Athletic Club forward, Iñaki Williams has urged for stronger action against racism in LaLiga after his teammate Maroan Sannadi received racial insults during their 1-1 draw against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday.
Williams, who reported the event to the referee, stated that it was not the first time such abuse has occurred in Spanish football.
Williams was near to the situation when Sannadi was subjected to racial slurs, causing him to notify the referee and activate the league’s anti-racism policy.
Speaking with Cadena SER, the Ghanaian forward emphasized the necessity for penalties to stop such behavior.
“Starting from a basic idea that people come to enjoy football, I believe that this type of thing cannot happen,” Williams said, adding, “Maroan has made an individual play and they have insulted him, saying ‘fing Moor’.
“It is not the first time that this has happened here, it has already happened to me, but that should not tarnish the Espanyol fans.”
Williams acknowledged that racism was a football-wide problem, not just an issue at Espanyol, and insisted that the league must ensure sanctions for those responsible, saying, “Football must be supported, Espanyol needs its fans and not the four idiots tarnishing true football.