part of our culture and do not represent our identity and values. We have always proven this with deeds, not just words, and we will continue to stand firmly behind this.

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

Benetton later said chairman Amerino Zatta and chief executive Antonio Pavanello called a meeting in which they “reaffirmed” to the team the club’s “firm condemnatory stance” towards racism.

The club’s second statement also included a new statement from Traore, in which he said: “This afternoon’s meeting was an opportunity to discuss and understand how what one of my companions did at the occasion of the Christmas gift exchange is purely the result of idiocy and nothing else.

“I appreciate and accept his apologies and those of the whole team. I am happy with the gesture and I am sure that what happened will make the group even stronger. We are a family and as such we We will continue to engage on and off the pitch, fighting, as we have always done, against all forms of discrimination.”

Club chairman Zatta added: “What happened against Cherif in no way reflects our identity and the values ​​that the Benetton family have held for years.

“I’m glad that Cherif accepted the apology, understanding the absurd stupidity of one of his teammates. I’m sure it will strengthen the feeling of cohesion within the group and that such a gesture will never again find fertile ground in the within our family.”

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