ACCRA - Didier Drogba believes European clubs are biased in the way they treat players from Africa.
The Ivory Coast captain, preparing for his side's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal with Guinea, told mtnfootball.com yesterday: "I sincerely believe that if you are a black African footballer you do not get equality.
"Even today if one talks with a sponsor about a particular deal or negotiates with a club they will simply tell you 'accept it - that's the way it is'.
"For example, if a player was part of the France national team instead of being from a black African national side, then the negotiations would be much smoother and when they were concluded, you'd earn more."
The Chelsea star claims he has been the target of this bias.
"In the world of football an African is not given the same degree of respect as a European or a South American. I've been a victim of such biased and unjust negotiations on more than one occasion in my career.
"The difference, today, is that I know what I'm worth and it does not embarrass me to tell people exactly that and to fight for it."
After coach Jose Mourinho left Chelsea Drogba made it clear he was angling for a move away from Stamford Bridge, but he insisted he'd give "200 percent" to Chelsea on his return and that he would only decide on his future at the end of the Premiership season. - Sapa-AFP
Drogba hits out at bias against Africans
ACCRA - Didier Drogba believes European clubs are biased in the way they treat players from Africa.
The Ivory Coast captain, preparing for his side's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal with Guinea, told mtnfootball.com yesterday: "I sincerely believe that if you are a black African footballer you do not get equality.
"Even today if one talks with a sponsor about a particular deal or negotiates with a club they will simply tell you 'accept it - that's the way it is'.
"For example, if a player was part of the France national team instead of being from a black African national side, then the negotiations would be much smoother and when they were concluded, you'd earn more."
The Chelsea star claims he has been the target of this bias.
"In the world of football an African is not given the same degree of respect as a European or a South American. I've been a victim of such biased and unjust negotiations on more than one occasion in my career.
"The difference, today, is that I know what I'm worth and it does not embarrass me to tell people exactly that and to fight for it."
After coach Jose Mourinho left Chelsea Drogba made it clear he was angling for a move away from Stamford Bridge, but he insisted he'd give "200 percent" to Chelsea on his return and that he would only decide on his future at the end of the Premiership season. - Sapa-AFP
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