Post by Taxigirl on Oct 24, 2003 11:05:15 GMT
Arsenal defender Ashley Cole says he fears racist abuse from the terraces every time he travels out of England.
The Gunners left back and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey were subject to racist onslaughts in Slovakia last October in a Euro 2004 qualifier and Cole says the problem is worse abroad than it is at home.
Speaking at the Kick Racism Out Of Football forum at Highbury, Cole said: "It does get you down and it can affect you.
"You get thoughts in your mind that every time you go abroad you are going to get abuse.
"In Slovakia even the guys with the stretchers were giving me abuse.
"All I can do is try to block it out. I'm out there to play football and try to make people happy.
"When I was younger I did retaliate and that was stupid. Now I just try to ignore it."
