Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru became the latest victim of racial abuse in football during Lazio’s 1-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A, Soccernet.ng reports.
Despite not featuring in the match, Dele-Bashiru was subjected to reprehensible chants from a section of Lecce supporters, but his response was a masterclass in restraint and defiance.
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The incident unfolded as Lazio players celebrated their hard-fought victory at the Stadio Via del Mare.
Dele-Bashiru, joining his teammates on the pitch post-match, turned towards a section of the crowd after hearing the chants.
Instead of reacting angrily, the Nigerian midfielder responded with remarkable composure — continuing to jump and celebrate while maintaining direct eye contact with the offending supporters.
His gestures were subtle but powerful, sending an unmistakable message of resilience in the face of hostility.
Videos circulating on social media captured the deplorable behaviour, including chants of “Raus,” a German term with disturbing historical connotations, as per a report by La Lazio.
https://twitter.com/notPatriota/status/1870749110644691184
The footage also showed Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel stepping in to support Dele-Bashiru, escorting him off the pitch as the abuse escalated.
Away from the ugly incident, Dele-Bashiru continues to grow in stature and confidence at Lazio, after joining the Italian club on loan from Turkey's Hatayspor during the summer.
The Super Eagles star netted his first Serie A goal in November after coming off the bench to round up the scoring for Lazio in a convincing 3-0 victory over Bologna.
The 23-year-old midfielder has been even more impressive for Lazio in the Europa League where he has registered two goals and two assists in four appearances.
