'It's a losing game!': Richarlison thanks Rio Ferdinand for his 'support' but insists nothing will change until 'these "people"' are 'punished for real'... after the former Man United defender accused football's governing bodies of 'sweeping' racism 'under the carpet'
- Richarlison thanked Rio Ferdinand for his support after suffering racist abuse
- Ferdinand had taken a swipe at 'inaction' when it comes to racism in football
- Tottenham star Richarlison was targeted with a banana thrown from the stands
- He was celebrating scoring Brazil's second goal in a 2-1 friendly win over Tunisia
- As he celebrated by the corner flag, a banana was thrown onto the pitch
- The Brazil FA have said they will continue to fight against 'racism and prejudice'
Richarlison has thanked Rio Ferdinand for his support, after having a banana thrown at him during Brazil's 2-1 win over Tunisia in Paris.
The former Manchester United and England defender sent out his support to the 25-year-old, before accusing football's governing bodies of sweeping racism under the carpet.
The Tottenham and Brazil star was celebrating having put his country 2-1 in front when several objects were launched onto the pitch, one of which was clearly a banana.
The Spurs forward responded to Ferdinand's claims on Twitter, saying: 'Thanks for your support Rio!
'It is unacceptable, even with so many campaigns and information available, that it still happens.
'It will only change when these "people" are punished for real... Until then it's a losing game, bro!'
![A banana was thrown onto the pitch as Richarlison celebrated his goal with team-mates, in a shocking incident of racist abuse from Tunisia fans watching the 5-1 loss vs Brazil on Tuesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/27/23/62862443-11255799-image-m-19_1664316780094.jpg)
A banana was thrown onto the pitch as Richarlison celebrated his goal with his team-mates
![Rio Ferdinand says that the reaction to the racism scandal in Paris is similar to when Richarlison was accused of show-boating at Nottingham Forest earlier this season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/28/12/62881407-11258407-image-a-10_1664365295769.jpg)
Rio Ferdinand says that the reaction to the racism scandal in Paris is similar to when Richarlison was accused of show-boating at Nottingham Forest earlier this season
Footage showed United midfielder Fred kicking the banana away while other objects were also thrown onto the pitch.
Earlier this month Spanish police arrested five supporters in connection with a probe into racist chanting aimed at Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr in the derby with Atletico Madrid.
Ferdinand took to his YouTube channel on Wednesday to hit out at inaction when it comes to racism and says 'sanctions aren't hard enough' to prevent repeat offenders.
'The sanctions are not working, the sanctions aren't hard enough. There aren't barriers, no repercussions, no authority saying this is what we stand for, and if you cross that line bang,' he said.
'The way racism is treated now is like, let's just keep sweeping it under the carpet. No one shouts loud enough, no player, no club, no organisation can stand tall for long enough.
![Ferdinand wants tougher sanctions in place to act as a deterrent to 'ignorant' supporters](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/28/12/62881409-11258407-image-a-12_1664365302733.jpg)
Ferdinand wants tougher sanctions in place to act as a deterrent to 'ignorant' supporters
'It's disheartening. You've got your own kids waking up saying, "dad, you seen that banana thrown on the pitch at Richarlison?" It's mad this.'
Ferdinand is convinced that 'hysteria' caused from a banana being thrown at Richarlison is akin to the social media debate when the Brazilian star was clattered at Nottingham Forest for what many felt was showboating in the final few minutes.
He was seen doing keepy-ups when he was roughly tackled by a Forest player.
'There was probably as much vitriol and hysteria on social media and in media in general as there were with this banana racism incident as there was when he was doing kick-ups and he got smashed. Let that sink in,' Ferdinand added.
'It's mad man. That's how it feels, that racism is... it's not over here as being an absolute thing we should have to discuss and sort out and have zero tolerance with, it don't sit there man.'
Speaking after Brazil's 5-1 win in Paris, Brazil captain Thiago Silva called on football to drive change in the terraces.
'I was saddened by the gesture they made, throwing the banana at Richarlison which, frankly, leaves me very saddened because that's not football,' he told reporters.
'Football is about supporting your team. Afterwards, on the pitch, we try to give our all for the national team. But gestures like that are not good for football.'
![Richarlison's club Tottenham condemned the 'disgusting' racist abuse of the Brazilian](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/28/12/62881105-11258417-image-a-10_1664364469831.jpg)
Richarlison's club Tottenham condemned the 'disgusting' racist abuse of the Brazilian
![The Premier League also spoke out against the incident in Paris on Tuesday evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/28/12/62881103-11258407-The_Premier_League_also_spoke_out_against_the_incident_in_Paris_-a-13_1664365309556.jpg)
The Premier League also spoke out against the incident in Paris on Tuesday evening
The incident sparked fury from Richarlison, who took to Twitter post-match to challenge authorities to take the issue of racism seriously.
'As long as [the authorities] stay 'blah blah blah' and don't punish, it will continue like this, happening every day and everywhere,' he wrote.
The forward also retweeted a series of messages of support he had received from clubs in Brazil, including Atletico Mineiro, Fluminese and America.
On Wednesday Tottenham Hotspur and the Premier League condemned the 'disgusting' racist abuse of Richarlison.
Spurs offered their support to their player in a tweet that read: 'We are disgusted by the racist abuse of Richarlison at last night's game between Brazil and Tunisia.
'This has no place in football, or anywhere. We stand with you, Richy.'
![Before the game Brazil's players came together and posed for photos with an anti-racism banner that read: 'Without our black players, we wouldn't have stars on our shirts'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/09/28/11/62878565-11258011-image-a-42_1664359207904.jpg)
Before the game Brazil's players came together and posed for photos with an anti-racism banner that read: 'Without our black players, we wouldn't have stars on our shirts'
The Premier League also condemned the abuse, tweeting: 'There is no room for racism anywhere. We all need to tackle discrimination together. Challenge it. Report it. Change it.'
The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) issued a statement after the match on Tuesday on the Richarlison incident via Twitter.
It read: 'Unfortunately a banana was thrown on the pitch towards Richarlison, scorer of the second Brazilian goal.
'The CBF reinforces its position to combat racism and repudiates any manifestation of prejudice.'
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