If necessary, he will go to UEFA or even demand a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Coach Ricardo Moniz has had enough after two racist incidents with his club Zalaegerszegi TE.

Moniz himself received a red card on Saturday after entering the field to take his players off the field. The coach couldn’t stand the constant monkey noises from opponent Honvéd’s supporters.

“I experienced it for the second time within four days, that was reason enough for me to go into the field,” says Moniz, who still sounds angry when he describes the events.

Selectively

“I had warned the fourth official that the jungle noises had to stop. He said he didn’t hear anything and the same goes for the opponent’s referee and coach. It’s always the same here, all very selective,” Moniz told NOS.

“People sometimes don’t want to hear things, that’s why I’m so extreme now. I’m tough. Even if I have to fight this fight alone, I don’t care. The referee should have eliminated the sounds by walking off the field himself. That goes too far and I’m done with it.”

It’s not the first time that Moniz has been confronted with racism in a football stadium. In November 2019, as Excelsior manager, he witnessed his player Ahmad Mendes Moreira being treated racistly by some FC Den Bosch supporters.

Moniz then challenged Mendes Moreira to talk with his feet and the footballer did so by scoring a goal in the game.

Politicians, the KNVB and other celebrities then rolled over each other to support Mendes Moreira, but Moniz knows better. “Nothing was done about it in 2019. Everyone is talking about it and is interesting. That was all for the stage. At that time nobody was prosecuted, nothing happened.”

Moniz says he was the only one who left the field in the end because Zalaegerszegi TE would risk a points penalty if the team didn’t want to play football either. “I didn’t want to harm the club so I went in alone. We’re still in the running for European football too.”

UEFA and Orban

It is still unclear whether the Hungarian Football Association will ban him because of the red card. “I’m very excited to see what they’re going to do. Is the red card still there? I will not accept that. Then I go to UEFA. The time has come,” Moniz sounds combative.

He also says he will not shy away from raising the racism case with Viktor Orban. Moniz feels the support of the Hungarian Prime Minister because he is very sporty. “This group of 20 percent, these crazy people, they have to feel it. It’s also about protecting my players because I love them.”

The fact that Ferenvaros will face Zalaegerszegi TE next Sunday also plays a role for the coach. Moniz definitely wants to be there. From 2012 to 2014 he was head coach of the Hungarian club.

The Hungarian Football Association condemned all racist remarks in a statement on Twitter. “If there is evidence of racist remarks during a game, the Disciplinary Committee will take action. An investigation will then be initiated.”

58-year-old Moniz has no intention of leaving Hungary unless the situation changes. “One must always choose the path of greatest resistance. We can do a lot more in football than we think. Especially people in sports,” he emphasizes.

Moniz is expecting a happy ending to this story anyway. “After all the reactions so far, I am confident that everything will turn out for the better. I know one thing: my technical director and my players have my back. It’s all about this.”