English-born Nigerian striker, Adebayo Akinfenwa claims he was called a 'Fat Water Buffalo' during play-off tie against Fleetwood

English-born Nigerian striker, Adebayo Akinfenwa, who plays for Wycombe Wanderers has revealed he was racially abused during Monday's League One play-off match against Fleetwood.

The 38-year-old striker said he was repeatedly called a 'Fat Water Buffalo' by a 'representative of the opposition,' after helping his side earn a 2-2 draw and a 6-3 aggregate victory in the League One play-off semi-final.

In a statement he released on Wednesday night, July 8, Akinfenwa, who suffered racist abuse earlier in his career while playing in Lithuania wrote:

“Monday night was one of the highlights of my career with Wycombe so far as we secured our place in the League One play-off final at Wembley. However, what should have been an evening of joy and excitement quickly turned into one of anger and frustration.

“Historically I have been subjected to and have experienced abuse across several areas and about many things, including my size but also the color of my skin.

"Regardless of whether or not there was deliberate racial intent by using that language, if we are to make real and long-standing change then we must strive to educate each other about these issues."

"Following the conclusion of the game, I learned that a representative of the opposition had repeatedly referred to me as a Fat 'Water Buffalo' in a derogatory tone.

"Regardless of whether or not there was deliberate racial intent by using that language and irrespective of the context in which it was used, if we are to make real and long-standing change then we must strive to educate each other about these issues.

"We must work together to ensure those who have not and do not face racial prejudice understand that what may appear to them to be a throwaway remark can have such a big and hurtful impact.

"A Water Buffalo is a dark animal and as a black man, I believe that you have dehumanised me, by associating me with a dark animal, as this was said in a derogatory manner.

"I feel passionately around raising this because we as a sport and as a society must wake up. We must do more.

"We must educate ourselves and understand the potential repercussions of using such language and be aware of the hurt it can cause.

"The bigger issue to me would be the lack of understanding as to why calling me this term would not be hurtful to me as a black man, and this must change.

"Taking a knee, supporting social media campaigns, and wearing a logo on our kits is a start, but it is not enough. It will not result in real and long-standing change.

"The real work must start now and the only way to move forward collectively is through education.

"We must all play our part Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has distanced himself from Hushpuppi after the ruling All Progressives Congress APC called for an investigation into his alleged links with the suspected fraudster who was recently arrested in the United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States.

APC in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena today on July 4, called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the links Hushpuppi had with some PDP stalwarts.

The party said the investigation is necessary because many of PDP chieftains had several meetings in Dubai ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The statement read in part;

''That the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their “Strategic” meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and “Hushpuppi’s” affinity with the PDP leadership is not mere coincidence.

At different times, “Hushpuppi” was been photographed in Dubai meeting with the PDP’s 2019 presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Senator Dino Melaye among other PDP stalwarts.

While relevant authorities investigate the nature of their relationship and business partnership, we also challenge the PDP leadership to do the same by opening up on the nature of the relationship, particularly the kind of services the arrested “Hushpuppi” provided them.'' APC's statement read

In a swift reaction, Saraki in a statement released by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described as irresponsible and cheap politics the statement from APC in which it tried to link him with Hushpuppi.

Saraki in the statement said he has no form of association with the said suspect, Ramon Abbas otherwise known as Hushpuppi and neither does he know him in any way.

“The statement credited to the APC, the ruling party in our country, is one of the ways by which our anti-graft agencies are weakened and why the fight against corruption in the country is often viewed with suspicion by the international community. This is because when these cyber-crime suspects were operating freely and openly displaying wealth, the APC saw nothing bad in their activities. Also, the party at that time did not deem it necessary to call on the anti-graft agencies to investigate their activities.

Also, since the arrest of those cybercrime suspects and the subsequent damage to the image and the economy of Nigeria as well as the crisis it created for Nigerians engaged in lawful businesses across the world, the ruling party had been muted. The only time the APC deemed it necessary to make a statement was when it thought it should play dirty, cheap, and irresponsible politics.

Dr. Saraki was the only political leader who has publicly made a statement through an Op-Ed article published in the Daily Trust newspaper of July 1, 2020, titled “Cyber Criminals: Confronting The Few Who Dent Many” and this opinion article had been widely circulated online and on other platforms. In that article, he strongly condemned the activities of these cybercriminals and called on the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to make decisive interventions to checkmate their activities. He has also got a research institution, the Politeia Institute, whose board he chairs to commence research on the best ways to tackle the menace.

Such a noble intervention in tackling a menace is what Dr. Saraki believes in, not mudslinging and playing politics at the expense of the nation’s image. At this point, we call on the APC leadership to rein in the so-called Yekini Nabena and compel him to desist from making and circulating such malicious, odious, and offensive claims”, the statement concluded.

A statement from Wycombe said: "The club fully stands by its players and supports all campaigns to end discrimination."

The Football Association has confirmed they are investigating the incident.

An FA spokesperson said: "We have been made aware of the allegations and will be investigating the matter."