Ivorian Marc Zoro has expressed his disgust over the racial abuse suffered by Cameroon`s Samuel Eto`o during Saturday`s Spanish first division match at Real Zaragoza.
"It`s incredible what happened at Zaragoza," said defender Zoro, who suffered similar abuse while playing for Messina against Inter Milan in an Italian league match in November.
Like Eto`o, Zoro also tried to get the game abandoned.
"Some people haven`t got the message that we are all the same. My friend Eto`o has my total support."
Eto`o, who was in action for Barcelona, tried to leave the field 14 minutes before the end of Saturday`s match, due to the continual monkey noises that greeted his every touch of the ball.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year was persuaded to play on
by his team-mates, helping them to a 2-0 victory.
Zoro said he would be calling Eto`o to comfort him, just as Eto`o telephoned him after the incident in Italy.
Eto`o has also been abused at a number of other Spanish first division grounds and the problem is far from isolated.
"[The treatment of Samuel] was a shame. Samuel is a human being and he felt bad on the pitch," said Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.
"But I was pleased with the attitude of his team mates who told him to continue.
"He proved he was able to overcome the circumstances and he made a valuable contribution to our victory.
"It`s sad that things like this happen, as it is thanks to players like Samuel that the fans come to the stadium to be entertained."
