Speaking on his new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, the 38-year-old recalled a distressing moment during his time managing DC United in the United States when one of his players broke down in tears after being racially abused.

“I had it in DC with one of my players who got racially abused, and he was crying on my chest,” Rooney said. “You have to hit the clubs because that’s the only way it will stop. If there is ignorance, the fans will still do it. You have to hit the clubs by taking off points or take money away from them. Otherwise, it will keep on going,” he said.

The discussion comes in the wake of Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo reporting racist abuse from a spectator during his side’s 4-2 defeat to Liverpool in Friday’s Premier League opener. The match was briefly halted in the 29th minute after Semenyo alerted the referee.

Rooney stressed the need for stronger punishments to hold clubs accountable, alongside widespread education campaigns targeting children, parents, and even grandparents.

“There needs to be a strong campaign for society to be educated. People often say things as throwaway lines without understanding the pain it causes. There has to be more done to stop it,” he added.

Source: Punch