During the Colorado Rapids’ 4-1 win over CF Montréal on Saturday, multiple signs and tifos backing defender Moïse Bombito were scattered around the stands, particularly behind the south goal, where the Centennial 38 supporters group is located.
The show of support for Bombito, who is Black and also plays for the Canadian men’s national team, came after he became the target of racist harassment on social media last week following a Copa America match last Thursday against Argentina.
Bombito tackled Inter Miami star and World Cup champion Lionel Messi during that match while tracking back to stop an Argentinian attack on goal. Messi went down with an injury but finished the match and even provided an assist on Argentina’s second and final goal.
After the match, opposing fans took to the 24-year old’s social media and left hundreds of hateful messages.
Not long after, Bombito posted a photo of himself on Instagram with captions saying “My beautiful Canada” with a heart emoji, and “No room for that bs.”
The day after, the Rapids put out a statement on social media: “We’re extending our love and standing beside Moïse Bombito. Discrimination and racism should never find a place in our sport, on social media, or within our society.”
The Rapids supporters continued that theme during the 16th and 65th minutes on Saturday’s match, with “Bombito” chants echoing around Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Bombito wears No. 15 for Canada and No. 64 for the Rapids.
Following the match against Montréal, Rapids coach Chris Armas and several teammates showed their own support for the center back, who is still with Canada and will likely start in Tuesday’s match against Peru.
“It’s such a shame, to be honest. It hurts seeing it from afar. Our club … we stand strong against this type of behavior,” Armas said. “(Rapids President) Pádraig (Smith) has spoken to Moïse, I’ve spoken to Moïse, all the coaches and the team. The fans tonight were supportive of Moïse. He knows he’s supported and he’s loved over here and we understand this is still a reality in the world. This is just really disgraceful.
“The best part for Moïse is that he’s so well put together. That’s one of his strengths: His character and his self-belief and how he says, ‘I’m past it.’ Of course, he’s still human and we know this, but the Colorado Rapids, Pádraig, the club, all of us are behind him.”
Calvin Harris, who scored his first career brace against Montréal, said he reached out to Bombito as well to check up on him. A Black player himself, Harris said he has gone through the same thing “a couple of times” during his career.
Like Armas, Harris praised Bombito’s character despite the abuse.
“I know the kind of person he is. He’s a strong individual and I’m sure he’ll be alright,” Harris said.
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Sam Vines and Andreas Maxsø, who have paired nicely with Bombito in a much-improved defensive group this season, shared similar sentiments.
“There’s just no room for it. He got a lot of slander after a tackle, but it’s football, tackles happen,” Vines said. “For him to get all that, it’s unacceptable. All of us stuck by his side and we’re going to stick by his side no matter what.”
“Small people with small minds, you know, it is what it is,” Maxsø said of the fans flooding Bombito’s social media with hate. “Moïse is strong, so it’s no problem for him, but it is unacceptable.”
In response to the situation, CONCACAF released a statement showing its support for Bombito and Canada soccer. In addition, the statement said the federation is working with CONMEBOL, the CONCACAF equivalent for South American countries, and FIFA to “seek ways to investigate the accounts which posted racist material.”
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