Benetton issue statement following racist Secret Santa gift

Benetton Rugby have issued a public statement following a post from Cherif Traore on social media.

Guinea-born prop Traore was 'gifted' a rotten banana at Benetton's team Secret Santa and took to Instagram to call out the behaviour.

"Christmas is coming and as traditionally in a team it's Secret Santa time. A friendly and playful moment. A moment where you can afford to give anonymous gifts to your mates, even stingy, ironic ones," Traore wrote in Italian.

"Yesterday, when it was my turn, I found a banana inside my present. A rotten banana, inside a bag of moisture. Apart from calling the gesture offensive, what hurt me most and seeing most of my mates present laughing. As if everything is normal.

"I'm used to it, or better, I've had to get used to it, having to make a good face on a bad game whenever I hear racist jokes in order to try not to hate the people close to me. Yesterday was different though.

"Thankfully, some comrades, especially foreigners, tried to support me. Outside Italy, a gesture like this is severely condemned even in small realities, and this time I want to say mine.

"I've been up all night. Young guys from different backgrounds attended this Secret Santa. I have decided not to remain silent this time to ensure that episodes like this don't happen again to prevent other people from finding themselves in my current situation in the future. And hoping the sender will learn a lesson..."

Following the post, Benetton released a statement on their official website condemning the behaviour.

"With reference to the post that appeared this morning on the social profiles of the biancoverde player Cherif Traore, Benetton Rugby would like to reiterate that it has always condemned with the utmost firmness any expression of racism and/or form of discrimination," the statement read. "They are not part of our culture and do not represent our identity and our values.

"We have always proved it with deeds, not just with words, and we will continue to strongly support it.

"Similar behaviors have nothing to do with sport and in the face of episodes like this Benetton Rugby will always be on the side of respecting people, their culture, their ethnicity, their faith and their dignity."

It is not clear as yet whether the gifter was a teammate of Traore's or a member of staff.

Traore has been a member of the Benetton side since 2015, notching up over 80 appearances for the club whilst also making a number of appearances for the Italian national side.