Celtic defender Jeremie Frimpong has warned his team-mates they could face race hate hell in Rome next month after revealing he was targeted in Italy when he was only 10.
Celtic Park is on red alert for the Europa League visit of Lazio on Thursday with extra police drafted in after the Serie A giants were clobbered by UEFA for fascist salutes against Rennes.
The Italians have been ordered to shut the offending section of the Stadio Olimpico when the Hoops head to Rome on November 7.
But former Manchester City youth star Frimpong admitted his experience of playing in Rome left him stunned after kids as young as 10 years old were subjected to sickening monkey chants.
The 18-year-old Celtic star said: “When I was back at City, I went to a tournament in Italy and their fans were making monkey chants but I tried not to let it bother me, I still played on.
“This must have been Under-11s. It wasn’t just me, my team-mates were getting it as well.
“It was just at the end of the game, it is a game of football, what has the colour of my skin got to do with it? I am just kicking the ball, what makes you so angry?”
Frimpong is hoping there won’t be a repeat at Parkhead or at the Stadio Olimpico after numerous high-profile racist incidents across the continent.
England players were close to walking off in their Euro qualifier in Bulgaria earlier this month – while the FA Cup tie between Yeovil and Haringey Borough was abandoned after black players were abused.
Italian football has also been engulfed in a race storm this season with Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku targeted by Cagliari fans – with even his own club’s ultras defending the monkey chants and jeers.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has insisted he will support his players if they threaten to walk off the pitch if they suffered similar shameful scenes.
Frimpong is praying it doesn’t come to that stage.
He said: “I wouldn’t like to see that happen. But if it did, well you see what happened in the England v Bulgaria match.
“After that happened, it just killed the mood, I wouldn’t like that to happen. Just play the game, none of this.”
Frimpong has seen racism hit the headlines this season but he insisted there has been strides made in recent years.
The full-back was born in Holland and raised in England but is convinced the racist thugs are being shamed out of the game despite recent flashpoints.
Frimpong said: “It used to be a lot worse back in the day, and I think it is getting better.
“There is always going to be racism, always. But it has been getting better.
“It has been coming back a little bit but generally I think it has been improving.”
