Violence in football, often perpetrated by little minds in the name of fanaticism, took centre stage on the African continent last week.
A 24-year-old Camerounian, plying his trade with Algerian side, J.S. Kabylie, Albert Ebosse, couldn’t survive the bludgeoning impact of a projectile that struck his head in a domestic game against USM Alger in Tizou Ouzou.
The object was thrown from the stands by a ‘lunatic’ as a way of expressing his displeasure over the fact that Ebosse scored one of the two goals that fetched his side victory over USM Alger.
Just like how the senseless trampling of dozens of football fans to death in many parts of the world through the years has always left a sour taste in the mouth, the Tizou Ouzou tragic incident must outrage all decent minds.
At a time when world football controlling body, FIFA, is leaving no stone unturned in its determination to ensure the game is devoid of negative factors like racism, it is very sad that Algeria is in the news for all the wrong reasons.
What happened across Europe in recent years, when all kinds of despicable acts bordering on downright racism were committed against black players, should never find fertile grounds in our part of the world.
At this point, it may be early to say that what happened in Tizou Ouzou has anything to do with racism.
However, considering how the dastardly act came to pass in Tizou Ouzou, some people can’t help feeling that it is a premeditated happening fuelled by a strong dislike for black-skinned people.
I pray that at the end of the day when the culprit is found to face the full force of the law, superiority complex, north African-style, will not be at the base of it all. It will be too bad if that turns out to be the case.
It’s such a pity that in spite of all that humanity stands to gain from football’s unifying power, the game’s lunatic fringe rather chooses to see things the other way.
The authorities in Algeria should go whatever distance it will take to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure true justice for Ebosse. Criminals such as the culprit should have no place in the world’s most beautiful game.
More than that, it will serve as a deterrent to those who always think football can be equated with wars on battlefields.
It doesn’t matter what happens, football will remain the world’s most emotion-laden sport, for which reason thoughts such as what occurred in Tizou Ouzou will continue to cross the minds of fanatics to take the law into their hands. But the world can’t afford to lose the war against the crazy minds that see everything within the context of fanaticism.
CAF in particular should take a very firm stand on the Tizou Ouzou incident to serve as a wake-up call to all federations to intensify the fight against violence in football.
Anything short of decisive action, will only amount to scratching the surface of a problem that is sinking roots in our beloved game.
