Ibrahima Konaté talks about racism he faces despite his status
Liam Garcia
Dailysports's expert
Liverpool and France national team defender Ibrahima Konaté has opened up about the discrimination he faces in France. The footballer revealed that even his status as a French national team player does not shield him from racism.
Details. In an interview with the French magazine So Foot, Konaté spoke about his experiences with discrimination, particularly in airports.
"When I return to Liverpool, I buy a business-class ticket to pass through more quickly. But when I arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the staff don’t even look at my ticket and send me to economy class. What message does that send? That someone like me doesn’t deserve business class," said the defender.
Konaté also recounted an incident involving Mohamed Salah.
"Once, Salah came to Paris. At the airport, people didn’t recognize him, and the shop staff spoke to him very rudely. But when one of the travelers identified him, their tone changed immediately. 'Oh, Mr. Salah, what do you need?' they said. For them, you have to be famous to be treated with respect."
Context. Ibrahima Konaté, alongside Virgil van Dijk, is a cornerstone of Liverpool's defense. This season, the French defender's team is performing exceptionally well, leading the Premier League by seven points over their nearest rival.
