Former hockey player PK Subban has been branded ‘a sell-out of the highest proportion’ by fellow Canadian Akim Aliu, who accused the ESPN star of siding with ‘the oppressor’ Donald Trump ahead of Thursday’s much-anticipated rematch against Team USA.
‘You are the perfect example of why people of color haven’t progressed at the highest levels of society… you’re a disgrace,’ Aliu told Subban in an explosive social media statement.
It comes after the former NHL star shared a post from President Trump about the upcoming Four Nations final between USA and Canada.
The game will be played amid heightened tension between the two countries, with Trump stoking the fire by threatening tariffs, taunting Canada about becoming the 51st state – and referring to prime minister Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’.
Subban shared Trump’s latest post about the game, alongside the cryptic caption: ‘The Trizzy Train could be coming through soon… Stay tuned!’
That prompted a lengthy response from ex-NHL star Aliu, who is Nigerian-born and half-Ukrainian.
Former hockey player PK Subban has been branded ‘a sell-out of the highest proportion’
It comes after he shared a post from President Trump about the upcoming USA-Canada clash
Akim Aliu called Subban a ‘disgrace’
The 35-year-old has previously opened up about the racism he suffered during his career and now he has taken aim at Subban, telling him ‘no one liked you’ and warning: ‘History will judge you accordingly’.
‘I’ve watched you from afar and never said anything for two main reasons. 1 being the respect I have for your brothers and parents & 2 I’ve always wanted to keep the in fighting between folks of color to a minimum,’ Aliu wrote.
‘This was something I couldn’t let go – I’ve known you since I was ten years old and played with you so I’d say I know you better than most at a deeper level.
‘You were a hell of a player and instead of using your platform you did everything in your power to gain acceptance and popularity, nothing with you has ever been genuine but transactional and usually for publicity reasons.
‘Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from.
‘I would (have) thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels would shine through to push back on rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.’
The two nations played out a brutal game Saturday, which saw three fights in nine seconds
Subban, who now works for ESPN, was told by Aliu that ‘history will judge you accordingly’
Subban, who had not publicly responded to the comments at the time of writing, gained fame outside of hockey after he was engaged to skiing legend Lindsey Vonn.
But Aliu insisted: ‘Every place you have played – no one liked you and players on the inside have always known who you really are – a sell out of the highest proportions.
‘You are the perfect example of why people of color haven’t progressed at the highest levels of society. From one man to another, you’re a disgrace and history will judge you accordingly.’
The two rivals meet in Boston in the final of the Four Nations, just days after their brutal first encounter which saw three fights in the first nine seconds before the US triumphed 3-1.
Emotions ran high throughout with Canada fans, in front of Trudeau , furiously booing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as it played in Montreal.
Following the violent scenes over the weekend, USA hockey’s general manager Bill Guerin had urged president Trump to cheer them on from the stands.
