Sinama-Pongolle: No Racism At Atlético

Just over six months ago Florent Sinama-Pongolle was telling the press how he was 'saddened' by racist abuse he received at the stadium, but today he is defending that very crowd.

The former Recreativo Huelva player has been speaking in Switzerland ahead of Atlético Madrid's appeal process regarding their stadium ban from UEFA. The club were fined and banished from their ground after alleged racist chanting against Marseille, but today Sinama-Pongolle denied any such sentiment existed.

"I have been here four months and I have always got on well in the stands and when I have been in the team," he declared to AS.

"I have come on this trip to defend the club because it is a very important matter. We are coming to Lausanne to show that there is no problem with racism at Atlético."

This is not the first time that Sinama-Pongolle has been involved in this case as, after the event he was called by UEFA to talk about what had happened. The stiker realises that he cannot do much more than say his side of the story though.

"I will not need anything because the decision is not ours, it depends on the TAS and UEFA," he said.

"What we can do is to leave nothing out from our point of view and to defend the club to the maximum. Unfortunately the decision will not be in our hands though."

The Frenchman is currently in Switzerland with fellow team-mate Paulo Assuncao.

James Walker-Roberts