I left Europe After Suffering Racism- Marega

By- Oma Akatugba

in February 2020, then FC Porto striker Moussa Marega left the football field in protest after being subject to racial slurs during his side’s 2-1 win against home team Vitoria Guimaraes in the Primeira Liga of Portugal.

Marega then 28 who now plays for Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, scored what proved to be the winning strike in the 60th minute and celebrated the goal by pointing to his skin in response to a section of home fans who targeted him by making monkey chants during the league match.
He was issued a yellow card for the reaction. The game went on and the abuse from the home fans continued. The action of the supporters riled Marega who then tried to leave the pitch, pointing his thumbs down to the crowd, but was restrained by his teammates for several minutes.

Fc Porto’s coach at the time, Sergio Conceicao went on the field and spoke with Marega, and was eventually forced to substitute the Malian player in the 72nd minute.

Marega left Porto and Europe entirely a year later, moving to Saudi Arabia to join Al Hilal FC. I traveled to Riyadh to meet with him to find out the reason behind his decision to leave Europe and many more. Have a great read.

Did you move to Saudi Arabia for religious reasons?

Marega
I came to Saudi Arabia because I wanted to change continents. Because I had stayed quite a long time in Porto and then there was the racist phase that I had during a match which got me quite disgusted with the environment where I was playing, which also concerns my family and my wife. I discussed it with my wife, and we ​​were ready for the decision to go to a Muslim country then Al Hilal came and we seized the opportunity directly.

Do you feel more Malian or French?

Marega:

France gave me everything. I’m French in my head but afterward, I’m of Malian origin. My parents are from Mali even though they live in France, but currently but good he goes to Mali and I know that the most important thing for them was that I can play for my origin which took a lot of difficulties. As I started to succeed in football, in my head it was clear and clear I was going to play for Mali and I am proud to represent my country.

I’m going to say both because I’ve lived my whole life in France so as I’ve said, France has given me everything so for sure, I feel French. that said, I can’t spit on it. it’s impossible, and afterward, I feel Malian because my parents are Malians. I was born Malian all the same so I would say the two. I feel French just like I feel Malian all the same.

How difficult was it for you growing up in France?

Marega:
Difficult. For us, it’s sure because it’s a European country, so it’s sure that for Africans or all foreigners, it’s more difficult than for others, that sure even for people of color like black people. So for sure, it’s a bit harder for us but for me I take it as a strength, and I took it as a strength so I think that’s also what allowed me to have succeeded in that I have to do more than the others. I have to be more exemplary than the others, even when I was little, I did a lot of stupid things at school but I try to be exemplary and do more than the others to try to have more than them. It is true that as a man of color, it is more difficult to have things that we want when other people have them more easily here.

Will your child play football?

Margea:
I have four kids. I don’t know. After all, my first son also can play for Albania because my wife is Albanian, he can play for France, Mali, or Albania and the second was born in Portugal … So he can play for Portugal. they can play for a lot of countries (laughs). No, honestly I don’t know if they’ll play football. I don’t know and we’ll see how they will grow up, where they will grow up is the country which will give them education and global learning, in scholarship but also a lot of other important things so, if they have to choose a country to play football if InchaAllah, they become footballers, I Hope, they will make their choice themselves, they will choose the country they feel most able to help. The country they will choose isn’t very important, but as I chose Mali, of course, I would like them to choose Mali but after all, it will be up to them to make their decision

You had a great time at FC Porto, when you remember Porto, what comes to mind?

Marega:

Porto is very important for my career. It feels me with great memories. I spent five years in Portugal. Frankly speaking, Portugal gave me a lot. I will always be grateful to Porto and Portugal. and tonight brings a lot of good memories because I went to a big club like Porto, and scored as many goals in the first season already. Yes, I had much success and we had a very African attack with Aboubacar, Brahimi, and me. So it is sure that that year we did a lot of harm to many teams. We scored a lot of goals and we also won the championship. so uh no it’s sure that it gave me a lot of good memories. I had a very good time and frankly, I have no regrets about my stay in Porto.

Do you miss football in Europe?

Marega:

Absolutely no. Frankly speaking, I don’t miss it. frankly Europe I think I have done my time over there. even if some could say that It should have been more. I started football very very late I started football very very very very very very late or maybe not. So that means staying for four years in a team I think is already huge for me, and uh no I think I did everything there, I think there will always be a time when it is necessary to make a change. I could have maybe changed to play in another country but no, I preferred to go to another continent, particularly concerning the history of racism in Portugal and everything.

What would you say about Argentina and how they celebrated the world cup win?

Marega:

At first, I find it very very bad. I didn’t like Argentina’s celebration when they won the world cup, and even before the competition they made a piece of music about Kylian Mbappé, about racism I saw on Twitter…

it’s pathetic, it’s sad, to see people laughing and taking pleasure in it.

racism marked me because I experienced it personally and it’s sad, honestly.

But I can’t wish these people harm. I only hope a big thing will happen, and this big problem will open racist people their eyes.
Racism exists all around the world and I think FIFA’s prevention campaigns and actions are not enough. I think the racism problem is still here.
there are always racist people in the stadiums who insult and attack the players like in Vinicius’s case like in almost every match in Spain.
I have the impression that nothing is done except fines but nothing changes. I don’t have a solution. It’s pathetic, I hope not to be the victim of racism again because I don’t know how I could react

What will you do after football?

Marega:
Honestly now, I do not know at all for now. At the moment, frankly, I do not know. I live in the moment, I enjoy football because not many people in the world enjoy the privilege of doing this sport and especially playing before thousands of people. Frankly, I am taking advantage of the moment. I have no idea what I am going to do after football. Frankly, I would like to spend more time with my children, and my family. I have benefited from playing football compared to all the work I did before but at some point, I’m sure I will miss not working so maybe then I would like to work but for the moment I take advantage of the moment. When I start to get tired and maybe then I’m going to ask myself this question about what I’m going to do next but for the moment I’m not tired and I keep playing football.

You played for Mali. Would you tell other African kids born in Europe to play for their African countries?

Marega:

It’s sure. Especially the players, Europeans who are already successful and who have great talents and manage to play in big clubs
if they also go to Africa, surely, it will allow Africa to grow larger than
compared to other continents. We can already see it concerning the World Cup. We saw it with Morocco and Senegal. you see for example, players such as Hakimi, Ziyech, or even players like Abubakar behind Cameroonian or Senegalese like Sadio Mané but unfortunately, he could not participate in this World Cup. We see that these players will help these nations to grow, and bring themselves up to the level of others from other nations. So it sure makes me happy to see all the great players for example, currently, those who succeeded in Europe and who play for their country of origin in Africa. it sure makes me very happy because all eyes will turn to Africa and on the other hand, it would be completely different. Right now Africa is underrepresented. there are only five African teams that can go to the world cup while in other continents there are, I don’t know how many teams can take part in the world cup. Now I think that will change but I think already just increasing the number of countries that can take part in the world cup will give more desire to players to represent their countries in Africa. To be able to participate in this
great competition that everyone dreams of. That would be good, it would be nice if a lot of African players born in Europe could play for Africa.

Do you know African music?

Marega:

Afro bit yes. I love African artists like Burna Boy, Davido, and Mr easy. a lot of them but I try not to listen to a lot of these songs because I am Muslim. frankly before, I listened to a lot of music but now I try to listen to less and less music or rather to listen to suras, something Muslim.

Will Messi join Al Hilal?

Frankly, I don’t know if he will come here. If he comes to Saudi that will be incredible. The fact that Cristiano is in Saudi is already very huge
for the country and its image even for sports in the country.

It will change everything, I think because Ronaldo has an amazing image. all over the world, he is a very stable person. He hardly goes anywhere and doesn’t score goals
I think it’s already good for Saudi, and very good for the championship

The championship will become more interesting there will be more big players and the matches will be more interesting

Messi is welcome If he wants to come to Saudi Arabia.
If he comes, indeed, it will be amazing. we already have Cristiano Ronaldo and that’s fantastic.