UD La Laguna denounced racist chanting during its match against UD Longuera

José Ángel Torres, president of UD La Laguna, a Tenerife club with teams in various grassroots categories of football, announced this Monday that none of his teams will play in the Antonio Yeoward field, in Toscal- Longuera neighborhood, in Los Realejos, where, he denounced, racist insults took place last Friday.

Torres, in statements to EFE, called for strict measures to be taken to prevent violence and racism in indigenous football. Juvenil B from La Laguna visited the Longuera Toscal field and from the start of the match the atmosphere in the stands was not what one would want for a grassroots football match.

It was after a goal from the local team, he recounted, when tensions rose and among the many insults “shit monkey” was heard in reference to a black player from the Laguna team, a comment that only the referee only heard and transferred to both benches, The moment came when the coach of the team decided to remove his players from the field.

The La Laguna club pointed out that his team then had to stay locked in the locker room to avoid insults and attacks, particularly by a rival fan with a stun gun.

Three police cars were needed to get the team out of the facility safely. After this incident, he reported his decision not to visit the Longuera field again until this club publicly rejects violence and, in particular, racism.

“If they have other provisions, we will change the decision, but for now, they just denied what happened. You have to think about it and you have to act strongly. Otherwise, we will not end violence in soccer,” Torres said.

“It is becoming more and more visible and since forceful measures are not being taken by the Tenerife federation, it continues to happen. The consequences are usually the suspension of two games, a small fine for the team and little else,” he asserted.