Three weeks ago, Sweden managed to take a strong point in the qualifiers for the U21 European Championship away against Italy, but despite a late equalizer to 1-1, there was an upset atmosphere in the blue and yellow team after the final signal.
In connection with the Swedish goal celebration, Manchester United talent Anthony Elanga, 19, stated that an Italian player said something racist to him, whereupon the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) chose to report the incident to the police and take the case to the referees and match delegates.
Uefa launched an investigation but on Monday the news came that the matter, for lack of evidence, would not be taken up by the disciplinary committee of the European Football Association.
– It is a big disappointment. We who were there on the spot and saw Anthony’s reaction just when it happened are one hundred percent behind him and believe in him. We had much greater hopes that this matter would be taken further, but now it did not and did not get the attention we had hoped for, says Sweden’s national captain for the U21 national team Poya Asbaghi.
– I think Anthony has handled this in a very good way, you can not demand more from him. Immediately when this happened, he called on the referees and described the incident in detail for the match delegates and has done the same for our general counsel at home in Sweden. That this was nevertheless not taken further is an extremely big disappointment for all of us, he continues.
– Poya Asbaghi during the presentation of her squad for the U21 European Championship qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ireland later in November.
Photo: Johanna Lundberg / Bildbyrån
According to Poya Asbaghi was there were more players on the pitch who understood what the accused Italian said to Anthony Elanga, but none of them were Swedish. He believes that the Italian national team players who saw what happened should put their team sympathies aside in this case and stand up for what is right.
– In the end, I can imagine that they have been pressured from home not to share the correct version. Then maybe you should think about what you stand for as a player. Do you stand for the team to win at any price or do you stand for your values in life? I do not think that the players in Italy with the result in hand have acted after the latter.
After the accusation from Elanga became known, the Italian Football Association, FIGC, went out and defended the designated player and “denied in the grossest way” that he had expressed himself racist towards an opponent.
One to say the least doubtful ways to deal with the incident, Asbaghi thinks.
– What to say … Why would Anthony come up with something like that? Just after we have received a draw and are the happiest in the toughest away match, should a player suddenly find that another player uses racist expressions? It does not sound so credible. That Italy after that just goes out and totally denies, I think is a bit arrogant.
– On the whole, this feels like a defeat. You have to be honest and say that. We who saw the reaction from Anthony really know him.
Tobias Tibell, general counsel at the Swedish Football Association, announced on Monday that UEFA’s decision to close the case will be appealed. Anthony Elanga himself hopes that the last word has not been said.
– I am of course very disappointed, I know what I heard and what happened. I hope the appeal can lead to something. I am grateful for the support I received from my teammates and the union, the striker said SvFF’s website during Monday.
Sweden leads its European Championship qualifying group one point ahead of Italy with one match more played.
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The U21 national team fixed 1-1 in Italy – in 92nd
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