Barcelona’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has appealed for public support in the campaign to stamp out racism.

Eto’o wanted to leave the pitch a quarter during Barcelona’s 2-0 away victory against Real Zaragoza in protest at racial abuse he received from the rival team’s supporters.

“Football is a game, we have to take pleasure from, but with the knowledge that life goes on before and after a match,” Eto’o was quoted as saying by Turkish newspapers.

Eto’o was speaking after receiving the best athlete of the year award from the Turkish daily Zaman.

“Please give me support to banish violence and insults from sports,” he said, describing insults on the football pitch as a “world problem”.

Real Zaragoza have been issued a €9000 fine by the Spanish league following the racist chants.

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