Former Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin has opened up on why he chose to speak publicly after his children were subjected to racial abuse in Mexico earlier this year, according to the BBC.
The winger, now playing his football in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, said he felt compelled to address the incident rather than stay silent, believing it was important to shine a light on the abuse his family endured. Details of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident have not been fully outlined, but Saint-Maximin's decision to go public underlines the impact it had on him personally.
The 28-year-old, who made his name in the Premier League with Newcastle before earning a big-money move to the Middle East, has become one of several high-profile footballers to use their platform to draw attention to racism faced by players and their families.
As reported by the BBC, Saint-Maximin's comments come amid a wider ongoing conversation in football about racial abuse both on and off the pitch, with players increasingly willing to share personal experiences in an effort to push for change.