Andreas Tetteh: "We need to bring younger generations up in a culture of anti-racism"

About the author
Greece international Andreas Tetteh, a striker for Greek Super League team AE Kifisia who will move to Panathinaikos in January, is the winner of the 2025 Player Activism Award, one of three FIFPRO Merit Awards. Tetteh’s father was from Ghana and his mother is of Sierra Leonean descent, and he was born and raised in Athens. He became Greek player union PSAPP’s anti-racism ambassador earlier this year due to his efforts to promote an anti-racist culture in Greek football.

By Andreas Tetteh

If I could speak to every person in the moments before they make a racist comment, I would ask them to take the time to put themselves in the shoes of the person they are about to abuse. Think about what might be going on in their lives right now. What difficulties they might have faced. And how deeply your comments about the colour of their skin will hurt them. Racially abusing someone doesn’t make you superior – and it certainly doesn’t make you a better person.

Unfortunately, in my career as a footballer, I have experienced racial abuse on more than one occasion, both on the pitch and in the streets. While never from the fans of the team I was playing for, there were instances that came from individual fans of the opposition. I spoke to the press after a game when I was verbally abused by a club official from the opposing team from the bench. The shock was still fresh, and I was extremely upset, but in that moment, I just had to speak out. I wanted as many people as possible to realise what had gone on and how badly it had affected me.

It was perhaps this need to get my message across that caused PSAPP to offer me the role of anti-racism ambassador – because they could see that although it was an issue that I was directly affected by, I wasn’t afraid to talk about it. When they offered me the role I was delighted to accept. They have been supportive of the messages I have been trying to get across to the football community here in Greece.

Any social event or programme they see an opportunity for me to speak out, they arrange it so I can do so – especially with children, which I think is so important. We need to shape the minds of the next generation, educate them on a culture of anti-racism that they can grow up with, so that they themselves can become an active example for the generation after. It’s a top priority not only to teach children how to treat others, but to share my story with those who might have already been badly treated themselves, encouraging them to stand up against racist abuse.

My mum always says that whatever someone says to you, you don’t have to let it stick: be the rock in the river which the water touches, and flows past, but cannot move. I want to share that message with everyone that has been affected by racism; we might not be able to stop it from touching us, but we need to have the strength to stand our ground.

I am so proud of the work we have achieved so far, and the people that we have reached. I am grateful for the belief that my union has shown in me, and I think we have already taken real steps towards making football in Greece a safer space for everyone.

It’s validating to be recognised by FIFPRO with the Player Activism Award because it proves my message is spreading, and winning the award will help amplify it even more. I am a person who has been through a lot in life, and my experiences drive me into sharing the messages and supporting the causes that will inspire real change. While I will never stop, having our work recognised is still a welcome encouragement.

I say our work, because I couldn’t have got this far without PSAPP, who really listened to me and gave me the platform to create the change I wanted to see in the game. My family, friends and team-mates, some of whom have also experienced racism first-hand, have supported me. It’s been a collective effort.

Our voice is our strongest power. I’m lucky I have the opportunity to share mine with so many people. It is an honour, but also a responsibility – one that I think all players should shoulder. So many people watch football and are influenced by the players they support, giving us all a platform that is larger than so many others. We have so much visibility and influence, especially amongst younger fans. If somewhere amongst those thousands of followers we can convince one to make a positive change, then we’d be spreading a little bit of good in the world.

Since that day that I spoke to the media after being racially abused, I have felt so much support from the football community. I can already sense a change brought about by my message. I believe if every team was to use their own voice to take a united stand against racism, we could inspire a real cultural change in the community. I believe football has that power. We should be using it to the best of our abilities – not just in Greece, but all over the world.