Frank Acheampong found himself in a heated altercation during a Chinese Super League on Friday when he allegedly faced racist insults.
The Ghanaian attacker, unable to control his emotions, retaliated by delivering a punch to the face of the player who insulted him. As a consequence, he was shown a red card and sent off the pitch.
The unfortunate incident occurred in the 34th minute of Acheampong’s club Shenzhen FC’s 3-1 defeat to Henan.
“I have suffered racist insults and I could not hold back,” Acheampong expressed, as quoted by Ghanasoccernet.
“I have been in China for the past five years, and I love this country because China and the Chinese people are great. However, it is unacceptable for any human to be subjected to racist insults, let alone in the game of football.
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“I am normally a calm and level-headed person, but no one should accept any racist slurs or insults.”
— Ghanasoccernet.com (@Ghanasoccernet) July 28, 2023
He moved to China in 2018, initially joining Tianjin Jinmen Tiger from Anderlecht before sealing a transfer to Shenzhen FC in 2021.
While Acheampong appreciates his time in China, the recent incident underscores the importance of addressing racism in football and the need for continued efforts to promote respect and inclusivity within the sport.