Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has taken the battle against racism into his own hands in the wake of the continuing "ignorance" being shown at soccer stadiums across Europe.
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The 26-year-old came off the bench as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side secured a 4-1 English Premier League win against Newcastle on Boxing Day, when he wore black and white wristbands during the warm-up.
"No to racism" and "We are one", read the wristbands that Pogba asked team-mates to join him in wearing before the match, with the France international giving his to a young fan in the crowd.
The World Cup winner later posted an image of that moment on Instagram with a Martin Luther King quote - "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that" - and the hashtag #NoToRacismWeAllOne.
"It was my idea to do that," Pogba said of the wristbands, speaking to the PA news agency.
"I mean, I've been thinking about doing this but I don't want to go through the UEFA or the FIFA. I (have) done it myself.
"I think we have the chance to have this power to show things in football, on TV.
"People see it so I think that will make people understand some things.
"I think it's ignorance. Ignorance and stuff like that, and just to show people that you are all one. We are all one."
Pogba reeled off a number of players when asked who he was supporting, from Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Everton's Moise Kean, to United team-mates Jesse Lingard and Fred.
The 26-year-old was subjected to racism on social media at the start of the season, while he also mentioned Antonio Rudiger, after the Chelsea defender was allegedly targeted by racist abuse at Tottenham last weekend.
This was United's first match since then and Pogba's first at Old Trafford since September, with the midfielder inspired by the "Stand Up, Speak Up" anti-racism campaign initiated by Thierry Henry and backed by Nike in 2005.
Australian Associated Press
