Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has spoken out on the painful racism he has suffered during his career.
The 23-year-old also added his support to the Black Lives Matter protests taking place in the United States and across the world following the death of George Floyd.
Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 when a police officer continued kneel on his neck for nine minutes despite pleading for his life.
The white officer, Derek Chauvin, was dismissed and charged with second degree murder and there have been a wave of protests throughout America and the rest of the world to demand change.
Several figures from the sporting world have also spoken out in support of the Back Lives Matter movement and Jesus believes people have become exhausted by the inustices.
'Racism isn't a problem that only started in recent days and it isn't normal, so people do feel that they have had enough, and they have exploded,' he said, as quoted by Goal.
'I'm against violence or any sort of violent protest. I'm all in favour of peaceful protests in order to say "no to racism" and whenever we say "Black Lives Matter", we should also read it correctly and understand the meaning behind it.
'We aren't saying that other lives don't matter, but we are saying that the lives of black people who feel racism matter. We can't generalise it. Not everyone is racist, the majority aren't, but lots of people are and it's like they haven't got brains.
'So, when we use that sentence it's because we know what it is to be a victim of racism. It is painful to feel it.'
Jesus was racially abused when playing for Brazilian club Palmeiras during a Copa Libertadores tie in Uruguay and spoke about his experiences of dealing with discrimination.
'I'm black and I'm from a favela. I was able to learn from those experiences, but everyone reacts and feels differently and I've got my way. I have suffered a couple of times. I've managed to elevate myself [above it],' he said.
'This is a very important movement, because like I said, there is a time that people do wake up and these actions [police brutality] that we've seen lately aren't normal and they shouldn't happen.
'Therefore there is a moment that we have to say "enough, time to stop" and it is important to show your position on this matter and this sentence [Black Lives Matter] is very clear on how tired people have been exhausted for a while, tired of injustice.'
Man City are back in action on June 17 when they take on Arsenal in the first game of the Premier League's return since the coronavirus suspension.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com