An incident where a white woman in Belgium spat on Kenyan defender Joseph Stanley Okumu during a football match has raised uproar and concern over the rise of racism in European football.
In the viral video, a woman, identified as a fan of KV Mechelen Football Club, rose above the rails to spit on Okumu's face. The Kenyan national plays for a local club identified as KAA Gent FC.
The disgusting act happened during the 67th minute of the Gent's 2-1 win over Mechelen on the night of Tuesday, May 10 as the 24-year-old Kenyan walked joyously after their win.
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Mechelen acknowledged the video in an official statement condemning the act and promised to follow up and give an update on the matter.
The security team has commenced identifying the woman seen in the video and will proceed with tracing and identification.
“The images of a person spitting in the direction of a player from the visiting team have reached us. Let's be clear, this has no place in our stadium, in any football stadium writes the club. We provided the footage to our security team. Appropriate follow-up will be given," the club announced in a statement released on Wednesday, May 10.
Okumu’s team has commended its yesternight opponent Mechelen for taking action immediately after the game and condemning the racist act.
“Hi guys, just to inform you that our opponent of yesterday's game Mechelen took immediate action after the game, are actively looking for that person, and will take all necessary measures after identification” stated Gent club in response to Mechelen's quick action.
Gent boasts of impeccable accolades among them four-time-Belgian Cup-winners with the fourth time being in 2022 and Supercup winners in 2015.
The Kisumu-born footballer was signed by the Belgian club in June last year - a culmination of his career which kicked off in 2014 at Chemelil Sugar FC.
Football laws regard spitting as a heinous act much in the same way as elbowing or punching and should the spectator be identified and traced - profound legal implications follow.
The unfortunate act opens a can of worms as a hot debate on racism in football ensues after the July 2021 racist cases of abuse on Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka which British Premier Boris Johnson condemned.
