Muntari: FIFA, UEFA 'not taking racism seriously'

Days after having an appalling one-match ban overturned on the heels of racist chanting at Cagliari's Stadio Sant'Elia, Pescara's Sulley Muntari has claimed that FIFA and UEFA are "not taking racism seriously."

Muntari was shown a yellow for dissent before receiving a second caution when he attempted to storm off the pitch. His ban was eventually reversed while Cagliari was not punished, and the former AC Milan standout reckons that football's governing bodies aren't doing enough to combat racism in football.

Ambivalence from FIFA, UEFA

"FIFA and UEFA only care about what they want to care about. If they want to fight racism they should be able to jump right in and tackle it," Muntari told BBC Sport on Monday.

"But they have nothing to say about it. This is a big deal."

Muntari's claim has plenty of weight, especially after FIFA disbanded its anti-racism task force in Sept. 2016, stating that the group had "completely fulfilled its temporary mission."

With Muntari's protestations highlighting the latest of a countless number of incidents of racism targeting black players in European leagues, the Ghanaian hopes that current FIFA president Gianni Infantino can overturn the uncommitted efforts of his predecessor, Sepp Blatter.

"Maybe the new president Infantino will do something about it. He has a different mind," the 32-year-old added.

Related: Juventus demands answers from RAI for racial remarks in Benatia's earpiece

Next step: Boycott

For the time being, Muntari may take matters into his own hands, with a credible boycott the next possible step.

"If I had this problem today, tomorrow or the next game I would go off again," Muntari conceded. "And I'd recommend it to others. If they are not feeling it they should walk off."

Anti-racism campaigner Piara Power has echoed Muntari's sentiments, telling CNN, "In a country like Italy, where there are big name players who feel very strongly about these issues, then a boycott is one way to go."

Power, the executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), adds, "In the end, it's the way the boycott is received, the way in which the Italian FA changes the way it looks at these issues, the education of the fans. More needs to be done on all of those.

"(Boycotts) are a very good way of taking this forward. We've seen it in the US, don't forget, on issues around race there. Why not in Italy?"