Former Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin has opened up on why he chose to speak publicly after his children were subjected to racial abuse earlier this year in Mexico, according to BBC News.
The France-born forward, now playing his football away from the Premier League, said staying silent was never an option once his family had been targeted in such a way. He felt a responsibility to address the incident directly rather than let it pass unremarked, believing it was important for both his own peace of mind and to raise awareness of the issue.
Saint-Maximin, who spent time in the north east of England before his move away from Newcastle, has become one of several high-profile footballers to confront racism affecting their loved ones head-on in recent years. Full details of the Mexico incident, including the circumstances surrounding it, have not been disclosed in depth, but the winger's decision to go public underlines the seriousness with which he views the matter and his desire to see such behaviour called out rather than ignored.