What if toure was white

Presentation is an important element of any entertainment medium, and never is it more crucial than online. Branding can kill a product, and ESPN shoved a giant stake into the heart of what could have been an amazingly positive story.

A simple cursory read through would have convinced any editor of that. Makes no sense with an essay saying it's impossible to re-imagine him as white? Not only were ESPN's decision-makers horribly ignorant of the true essence of this column, they turned a brilliant discussion of transcending race into a farcical game of "what if? Follow him on Twitter. Seluk went on to reveal that Toure had been upset by this, and called on Fifa to change something in order for African players to stand a better chance of winning the award.

Yaya respects all these players. But for an African in these awards it is hard. FIFA needs to change something. Seluk refused to confirm that Toure wanted to either stay with the club or head for pastures new, but he did accept that the decision lay in the hands of Manchester City as to whether they accepted any offers they receive or not. Toure himself admitted his frustration that no one cared the Ivory Coast had been the victim of "unfair" refereeing, and said it was because they were African that there wasn't a fuss being made over their exit.

This mistake deprives us of something huge. It is a scandal that unfortunately does not seem to bother many people. Yaya Toure claims that Manchester City didn't let him visit his dying brother, because they wanted him to celebrate their Premier League win in Abu Dhabi instead Yaya Toure's agent has told The Times he believes the Ivory Coast midfielder would have won one of football's major individual awards if he was white.

Dimitri Seluk claimed City skipper Toure was concerned that his skin colour meant he was not getting the level of recognition he felt he deserved. He said he did not understand how Toure -- who has won the African Footballer of the Year accolade for the past three years -- could not have been in the final three for the FIFA Ballon d'Or.

In April, he said he believed he did not get the recognition he deserved because he was African, and Seluk added: "He is a bit upset about the situation. Yaya respects all these players. But for an African in these awards, it is hard. FIFA needs to change something. Meanwhile, Seluk said he could not guarantee that Toure would still be with Premier League champions City by the time the transfer window closes. The midfielder is interesting Paris Saint-Germain, and player and agent will sit down for talks to discuss his future in the next few weeks.

Earlier this summer, Toure hit out at City, accusing them of not doing enough to mark his 31st birthday in May. He also claimed the club had not granted a request for compassionate leave to visit his ill brother before the World Cup -- a claim City have strongly denied.