Michail Antonio has got fans from around the country talking after the midfielder held an interview with Sky Sports to discuss racism in the modern game.
West Ham United have been thrown into the issue recently, as one fan was filmed hurling abuse at Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah when the Reds came to the London Stadium earlier in the month.
The incident was just the latest in a growing amount at Premier League games, as Arsenal’s Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang had a banana skin thrown at him during the North London Derby and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling received racial abuse at Stamford Bridge.
The fan identified for throwing the banana skin was handed a four-year stadium ban and a fine, but for Antonio, that is far from enough, and the Englishman is calling for stadium closures and even points deductions as a more severe deterrent.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Antonio said: “That one person, okay, he gets banned for life, but to be honest, no one has a picture of his face. He can get back into the stadium.
“If you affect their team – these fans love their team – the fans, his friends, are going to turn on him.
“If you start playing games behind closed doors and deducting points, then the problem is inside themselves. They are going to deal with it themselves.”
The suggestion of closing stadiums and deducting points raised a lot of replies from around the country, with some noting that there is nothing to stop rival fans sneaking into home crowds and causing problems…
He doesn’t like his own club
— Golden Pontiac (@Ward_Thistle) February 11, 2019
It’s like he wants us to get relegated
— Cartlon Cole (@_CarltonCole9) February 11, 2019
This is about kicking out racism in football. Whether its at his club or at other clubs
— Nik (@NiklausJamesJr) February 11, 2019
good point only problem is you then punish the 98% that are not racists. you also punish the players of the side who again have done nothing wrong. The best way is to ban them for life that way they can never get near outlet game. racism awareness course paid by the offender?
— scott mcdonald (@scottmcd83) February 11, 2019
He clearly wants to be playing in the Championship next season with no fans in the stadium then
— Ahsan Kayani (@AKayani07) February 11, 2019
Stellar proposal. If only the authorities had a backbone. Becoming far too frequent recently. Probably needs policing through own fans challenging it too
— Richard A. Oxley (@richardaoxley) February 12, 2019
Finally . A chance for Fulham to win the league
— Will Davey (@WillDavey4) February 11, 2019
What will prevent fans from being impostors at the expense of the other team? Jailing individuals instead of blanket punishments is the best way out.
— Ndukulu & 960 others (@Imuigai) February 11, 2019
I understand what he’s saying but it’s only a small minority of fans in an entire fanbase, not everyone is racist
— Jack Bradshaw (@Jackbradshaw365) February 11, 2019
Stupid suggestion. What would stop opposition fans from buying a ticket to a rivals game, dressing up as one of them, and shouting racial abuse to get them a points deduction?
— AH ???? (@AinsleyMUFC) February 11, 2019
Rubbish! don’t punish every fan by closing a stadium just punish the offenders by banning them for life from live football, I am not so sure punishing the club is a good idea either, get loads of CCTV and punish the vile rascists not the honest fan.
— Kent Buck Rogers (@buck040858) February 11, 2019
I think don’t think fans have to determine the future of the team…. it’s better to get those fans banned from entering the stadium or face legal challenges.
— MAWELA SURPRISE (@SURPRISEMAWELA) February 12, 2019