ITA – Italy launch ‘I want black skin’ campaign to combat racism after Wabara incident
The Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) have launched a campaign called “I want black skin” as a show of solidarity with Wabara, who is of Nigerian origin.
In a statement, the FIP said: “The idea is born after the racist insults towards Abiola Wabara, player of Bracco Sesto Giovanni and of the national team.
"Starting from our solidarity with Abiola, the FIP wants to clarify loud and clear that it is against any type of racism.
"Basketball has always been characterized as multi-racial.
"The foreign players have allowed our sport to grow.
"The FIP has asked all the members of the basketball movement and the fans to paint their skins with a black sign, well visible, for the next round of league games, to represent the colors of all the races, for everyone to feel the same.
"Those that have already joined the campaign are the Lega Serie A, Legadue, National Basketball league, Legabasket Femminile, Usap, Giba and Aiap."
Despite the quick and immediate response by the FIP, Wabara (pictured), who turns 30 later this year, was terribly shaken by the abuse she received in the A1 quarter-final play-off game against Pool Comense.
Wabara, who played college basketball in America for Baylor, said: "I have played in front of 36,000 fans in the USA and I've never experienced something like that.
"It's (racist abuse) not the first time this has happened since I have played in Italy from the age of 17.
"Besides the insults, I was called an ape, a man went out on the court and was shouting at me: ‘Come here, come here.’"
Geas Sesto San Giovanni and Wabara managed to put the incident behind them and beat Pool Comense 68-58 to reach the play-off semi-finals.
