CAIRO: Middlesbrough hitman Ahmed “Mido Hossam has joined Show Racism the Red Card charity in a DVD titled Islamophobia, following the abuse he received by Newcastle fans in a Premiership game last year.
The Egyptian striker was subjected to a torrent of Islamophobic chants by a Magpies contingent during his home debut with Boro in a 2-2 Tees-Tyne derby draw last August.
Mido stars in the campaign, alongside other football figures including Middlesbrough coach Gareth Southgate and superstars like Thierry Henry, Ryan Giggs, Frederic Kanoute and Jermain Defoe.
Islamophobia is intended to speak about the aftermath of 9/11 and 7/7 attacks and its effects on Muslims all over the world.
As Muslims we are ashamed of that. The religion never said to kill innocent people, Mido said on the terrorist attacks.
However, the 25-year-old revealed his bitterness for being on the receiving end of racist abuse, despite getting along well with fellow footballers regardless of their races.
There is no reason at all to hear this abuse in our life or in football. I was very frustrated by it and very happy that I scored – very frustrating to see it in the English game because as players we are all well together, he said.
We are all well together wherever you come from, whatever your color is, whatever your religion.
We never had a problem of racism inside the dressing room and it should be the same for people as well – for supporters and people around the game to be the same.
Coach Southgate has also condemned the abuse inside the film, in support his Boro employee.
You shouldn’t judge people because of their religion, said the former England defender.
We’ve got two or three Muslim players with us now and it’s not something that is even mentioned within our dressing room or club.
Although we know that when we played Newcastle United unfortunately Mido suffered some abuse from the terraces that day. But it’s not something that had even crossed our minds before that incident.
