There’s a saying floating around that goes something like this. “Muck around, find out”. More commonly referred to as FAFO. Join the dots.

The Qatari player Yousuf Abdurisag, who launched racist rhetoric on All White Michael Boxall did exactly that. After his spray, the All Whites, outraged at the lack of action from the officials, decided to stay in the sheds at half-time. The game was over.  

The Qatari player mucked around and found out. Hopefully, now, others will think twice before taking that path.  

It wasn’t an isolated incident either. The Ireland v Kuwait U21 game was also abruptly ended after another racial slur. A pattern no one wants to see.  

Unless that pattern is steadfast refusal from all quarters to not entertain racism, or racism under the guise of banter.  

Until a stand is made, a line drawn in the sand, progress in this space will remain as lip service, nothing else. 

FIFA can fly all the banners they want decrying racist engagement. They can shout it from the rooftops, but until clear and defined reactions are registered, nothing will change. 

So will anything change now that a team has shown solidarity and stood up in the face of intolerable language? Indeed will FIFA back the team who said enough is enough? Not through words, but through actions. 

It was only a small step, but a step all the same. The next question is this. Would a team at an international level, say a World Cup fixture, make the same commitment to fight? 

Bravo to the men for making themselves heard. Everything counts in this stand against racism.