Getafe's Uche slams LaLiga refs, racism from fans
Getafe‘s Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche has criticised LaLiga referees for failing to address the harsh treatment he’s received from opposition players and hit out at racist insults he said he’s been subjected to from fans.
Uche, 21, is in his first season in LaLiga after joining from lower-league side Ceuta and accused referees of not treating him equally to some other players.
“First two matches or three matches, I saw it with my eyes the referees are are so bad, they are so bad,” he told ESPN earlier this week. “They will kick me, the referee will just say I should stand up. No, it’s a foul, you have to blow it.
“But if they kick another person the referee will just blow it. And it’s so painful, you cannot do anything, you don’t have any power because the referee has power to do anything he wants to do.
“No, he has to stop it. Me I will fall down, they will kick me and I will fall down in front of the referee and the referee will not do anything. No it’s not good.”
He added: “Racism is not good, it has to stop. Everybody is the same, everybody is equal.”
Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche opens up about his experience playing in Spain 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/4lcCtJl2sx
— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) September 25, 2024
Getafe president Angel Torres believes Uche made “a complete mistake” to talk about the referees.
He also blamed the journalist who interviewed the player and Getafe’s press officers for not protecting Uche, who is not fluent in Spanish — though the interview was conducted in English.
“He has made a complete mistake,” Torres told El Chiringuito TV when asked about Uche’s comments regarding Spanish referees.
“The fact that it is not the right question to ask a young man who has just arrived does not justify him speaking badly of the referees or anyone else.
“I will talk to him as I haven’t seen the full interview. I don’t want to justify it, but someone who doesn’t speak Spanish, who has a microphone placed in front of him, it seems to me that the journalist is more at fault.
“Let’s hope that the [Spanish Football Federation disciplinary] committees understand it. The people in charge of my press office who were not there but have listened to it, and the journalists who asks that question to a lad who just arrived a month and a half ago, are just as guilty. That doesn’t justify him having to speak badly of anyone.”
Uche also spoke out about racist abuse he said he’s received supporters, something that has been a frequent issue at Spanish stadiums.
“Both the fans, some of the fans, they will be hailing you ‘f—— Black,’ you are a ‘Black this this, that that.’ No it’s not good. It’s not good.”
Asked about the racist comments Uche claims to have received, Torres said: “But if he doesn’t understand, how is he going to say that? He can’t say that. When he’s been here for one or two years and understands Spanish, he can say what he wants.”
Vinícius Júnior has faced frequent racist abuse from opposition fans, with three men jailed in June over an incident in Valencia in the first guilty verdict of its kind in the country.
Speaking last month, the Brazilian suggested Spain could lose the right to host games at the 2030 World Cup if the situation does not improve.
“I hope that Spain can evolve, and understand how serious it is to insult someone because of the colour of their skin,” he told CNN. “If by 2030 things don’t improve, I think we have to move the location, because if a player doesn’t feel comfortable and safe playing in a country where they can suffer racism, it’s a bit difficult.”
Despite some of his negative experiences, Uche said he was still glad for the chance to play in Spain’s top division.
“I feel great for the opportunity to play at this level, in LaLiga,” he said. “I’m trying my best to show I have the quality to play here. Playing against Barcelona and Real Madrid is a dream come true, I’m very glad to be here.”
Information from ESPN’s Adriana Garcia contributed to this report.
