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yyys123 · Joined: 08 Jul 2019 Posts: 855

MEXICO CITY - Mexican football got a boost in September when former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho — a two-time FIFA player of the year — joined modest local club Queretaro.The upbeat mood didnt last long. Even before he had played his first match, he was the subject of a racist attack — the kind that has become common for black soccer players across Europe.Mexico has a history of racism on the pitch. But it was largely overlooked until the arrival of Ronaldinho.Racism in Europe often involves white against black. But in Mexico and other parts of Latin America that have mixed-race societies, it can involve dark-skinned people shouting insults at other dark-skinned people.Carlos Trevino, a former official of the Queretaro state government, launched an attack on Ronaldinho on his Facebook page before the Brazilian had played a single game. He had only just arrived in town, causing minor pandemonium, when Trevino exploded.Seriously, I try to be tolerant, but I hate football and the idiotic phenomenon it produces, Trevino wrote. I hate it even more because people flood the streets, meaning it took me forever to get home. And all this to see an ape; a Brazilian, but an ape just the same.Following a wave of criticism, Trevino apologized to the club and player. But he received no punishment, which typifies how Mexican football officials have dealt with the growing problem.Decio de Maria, president of Liga MX — Mexicos top league — suggests racism is not a problem; just misunderstood.Mexico is not a racist country, he said. This is a country where we use nicknames. On the streets, they single people out. There are profanities that, when they are said, do not mean what they literally mean. Calling someone by a nickname is not discrimination. Those who cross the line should be taken to court, said de Maria.Valeria Berumen, a high-ranking official of a Mexican government office that works to combat racism, says, there are two engines that push discrimination. One is football. The other is the Internet. They have the ability to spread positive messages, but they also can spread discrimination, racism and xenophobia.Just after the Ronaldinho incident, Colombian player Dorlan Pabon of the Monterrey club heard fans calling him an ape in a match in the central city of Leon. The club said it would investigate. By the end of October, the club had not announced the results of its investigation.The list of recent racist incidents in Mexico is growing.In February, fans of Pumas in Mexico City chanted monkey noises whenever opposing Colombian players Eisner Loboa and Franco Arizala touched the ball.Last year, Ecuadoran Christian Benitez complained about being the target of monkey chants in a match in Mexico City. He was playing at the time for America, another top club. Benitez died of a heart attack a few months later after signing for Qatari club El Jaish.Football racism is a nasty problem outside Mexico, too.Brazilian club Gremio was kicked out of the Brazilian Cup earlier this year after its fans racially abused an opposing player.In a match this year at Spains Villarreal, Barcelonas Brazilian defender Dani Alves had a banana thrown at him. Alves, who is black, picked it up, bit off a piece and then discarded it before taking his kick.Earlier this year the Mexican league adopted rules set by footballs governing body FIFA. They allow the referee to stop the match if racist incidents take place. If they continue, he can take the teams off the field for 10 minutes. And if they persist, he can suspend the match.So far, no Mexican referee has acted under any of these rules.Daniel Luduena, an Argentine midfielder playing for Pumas, said the problem was worse at some stadiums than others.Theres not racism on all the fields in Mexico, he said. The problem is, perhaps, at three or four stadiums. But there is no reason to wait for an extreme case before acting to stop it. Andre Tippett Youth Jersey . The 23-year-old Poland international is back as first choice at Arsenal after losing his regular spot in the team on occasions over the last three seasons. Andre Tippett Jersey . -- Peyton Manning is the only player in this Super Bowl who has won the big game. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/Elite-Julian-Edelman-Patriots-Jersey/ . Hughes, 30, is a former Major Leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles, having played in 14 games with the Os in 2010. He played with Class AA Binghamton of the Eastern League in the New York Mets system last season. 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"Obviously everybody wants to go out like Ray Lewis with the Super Bowl parade ... but it wasnt in the cards for me." Fletcher left a tiny opening that he could return, but age has finally started to catch up with the player who always seemed ageless. Hes 38, and his tackles and playing time have declined this season. Hes set to be a free agent, and hes the leader of a struggling defence that is one of many reasons the Redskins (3-11) have clinched their fifth last-place finish in six years. "Im about 99 per cent certain that this will be my last season," Fletcher said. "Ive got to leave at least one per cent in case I change my mind, but its really just about having another conversation with my wife. ... I want to put on a nice suit when I go to that 100 per cent." Fletcher, listed at 5-foot-10, has answered the call for all 254 regular season games since joining the St. Louis Rams out of John Carroll in 1998, the longest consecutive games streak for a defensive player since the 1970 merger and fourth all-time behind Jeff Feagles (352), Brett Favre (299) and Jim Marshall (282). Hes started 213 straight games -- the longest such run by a linebacker in NFL history -- over four seasons with the Rams, five with the Buffalo Bills and seven with the Redskins. He said hes thought about retirement for four or five years, but he had previously said would wait until the calm of the off-season to decide for good rather than announcing it in-season while emotions are strong. He said Wednesday he changed his mind because he wanted a chance to say goodbye to the fans at Sundays home finale against the Dallas Cowboys. Fletcher once called himself the "Susan Lucci of the NFL" because he was always getting snubbed at Pro Bowl time, but the drought ended when was selected for the all-star game for four consecutive seasons starting in 2009. He was second-team All-Pro in 2011 and 2012, has played in two Super Bowlls and is the only player since sacks became an official stat in 1982 to have 30 sacks, 20 interceptions and 20 forced fumbles.dddddddddddd Asked if hes Hall of Fame worthy, he laughed and said there will "definitely" be room for debate when hes compared to others who have been enshrined. "I think hes definitely a Hall of Fame calibre player," coach Mike Shanahan said. "His work speaks for itself." Fletcher said he can still "go out and make plays" despite his age and is leaving in part to spend more time a family that includes three young children. He said he hopes to leave a legacy of helping develop teammate Perry Riley, but Fletchers overwhelming accomplishment is that he always found a way to play, no matter how badly he was limping from some injury after the previous game. "I dont know how he does it," linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "Any time Im feeling bad or I dont want to practice or Im sore, and I look at this guy and hes still going -- you cant complain. Its impossible to go out there and complain because this guys out there doing it and he has 10-plus years on me." Fletcher said the streak was his way of not letting his teammates down. "I always wanted to be able to be there for them and know that, Hey, they can count on me," Fletcher said. "And even prove doubters wrong when theres a little nick or bump and they think, Hey, this is going to be the end of the streak or whatever the case may be -- to be able to say: You know what? Im tough enough to get through this." Notes: Fletcher also gave a passionate endorsement for Shanahan to return. "I think you should extend him, as crazy as that may sound," Fletcher said. ... Fletchers advice to embattled quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has been benched for the rest of the season: "This is a time for him to exhale, take a step back." Griffins rambling response: "I agree with him. And I did take that advice because for some people it can push you over the edge and really frustrate you, so for me I just gotta do what Fletch told me and exhale, just let it all go because you have to let the people that know you defend you. And you cant try to defend yourself or your family in these situations. Its unfortunate and people wont understand that. But people that know me, know my parents, know my family, know what goes on around here, they have to defend me." 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