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Allan Saint-Maximin Says He Left Club América After Racist Abuse Directed at His Children

French winger Allan Saint-Maximin has disclosed that his departure from Mexican giants Club América was prompted by racist abuse suffered by his children at school in Mexico.

Speaking to BBC Sport on Friday, the 29-year-old said he could not stay silent after his family was targeted.

“Whatever your colour is, you don’t have to accept this,” he said.

Saint-Maximin, a father of four who now plays for MLS side Charlotte FC, had earlier addressed the issue in an Instagram post in January, saying “hatred and discrimination have no place in our society”. The post drew over 159,000 likes, including from former Newcastle United teammates Kieran Trippier and Joelinton.

While he did not share specific details, the former Newcastle star said “some stuff happened with my kids in the school” during his time at Club América.

“I explained to the kids what happened was not normal and they knew already. They were not really happy about that,” he added.

Saint-Maximin described the experience as particularly painful because it involved his son, but noted that racism can happen anywhere, including his home country France.

Club América publicly backed the player and his family, with teammates showing solidarity by holding a “No to racism” banner before a game against Necaxa.

The Frenchman stressed that his decision to leave was not an indictment of the club.

“It was not the fault of Club América. I have nothing against them, the players or the Mexican people. I love the club. It was one of the best places I’ve been with my family,” he said.

“When this affects your kids there are not many choices to take. It was a difficult choice for me and my family, but I take my responsibility because I always say I will never accept stuff like this,” he added.

After leaving Mexico, Saint-Maximin had a short spell with RC Lens, helping them win the French Cup for the first time in 120 years and finish second in Ligue 1. He later joined Charlotte FC this summer, a move he described as a “family choice”, reuniting with former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith.
SOURCE: Punch Newspapers –