Star Paola Igono is considering withdrawing from the Italian national volleyball team due to the racist comments she is receiving from her country. The Nigerian-born Italian said on Saturday after winning the bronze medal at the World Cup in Apeldoorn that she wonders why she would represent such people.
Initially, the 23-year-old volleyball player informed her manager that she had already played her last match for Italy, according to a video posted on Twitter. Later, Igono told Sky Sports that she wanted to at least take a break. The best volleyball player said: “People make me laugh when they ask me why I’m Italian.”
Egonu is likely to face sordid reactions when the national team loses an important match. This is also the case after the semi-final loss to Brazil earlier this week. Thanks to Igono, Italy took the bronze medal on Saturday at the expense of the United States (3-0).
Italy’s responsible minister, Elena Bonetti, sided with Igono. “This is what is called racism, we call the perpetrators racist,” the minister said. Egonu previously faced hate comments after telling her that she was attracted to women in 2018.
