'If you go, I go with you': How Ronaldinho once persuaded Eto'o to play on despite racial abuse
In 2006, when Barcelona played away at Zaragoza, some of the Catalans' players came under heavy racist abuse by the home fans. The game was even interrupted and Samuel Eto'o was already heading towards the locker room, but it was Ronaldinho to stop him – here's why.
"I would have gone with Eto'o after hearing the insults he received throughout the game," the Brazilian told the media after the game.
"This kind of thing cannot continue. We have to try and abolish these things from football pitches.
"I tried to calm him [Eto'o] down and told him that he was bigger than the people who were insulting him. We hope that actions like those of Samuel mean these kinds of incidents won't happen again," Ronaldinho concluded.
Zaragoza were fined 600 euros by the Spanish FA after a section of their fans directed similar abuse against Eto'o one year prior to that incident. In 2006, the fine was much heavier: €9,000.
