Latin communities in Australia resent racial remarks on radio

Sydney, June 26 (IANS/EFE) Colombian and Uruguayan communities in Australia expressed their resentment over radio announcers making racial remarks about the Colombian and Uruguayan teams playing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Colombian community in Sydney started a petition on Change.org for suspension of two Australian radio announcers who described Colombians as cocaine dealers and peddlers during Colombia game against Japan Tuesday, reports EFE.

The petition garnered the support of 11,500 people who called for the suspension of the two announcers of Triple M radio for their degrading and offensive remarks before Colombia's game against Cote d'Ivoire on June 19.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry sent a complaint to the radio station demanding apology and call to account those who are responsible for the racial comments that break the laws of anti-discrimination.

Meanwhile, the Uruguayan community in Sydney expressed their dissatisfaction with former Australian player John Aloisi's remarks to SBS channel, relating Uruguay's team to dishonest playing style.

Aloisi spoke about his encounter with the Celeste team in 2001, and said that Uruguayans resort to dishonest ways of playing football to win at all costs.

Aloisi said they play this way because many of them come from a very poor upbringing and want to get out of it. It is all the same in South America, he said.

--IANS/EFE

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