Published: Thursday, 22nd October, 2009 10:30am

Midfielder kicks racism out

by Maxwell Kusi Obodum

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ROYALS midfield dynamo Jem Karacan is putting both feet behind a national campaign to stamp out racism from football.

The Turkish under 21 international is eagerly awaiting Monday night's [26] crunch match with Leicester City at the Madejksi Stadium which club chiefs have earmarked as their One Club, One Community game.

The initiative will unite players and fans of all nationalities, colours and creeds as part of football charity Kick It Out's anti-racism campaign.

Club mascots will parade around the pitch with a promotional banner and players will sport special T-shirts before kick off.

Karacan, 20, who has learned to "stand up" against racism on the rare occasions he has encountered it, said: "If I get any abuse, it generally means I'm doing a good job for my team and I use it to spur me on.

"Thankfully, there's not too much of it about these days, but we're still trying to stamp it out so it is massive to have a campaign like Kick It Out. As long as everyone's together in supporting it, then hopefully we can force these people out of football."

Team mates Jobi McAnuff, Darren O'Dea, Adam Federici, Ryan Bertrand and Kalifa Cisse will also reveal their stories in a special edition of Monday night's official match day programme The Royal.

Call 0844 249 1871 or see www.readingfc.co.uk.

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