Wigan skipper Emmerson Boyce says you can either laugh at racists or beat them ahead of Rubin clash

Racism: Emmerson Boyce's Wigan face Rubin Kazan tonight

Wigan  skipper Emmerson Boyce thinks there are two ways for a player to ignore racists – laugh at them and beat them.

The Latics skipper leads his team to Russia on Europa League duty hoping there are no repeats of the abuse that Manchester City suffered against CSKA Moscow.

Long-serving star Boyce (above) has been around long enough to remember the bad old days in England – and reveals the stick he used to suffer.

Boyce and co are facing Rubin Kazan tomorrow with football watching the stands to see if there is a repeat of the vile chants and gestures aimed at Yaya Toure.

The FA Cup-winning skipper said: “When I played at Luton I experienced it myself. You used to get the racial abuse at away games.

“They would throw Jaffa cakes and make monkey noises – things like that. There were a few of us in the team, we just laughed it off and joked about it later. It shows how far that football has come. You don’t really hear about that here now.

“I can go to any ground in the country and I don’t hear anything. That shows that the campaigns are working.

Last time: Wigan Athletic's Jordi Gomez in action with Rubin Kazan's Chris Mavinga

 

“Everyone is doing their very best to stamp it out. You can slowly but surely grind it out. But it will take time.

“It’s all about educating people. There was a message sent out by UEFA. We want to make a stand and show football is bigger than any racists or people who are still thinking that way.

“The Kick It Out Racism campaign is going well. It’s benefitting football and the world in general.”

Boyce thinks the best method of defeating the madness during a match is simple – shut them up.

He said: “Toure’s team went out there and won. It’s all you can do as a player. You play to your best. If it’s happening you have got to rise above it.”

Meanwhile, Lee Nicholl's dreams of making his European debut in Kazan.

Wigan’s former England Under-19 goalkeeper is fresh from three games in seven days – and two clean sheets – after stepping in for the injured Scott Carson.

Scouser Nicholls, 21, said: “It would be amazing to play in Europe and keep adding to my recent achievements. If the gaffer chooses me again I won’t be treating the game any differently to the league.”