No Room For Racism

Kabasele: We cannot give up discrimination fight

26 Oct 2021

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Watford defender speaks with PL Kicks participants about the importance of reporting discriminatory behaviour

As part of our ongoing No Room For Racism initiative, we are running a series of Youth Voices films, where young people on Premier League community and Academy programmes chat with first-team players about discrimination, equality and allyship.

Watford

For Christian Kabasele, speaking with Premier League Kicks participants about his experiences of discrimination came straight from the heart.

The Watford defender suffered abuse when he was playing in Bulgaria and says making people understand that it is wrong is the best way to address discrimination.

"The best reaction is to try and speak with the people who are acting like this towards you," he says.

"Try to make them understand that this kind of thing cannot happen. At the end of the day we are all the same."

Speaking out

Kabasele was speaking with young people who are part of Watford FC's Community Sports and Education Trust about dealing with abuse, the role of education and the importance of speaking out about discriminatory behaviour.

"Sometimes it can be hard but you have to do it every single time," he says.

"If it happens 10 times you have to do it 10 times. You cannot let one comment pass through, because if you do, that means you give up the fight.

"And we cannot give up this fight. So report it straight away."

The discussion will form part of the extensive library of free resources and teaching materials available via Premier League Primary Stars, which explore heritage, discrimination and allyship.

See: Premier League Primary Stars - No Room For Racism