Manchester United Legend Gives Sentences To Overcome Racist Harassment

JAKARTA - Wayne Rooney believes only tougher sanctions for racist harassment, such as point deductions, will prevent further incidents.

Speaking on his new BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain and Manchester United reflect on what changes need to be made to help overcome discrimination.

Last week there were two major incidents, with Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo who was allegedly racially abused by an audience in the crowd as they lost 2-4 to Liverpool.

Then, Tottenham striker Mathys Tel, who received harassment on social media for failing to execute a penalty in the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Rooney also recalled that racist abuse was devastating to the mentality of the players. He revealed that there was once a player crying on his chest after experiencing racial abuse.

"I experienced it in DC with one of the players who was racially abused. He cried on my chest. I hugged him as he cried on my chest."

"I don't think people notice it. They say it as a fad sentence that they think has no meaning behind it, but it hurts people."

"To get people to see and understand that, there has to be more effort to stop it," Rooney said.

Rooney further assessed the reduction in points and education as a major deterrent from racism abuse.

"There needs to be a strong campaign for society - so children, parents, and grandparents - are educated. You have to attack clubs because that's the only way to stop them."

"If there is ignorance, the fans will still do it. You have to hit the club by reducing points or harming them and taking their money. Otherwise, this will continue."

"Hopefully the right people sit together, the right organizations, to try and take serious action," Rooney said.

Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said two incidents of alleged racist harassment tarnishing the German Cup (DFB Pokal) match were unacceptable when German police were investigating.

Infantino's comments came a day after Schalke's Christopher Antwi-Adjei, said he was subjected to racist abuse in the match against Locomotive Leipzig.

He was ridiculed by supporters throughout the match after reporting the incident to officials.

In another incident, a substituteurusslautern was racially harassed during a warm-up in the match against RSV Eintracht. The team coach did not name the affected player.