They say it is the Beautiful Game. You wouldn’t be jumping to agreement with that assessment if you read Donald McRae’s interview with the Cameroon’s captain, Samuel Eto’o. (The Guardian 8/6/10) Apart from his leading role for the Cameroon, winning the Olympic Gold in 2000 and the African Cup of Nations twice, Eto’o has also picked up no less than three Champions League medals, two with Barcelona and one this season with Inter Milan, not to mention three African Player of the Year Awards. On that account it might be fairly said that Eto’o is at the very pinnacle of the game both from a European and African perspective and his views should be taken most seriously.

Those views do not always make for pretty reading. Under the title, ‘I might live in Europe but I sleep in Africa’, Donald McRae presents an incisive piece of journalism that ought to hover over the next four weeks; words will test the concept of the ‘beautiful game’ to the very limit.’ Eto’o explains to McRae what it is like to make it as an African football player. ‘It’s always been a very tough journey for African footballers in Europe and it’s still tough today.. Like most Africans I had to work much harder and show much deeper belief than others. I started with nothing and reached the level I am today’. But I made it and now I’m going home, to Africa, where we can show a different face to the world. Most people only see Africa in terms of poverty and war, famine and disease. But the World Cup gives us a chance to show something different. I think the whole world is going to be really surprised by Africa. This could be the best World Cup in history.’

Asked by McRae whether he feels there is some ‘subconscious’ favouritism towards the European and South American football elites, Eto’o just smiles and replies, ‘I’m still a player. I can’t say that sort of thing.’

McRae opens up the ugly topic of European racism towards Black footballers. The answer he gets is not edifying. Eto’o explains, ‘I suffered a lot. I’ll be a bit rude here but those who come to the stadium to whistle at me and make monkey chants and throw banana skins have not had the chance to travel and educate themselves like we did. I had to deal with it so often I found ways of making a point against racism. When we played Real Zaragoza they chanted like monkeys and threw peanuts on the pitch. So when I scored I danced in front of them like a monkey. And when the same thing happened against Real Madrid I scored and held my fist in a Black Power salute.’

McRae then asks, ‘Will the first ever World Cup in Africa help eradicate these last festering outbreaks of racism in football?’ Eto’o gives a curt reply. ‘I hope so but I suffered a lot in Italy this year. So there’s not just one country where there is racism.’

McRae’s question was at best wildly optimistic and at worst outright naive. To believe that we are down to the last festering outbreaks of racism in football, is to totally misread the European mood. Right wing xenophobic parties are on the rise throughout Europe and as the global economic situation worsens so will the levels of racism. The first place that is likely to manifest itself is on the football terraces. UEFA and FIFA have both been profoundly weak in confronting this reality and the situation is getting worse both in Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe. So much for ‘the beautiful game’.

I’m half way through an excellent biography of Barcelona Football Club and what comes out crystal clear is that despite their magnificent record against Francoist fascism, the Barca supporters are not above some vile racist chanting themselves. It puts a whole new light on Catalonian nationalism and is further evidence that the battle against European racism is far from won. And Britain need not congratulate itself too heartily. Despite some sterling work by the FA’s ‘Kick Racism Out’ campaigns, remember that just two years ago some one million Britons voted for the openly racist BNP in the European elections. A sobering thought for McRae and for all of us in this little island. Eto’o says he is resigned to facing the racism in order to reach the highest rewards but no sportsman or woman from any sport should have to endure such abuse. The penalties for racist abuse from the respective governing bodies should be swift and decisive. Forcing offending clubs to play in an empty stadium would be the ultimate sanction. But have UEFA got the bottle?