FOR THE WIN

Player leaves in tears after racist chants

Luke Kerr-Dineen
USA TODAY Sports
Partizan Belgrade's Brazilian midfielder Everton Luiz leaves the field in tears on February 19, 2017, at the end of a Serbian championship match between Partizan and Rad, after racist remarks from Rad's supporters, Serbian television B92 reported.
Every time he touched the ball, 28-year-old Everton Luiz was being monkey-screamed from a group of supporters of Rad Belgrade, the source said. Shortly before the end, the match was briefly interrupted when Rad supporters also waved a banner with an insulting message against the Brazilian.  / AFP PHOTO / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: AFP_LV046

This is heartbreaking. Truly, heartbreaking. Sports at it's very worst, and something fans everywhere need to speak out against.

During a Serbian SuperLeague game between Partizan Belgrade and Rad on Sunday, Partizan's star midfielder suffered a horrific slate of racist abuse, according to his club's statement:

Partizan Belgrade's Brazilian midfielder Everton Luiz leaves the field in tears on February 19, 2017, at the end of a Serbian championship match between Partizan and Rad, after racist remarks from Rad's supporters. Every time he touched the ball, 28-year-old Everton Luiz was being monkey-screamed from a group of supporters of Rad Belgrade, the source said. Shortly before the end, the match was briefly interrupted when Rad supporters also waved a banner with an insulting message against the Brazilian

Luiz, refusing to take any more of the abuse, showed his middle finger to the crowd, which ignited a brawl between the two sides.

Once that was broken up, Luiz left the field in tears. He was defiant after the game, though, refusing to let the racist fans win.

"I've been suffering racist abuse during the entire 90 minutes and also was upset by the home players, who supported that. They were all attacking me. I want to forget this as soon as possible. I love Serbia and the people here, that is why I cried. But please say no to racism."

AFP
AFP
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AP