Getafe president, Angel Torres, has voiced his disapproval over recent comments made by Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche, who had openly complained about experiencing racism and unfair treatment by referees during his first season in La Liga.
Uche, who joined Getafe from lower-league Spanish side Ceuta, had detailed instances of racism from fans and expressed frustration over what he perceived as biased officiating.
According to Uche, referees frequently ignored fouls against him, while similar fouls by others were swiftly called.
In an interview with ESPN, the 21-year-old Uche revealed the harsh racial abuse he has endured from fans, stating that some would yell insults like, “f****** black” or “black this, black that.”
He also criticized the referees, saying, “the referees are so bad,” accusing them of not offering him the same protection they afforded other players.
However, Getafe president Angel Torres was quick to dismiss the young midfielder’s concerns.
Speaking to Spanish radio show El Partidazo de COPE, Torres suggested that Uche was too new to Spanish football to make such claims.
“He doesn’t understand,” Torres said. “How can he tell you that? He can’t tell you that. I think you should be more correct and respectful with those things.” Torres implied that Uche should refrain from making such accusations until he has spent more time in Spain, adding, “When he’s spent a year here, two years, and he understands Spanish, he can say what he wants. But now… we hope that the corresponding committees understand it and that it’s simply a warning.”
When asked specifically about Uche’s criticism of refereeing, Torres appeared to distance himself from any direct blame on Uche, stating, “I don’t want to blame or (say) the person who interviewed him is the only one to blame, but from now on what he’ll (Uche) have to do is not speak.”
Despite the criticisms, Uche maintained a positive outlook about his footballing career in Spain.
He described playing in La Liga as a “dream come true” and expressed excitement over competing against top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Racism in Spanish football, particularly against prominent Black players, has become an increasingly recognized issue.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has been a frequent target of racial abuse from fans both in stadiums and online.
In a notable case, a fan was recently sentenced to one year in prison and banned from attending football matches for three years after racially insulting Vinicius during a game between Mallorca and Real Madrid.
In a separate incident, Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze was also subjected to racial abuse during a match between Villarreal and Mallorca.
Further, La Liga penalized a minor who racially abused Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and threw bottles at him.
The individual was ordered to pay a €7,001 fine and participate in socio-educational activities.
In another ruling, a fan was fined €60,001 and banned from attending sporting events for two years for racially attacking Vinicius Jr online.
Vinicius, while on international duty with Brazil in March, delivered a tearful speech, lamenting that racism in football was getting worse due to a lack of serious consequences for offenders.
“Racism is getting worse,” he stated, adding that it had left him feeling “less and less like playing football.”
The issue has reached a critical point in Spain, where multiple fans have been convicted for racist abuse.
In June, three individuals received prison sentences of eight months for racially insulting Vinicius during a La Liga match between Valencia and Real Madrid, marking a significant legal milestone in the fight against racism in Spanish football.
