Racism in sports is stupid: Drogba

New Delhi: Star footballer Didier Drogba, who helped Chelsea lift the UEFA Champions League last month, on Sunday termed incidents of racism in football as "stupid" but acknowledged that it exists in the sport.

Here in the capital for the Pepsi T20 football grand finale, Drogba said those who indulged in racist practices in football did not know that the sport "unifies" people. "Unfortunately, racism never stops. There is racism in football by some people," he told a packed press conference.

"Football is a great sport. It unifies a lot of people from different cultures. I like meeting people from different cultures. People who don't know the game properly are into this (racism). We can do without these stupid ideas. People who are doing this don't know how difficult life is," he said.

Drogba also said that Lionel Messi is the best footballer he has ever played against.

Incidents of racism has hit the ongoing European Championships in Poland and Ukraine with the UEFA charging Croatia for racist chants by their fans in a match against Italy.

The European soccer's governing body is also investigating reports of alleged racist chanting during Italy's match against Spain and Russia's match against the Czech Republic.

Drogba, who has decided to leave Chelsea after helping the London-based English Premier League side win Champions League, refused to divulge where he is heading to, amid reports that Shanghai Shenhua is on the verge of signing him.

"Now I can't divulge where I am heading to. It will be known soon. But I can say that my eight years in Chelsea were the best years in my football career. My heart is blue.

"I love the fans. I have a special relationship with them and with the team management and the players. We have been able to make Chelsea a football brand around the world," said the 34-year-old striker.

Drogba picked Argentina captain and FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi as the best footballer he has ever played against. "I will pick Messi. He is the best player I have played against," Drogba said.

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