Aboutaball :: About World Football

Football News, Articles, Statistics, Links and more…

Racism in football - not kicked out just yet

Football is often recognised as the beautiful game across the world, a unique atmosphere only found at football stadia and the virtuoso delight of some the world's superstars gracing the hallowed green turf. Yet as with everything, the sport has an ugly side, which has re-emerged once again.

Imagine that you are a professional footballer doing the job you love in front of thousands of people on the big stage, when all of a sudden the fans turn on you with racist chanting.

That is exactly the situation Inter Milan star Mario Balotelli found himself in at the Delle Alpi. The Italian U 21 International was the victim as the Juventus fans were shouting that 'a black Italian does not exist.'

It is not uncommon to hear racist comments in Serie A as it seems to be part of the game over there, but a major problem is the lack of urgency and strictness that some football authorities will bring on aggressors.

There have been many instances of racist chanting plaguing the European leagues with Spain and Italy being the main culprits, however the most surprising thing is the blas� attitude of people on the subject.

Many people in Madrid after the infamous friendly between England and Spain in 2004, shrugged off the claims that the monkey chants aimed at Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips were not a big deal declaring that football is all about insulting the other team and that the racist chanting wasn't meant seriously.

Further fallout from the encounter was the speculation that the British media provoked a response from the Spanish fans after declaring them all as racist.

Maybe the press had a point as shortly before, Spain's head coach Luis Aragones, labelled ex-Arsenal star Thierry Henry a 'black s***'.

This is not the only instance where a senior member of a team has prompted racist events as in the case of Bari coach Eugenio Fascetti who shouted: "The nigger Diawara spat in Garzya's face! And the spit might even be infected! Why don't they just stay home, these niggers?"

Fascetti made these remarks after Torino's Senegalese defender Djibril Diawara's nose was smashed and blood was pouring from his face, after an opponent elbowed him while playing against Bari.

Disturbing as the last instance is, how would you be feeling if your chairman was to resort to such childish measures as in the case of Kevin Campbell, who suffered racist taunts from his own chairman while playing for Turkish club Trabzonspor.

Mehmet Ali Yilmaz said in a television interview: 'We bought a cannibal who calls himself a striker. He is coloured. A great disappointment to the club.'

But why are these sickening events occurring and reappearing?

It has a lot to do with the poor measures installed by football authorities in those countries.

Despite the assurances from the Spanish secretary of sport to introduce punitive measures into the game, those promises have not been upheld, as Samuel Eto'o would testify.

The Barcelona hit man has been subjected to monkey calls from many clubs throughout Spain.

He has experienced the brunt at the helm of Getafe and Real Zaragoza, which has left the Cameroon star incensed by the treatment.

Getafe striker Gica Craioveanu said: "I don't agree with this behaviour, I wouldn’t have liked to have been in his shoes."

Eto'o responded by insisting that journalists and white players can send the strongest messages.

Barcelona's captain Carlos Puyol said: "Racism is the opponent all we players would like to see get thrashed."

This is all good and well however the major issue revolves around attitudes and perceptions on the issue.

A lot of focus has been on eliminating the problem from the source as was demonstrated in England in the 1990's, as a decade before the UK was a living nightmare for any coloured footballers as Liverpool legend John Barnes could testify.

Barnes himself was a target of racial abuse such as monkey chanting and bananas being thrown at him with the infamous picture of him back heeling one off the pitch at Goodison Park.

However the outlook does look a lot brighter in the English game.

Simon Kuper, author of 'Football against the Enemy' said: "Football doesn't tend to take the lead, but by the nineties it was no longer acceptable in Britain anymore to make racist jokes."

The game does sometimes fall back into disrepute as in the case of the homophobic chanting from Tottenham fans at their former captain Sol Campbell in 2007, but unlike other football federations the FA took a stand.

Jonathan Mills, the Equality co-ordinator for the FA, said: "a co-ordinated effort led to eleven people being arrested and charged by Hampshire Police for their part in the abuse towards Sol Campbell."

He went on to say that they have a duty to be pro-active and encourage others to participate in the game irrespective of their colour, ethnic origins, nationality or cultural background.

All the lessons that are being learned, could not prepare a professional footballer

for the treatment of Treviso's young Nigerian, Schengun Omolade, who made his debut in a crucial Serie B relegation clash, who are home to the infamous 'Blue Army', that subject any opposing black players to racist chanting.

Unfortunately for the young star he was set on by the group who were shouting "we don't want blacks in our team".

Omolade said after the game: "I was discouraged but I wasn't upset because I'd seen these things on the television and heard them here at our own ground. Yet all I could think was, will it be the same next week at home against Genoa? Will it be even worse?"

However, his team mates planned to fight back, and made a stand by applying black boot polish to their face in their next match, in an attempt to forge unity and respect.

The team were booed and jeered by the fanatics who in turn felt the wrath of the others in the crowd as they were drowned out in true spirit of the game.

Omolade said after the match: "When I saw what they'd done, I was full of joy. I thought it'd be hard to make friends in Italy, I never knew there could be people like this."

This seems a signal of hope for the game and a dagger in the side of the sickening monster stalking the game.

The emergence of such campaign groups in Britain such as 'Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football' and 'Show Racism the Red Card' has started to see a change in the social attitudes on the subject.

The FA supports both groups but more importantly they have the backing of the elite footballers in the Premier League and in the International game.

'Show Racism the Red Card' organise an annual competition that involves children at schools across the country.

This year’s competition involved more than 500 schools taking part in an attempt to educate about racism.

The event was set up by the organisation, as they challenged the children to produce anti-racist pieces of artwork, poetry, short stories, small films or songs.

Rosslyn Park Primary School, Aspley, Nottingham scooped first in the multimedia class.

Fiona Peel from the school said: "It was a production made by the children, it was their choice to create the movie.

"This is just a step on the ladder and the challenge is constantly ongoing but it’s about time that we start to raise awareness about the problem."

She added that the project involved the whole class was a very positive thing, which has made a big impact on the children, as it is an important issue that needs to be addressed at a young age.

The ceremony to congratulate this year’s winners and hand them their awards was at Villa Park the home of Aston Villa and was attended by current stars Ashley Young and Brad Guzan.

Minister of Sport Gerry Sutcliffe, who attended the event said that racism has no place in football, sport or life and it is important to get that message to children as early as possible.

The pieces that received an award will be included in ‘Show Racism the Red Cards’ promotional DVD which also includes interviews with the elite players of the game and produced in collaboration with FIFPro the international players union.

Gavin Sutherland, a campaign worker for Show Racism the Red Card said: “Over the past few years we have used previous entries in calendars and posters, but this time the winning entries will be used as extras on our promotional film.”

Even with this competition the education to fight the problem of racism is always ongoing, as Arsenal proved on January 19, by holding a session with schools from around Islington and with French midfielder Abou Diaby and Show Racism the Red Card, at the Emirates stadium.

The event was to show the video and for the Arsenal star to answer any questions the children may have on the issue.

Diaby said: “It’s important to speak about racism to children when they are young, like the children who are here today.

“They need to know what is wrong and right at an early age, but also learn how it is best to deal with the situations that involve racism.”

This seems to be an effective tool for the clubs to use to educate the children on this issue so no-one has to suffer the horrific situations that stars in the game past and present have had to, such as Balotelli, Eto’o and Barnes.

Gavin Sutherland said: “We support where we can help, we aim to educate and be a positive impact on the young people who are becoming aware of racism.”

Jonathan Mills from the FA added: “We are combating it by reaching a younger generation, that it is alright to be different and to celebrate other peoples colour and faiths.

This could not be truer with many schemes now invovling schools, football teams and associations who are taking serious steps to eradicate the vile problem of racism that stalks the beloved game and society.

As Rio Ferdinand the Manchester United and England International said: “Drumming it home to kids, that any type of racism isn’t needed, in school, anywhere, in any workplace. We are definitely on the right track, but I still feel there is a long way to go.”

Maybe this is some wishful thinking or even a touch optimistic, but the problem that plagues the game still exists.

While people still adopt a blas� attitude and also deny the problem occurs, it will continue to survive as Claudio Ranieri, Juventus manager said: “It is a national, social problem, not only a football one, I’m very disappointed about what happened but as a coach with grey hair all I can say is avoid certain behaviour.”

Posted by Hemal on Monday, 22nd June 2009

(Average rating 9 from 10 votes. Vote)
(0 Comments)

Want to write about Football? At About a ball we're always looking out for football writiers from every corner of the World, if you think you can write interesting original articles please contact:
editor @ aboutaball . co . uk (no spaces).

We look forward to hearing from you.

Other News Stories:

African Cup of Nations, Site News, World -

The African Cup of Nations is back on Aboutaball - your Number One source for news and views from Africa's premier competition

British -

Vieira over the hill?

African Cup of Nations, World -

Nigerian fans risk Nations Cup blackout

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -

African Cup of Nations 2010: Tunisia Team Guide

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -

African Cup of Nations 2010: Zambia Team Guide

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -

African Cup of Nations 2010: Gabon Team Guide

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -