Two of the most iconic African footballers of all time took to social media to denounce disgustingly racist comments made on French television on Thursday. Former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o quite rightly called them “sons of bitches.”
Professors Jean-Paul Mira and Camille Locht were discussing possible COVID-19 cures on French TV channel La Chaine Info on Thursday. Mira suggested to Locht the studies should be done in Africa.
“You are right,” Locht replied. “We are currently thinking similarly about a study in Africa regarding the BCG vaccine. There is a proposal that has gone out — or will. We will seriously consider it.”
Didier Drogba, the legendary Chelsea striker, immediately called out the racism of the comments.
“Africa isn’t a testing lab,” the four-time Premier League champion tweeted, adding that Africans are not guinea pigs.
It is totally inconceivable we keep on cautioning this.
Africa isn’t a testing lab.
I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racists words.Helps us save Africa with the current ongoing Covid 19 and flatten the curve. pic.twitter.com/41GIpXaIYv— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 2, 2020
African leaders have a responsibility to protect their populations from those horrendous conspiracies.
May god protect us!— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 2, 2020
Former Newcastle and Chelsea striker Demba Ba, currently with Instanbul Basaksehir, also spoke out about the conversation.
“Welcome to the West, where white people think themselves so superior that racism and debility become commonplace,” Ba tweeted.
Eto’o replied to the tweet by calling the doctors “sons of bitches.”
Des fils de putes.
— Samuel Eto'o (@setoo9) April 2, 2020
These footballers are quite right to call out these racist fucks who seem to think African lives are more expendable than French lives. This is a global pandemic, a time to come together as one, not another excuse to make it about us vs. them like some have done in the U.S.