TOBY ALDERWEIRELD is “honoured” by a petition calling for a statue of him to replace a former Belgian king’s – as the Black Lives Matter protests spread across Europe.
So far more than 900 people in the Tottenham defender’s home town of Ekeren have backed demands to build a figure of the Belgium star to oust that of King Leopold II.
Protesters have targeted likenesses of former Belgium King Leopold II, whose reign in Congo led to an estimated 10-15million people dyingCredit: Reuters
Spurs star Toby Alderweireld at first thought it was a joke when he heard calls for a statue of him to be erected in his home townCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Black Lives Matter protests have been targeting controversial historical figures, such as Leopold II, a key figure in Belgium’s colonial pastCredit: Reuters
Anti-racism campaigners want Belgium to confront its colonial past, including targeting images of infamous Leopold II as he oversaw atrocities in the Congo from 1885-1908.
Alderweireld, 31, at first thought the plan to put up his bust was a prank.
The 98-cap ace told the Guardian: “I was laughing. I thought it was some kind of joke, that people are actually signing the petition.
“I have to say I’m a little bit honoured as well.
“It’s a small town in Belgium and until I was 15 I spent my youth there.
I will not sign my own petition. Of the people who have, I think 80 per cent are my friends. I don’t think I will ever deserve a statue.
Toby Alderweireld
“I went to school there and I still go back. If they really wanted to I would never say no because I would be honoured, but I will not sign my own petition.
“Of all the people who have, I think about 80 per cent are my friends.
“I would never say: ‘This is a good time to put up a statue of me,’ because I don’t think I will ever deserve a statue.”
Protests against racism have broadened far and wide from the USA, where George Floyd died at the hands of police brutality.
And Belgian protesters have taken away or scrawled graffiti on likenesses of Leopold II, who was king from 1885 to 1909.
More notoriously, he has been blamed for the deaths of around 10–15 million people in Africa when he was the Sovereign of the Congo Free State during the same period.
That reign reportedly initiated the term “crime against humanity” – now commonly used for the worst offences.
Many campaigners want Leopold’s town centre statue dumped and replaced by a figure of arguably the area’s greatest ever football hero.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
