Swedish Referee Martin Strombergsson Suspended for Making Racist Comment
A Swedish referee was recently suspended for making offensive remarks on a player, the referee whose name is Martin Strombergsson made an offensive comment to Guinea international goalkeeper Aly Keita, he said the goalkeeper’s career is ‘effectively’ over.
According to reports, the Swedish man has come out to say he regretted the remarks he made to Keita in a top-flight match last year. The captain of Ostersunds Keita said last month the referee told him “to shut up and go back into his goal so bananas could be thrown at him.”
The 43-year-old official said: “I need to find a new employer in the future.” This was the Fifa referee’s response to the fact that he has been suspended for the rest of the season, which is only six weeks old.
He is yet to officially hear whether his career as a referee is over but his suspension lasts until the end of his current contract. Stromgbergsson’s punishment was announced on Friday by the referee’s committee of the Swedish Football Federation (SVFF). “Martin Strombergsson insists that he had no racist intentions with what he said.” “We have no reason to doubt this, but still consider it to be a very inappropriate statement, and it must be obvious that it can be perceived as offensive.”
The decision was backed by Hakan Sjostrand, the SVFF’s Secretary-General. “I completely share the Judiciary Committee’s view on the matter,” he said. “What has happened is very serious, and is contrary to the values of Swedish football – regardless of the intentions Strombergsson had.
“It feels good that we have thoroughly investigated the incident and talked to everyone involved. It makes us feel secure in our judgment. It is good and important that Aly Keita told about his experience. “We must dare to talk about these issues in Swedish football.”
This could be the end of the career of the referee as it happened in a time when racism is globally frowned at especially with the fact the death of black American George Floyd which has raised a major protest tagged Black Lives Matter.