Nico Williams, representing Athletic Bilbao, demonstrated resilience by scoring during their recent La Liga encounter against Atletico Madrid despite facing accusations of racial abuse from a section of the home fans. The incident occurred at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, prompting Williams to request a match pause midway through the first half. Play halted momentarily as an announcement addressed the crowd, with Atletico players Antoine Griezmann and Jose Maria Gimenez visibly intervening to urge fans to cease the derogatory chants before the game resumed.
Expressing his disappointment, the 21-year-old Williams revealed his experience of hearing monkey sounds while taking a corner, highlighting the urgent need for societal change regarding racial discrimination, both within and beyond sports. Despite encountering adversity, Williams maintained focus on his performance, managing to score a goal before half-time, notwithstanding continued hostility from some spectators.
Inaki Williams, Nico’s brother and teammate, condemned the jeers directed at him, stressing that accountability should rest with those uttering insults rather than the victim. Atletico Madrid issued a statement via social media, denouncing racism or hatred in any form, while La Liga reiterated its commitment to eradicating such behavior from the sport.
Despite Nico Williams’ goal, Athletic Bilbao endured a 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid, with goals from Rodrigo de Paul and Angel Correa, along with an own goal from Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon. The victory positions Atletico favorably to secure Champions League football next season, boasting a six-point lead over fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao with only five games remaining in the season. This incident adds to a series of racial discrimination instances in Spanish football, including a recent complaint filed by Real Madrid regarding alleged racist chanting from Atletico fans directed at Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr.
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