Rio Ferdinand has hit out at the lack of outrage after a banana was thrown at Tottenham striker Richarlison during Brazil's 5-1 win in Paris on Tuesday night.
The Spurs striker bagged Brazil's second goal against Tunisia, however, his celebrations were marred when several objects were thrown onto the pitch, including a banana.
The unsavoury scenes were condemned by Richarlison, the Brazilian football confederation and Tottenham after the match, but the overall reaction to the incident has left Ferdinand "disheartened". And the former Manchester United and England star has called on football's governing bodies to stop "sweeping racism under the carpet" and adopt tougher sanctions.
Speaking about the incident on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: "The sanctions are not working, the sanctions aren't hard enough. There aren't barriers, no repercussions, no authority saying this is what we stand for, and if you cross that line bang.
"The way racism is treated now is like, let's just keep sweeping it under the carpet. No one shouts loud enough, no player, no club, no organisation can stand tall for long enough. It's disheartening. You've got your own kids waking up saying, 'Dad, you seen that banana thrown on the pitch at Richarlison?' It's mad this."
And Ferdinand is convinced that the "hysteria" from Tuesday night's racist attack has been no greater than the reaction Richarlison incurred on social media for showboating in Tottenham's win against Nottingham Forest last month.
"There was probably as much vitriol and hysteria on social media and in media in general as there was with this banana racism incident as there was when he was doing kick-ups and he got smashed. Let that sink in," Ferdinand added.
"It's mad, man. That's how it feels, that racism is... it's not over here as being an absolute thing we should have to discuss and sort out and have zero tolerance with, it doesn't sit there man."
Richarlison also spoke out after the match and backed Ferdinand's call for tougher sanctions on racism. The 25-year-old wrote on Twitter: "As long as they stay 'blah blah blah' and don't punish, it will continue like this, happening every day and everywhere. No time bro! #racismonao [racism no]."
Tottenham also tweeted: "We are disgusted by the racist abuse of Richarlison at last night's game between Brazil and Tunisia. This has no place in football, or anywhere. We stand with you, Richy."
