CNN
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Italian rugby workforce Benetton Treviso introduced Thursday that they’ve suspended a member of their workforce after Guinea-born Italian worldwide Cherif Traore obtained a “rotten banana in a moist bag” as a present throughout a Christmas dinner.
In a press release posted to its official web site, Benetton, together with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), mentioned that federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into the matter.
Benetton and the FIR have imposed a suspension on a member of the workforce at some point of that investigation.
In a now deleted Instagram put up from Wednesday, Traore detailed the incident and accused a few of his teammates of laughing when he opened the reward.
Traore was born in Guinea however has lived in Italy for the reason that age of seven. He performs prop for the northern Treviso membership and for the Italian nationwide workforce.
In a while the identical day, Benetton posted a video on its Twitter account with Traore, who mentioned he had accepted an apology from the workforce, with the caption studying: “What number of occasions does it occur that you just make a mistake and offend a member of the family – quite a bit.
“Nicely this time it has occurred in our household. Now what issues is that we understood the error and have apologized.”
World Rugby, the game’s international governing physique, mentioned on Thursday that they’re “monitoring the matter carefully.”
The United Rugby Championship, the league wherein Benetton competes, additionally launched a press release on Thursday revealing they requested the workforce to supply them with a full report on the incident and the motion taken.
“Racism and discrimination of any sort are abhorrent, fully unacceptable in society and are totally counter to the values of the game of rugby and the United Rugby Championship,” the assertion learn.
Ellis Genge, a Black England worldwide rugby participant, responded on Twitter to the workforce’s apology saying there wanted to be penalties.
“No effectively executed, completely proper, ‘gifting’ a ‘workforce mate’ a rotten banana for secret Santa isn’t a giant deal and a easy apology will suffice,” Genge wrote.
“If there isn’t any additional motion on this from Benetton then every thing we’ve executed for ‘rugby towards racism’ has been a tick field for many,” he added.
Maro Itoje, one other Black England rugby participant, wrote on social media: “Sending love and help to Cherif Traore! Nobody ought to obtain racist abuse!! It’s laborious to fathom that this story really occurred. Reveals us there’s nonetheless work to do!”