Beyond The Game: 10 Of Racism's Ugliest Flashpoints In Professional Sports | In Photos

1) Jesse Owens Defies Nazi Ideology
1936 – Berlin, Germany – Athletics (Olympics)
At the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens won four gold medals, directly undermining Adolf Hitler’s Aryan supremacy propaganda. While Owens wasn’t attacked on the track, the Games were staged in a regime built on racial ideology -- making his triumph one of sport’s most powerful rebukes of racism. (AFP)

2) John Carlos & Tommie Smith’s Black Power Salute
1968 – Mexico City, Mexico – Athletics (Olympics)
After medalling in the 200m, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists on the podium. The silent protest against racial injustice in the U.S. led to their expulsion from the Games -- and years of backlash at home. (AFP)

3) Donald Sterling NBA Ban
2014 – Los Angeles, USA – Basketball (NBA)
Then-owner Donald Sterling was banned for life after racist remarks about Black people surfaced in audio recordings. The NBA forced the sale of the Clippers, marking a watershed moment in American pro sports. (AFP)

4) Luis Suárez–Patrice Evra Case
2011 – Liverpool, England – Football (Premier League)
Luis Suarez was banned eight matches and fined for racially abusing Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. The fallout was messy, public, and deeply divisive. (AFP)

5) Dani Alves Banana Incident
2014 – Villarreal, Spain – Football (La Liga)
A fan threw a banana at Dani Alves. He picked it up, took a bite, and carried on. The moment went viral — a small act of defiance against persistent racism in European football. (AFP)

6) Adam Goodes Booing Saga
2013–2015 – Australia – AFL
Indigenous star Adam Goodes was relentlessly booed after calling out racism from a fan. The sustained hostility led to his early retirement and sparked nationwide debate in Australia. (AFP)

7) Vinícius Jr Repeated Abuse
2023 – Valencia, Spain – Football (La Liga)
Vinicius Junior was racially abused by fans at Mestalla Stadium. The match was briefly halted. The incident reignited global scrutiny over racism in Spanish football. And as recent as last night, he alleged that a Benfica player called him a 'monkey' after the Brazilian scored the decisive goal. (AFP)

8) England Players After Euro 2020
2021 – London, England – Football (UEFA Euro)
After missing penalties in the final at Wembley, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were racially abused online. The backlash was swift -- but so was the racism. (AFP)

9) Russian Racism in European Football
2012–2018 – Russia – Football
Multiple incidents, including abuse directed at Roberto Carlos in 2011 and during domestic league matches, highlighted ongoing racial hostility in parts of Eastern European football. (AFP)

10) Saracens’ Mako Vunipola Targeted
2018 – England – Rugby Union
Mako Vunipola was racially abused during club matches. Rugby — often seen as insulated from football-style racism scandals — faced its own reckoning. (AFP)