Ivorian Marc Zoro has expressed his disgust over the racial abuse suffered by Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o during Saturday's Spanish first division match at Real Zaragoza.
"It's incredible what happened at Zaragoza," said defender Zoro, who suffered similar abuse while playing for Messina against Inter Milan in an Italian league match in November.
Like Eto'o, Zoro also tried to get the game abandoned.
"Some people haven't got the message that we are all the same. My friend Eto'o has my total support."
Eto'o, who was in action for Barcelona, tried to leave the field 14 minutes before the end of Saturday's match, due to the continual monkey noises that greeted his every touch of the ball.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year was persuaded to play on by his team-mates, helping them to a 2-0 victory.
Zoro said he would be calling Eto'o to comfort him, just as Eto'o telephoned him after the incident in Italy.
Eto'o has also been abused at a number of other Spanish first division grounds and the problem is far from isolated.
"[The treatment of Samuel] was a shame. Samuel is a human being and he felt bad on the pitch," said Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.
"But I was pleased with the attitude of his team mates who told him to continue.
"He proved he was able to overcome the circumstances and he made a valuable contribution to our victory.
"It's sad that things like this happen, as it is thanks to players like Samuel that the fans come to the stadium to be entertained."
MMIX
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