Racism in EU in Soccer

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MILAN, April 1 (Reuters) - Messina defender Marc Zoro, who threatened to walk off the field after suffering racist abuse from Inter Milan fans earlier this season, was the target of whistles and jeers again when the two teams met on Saturday.


Zoro's treatment by Inter fans in the game at Messina on November 27 prompted a nationwide debate on racism in Italian soccer and led to a day of anti-racist demonstrations at stadium's across the country.


In Milan on Saturday Inter's hardcore 'ultras' in the North stand chanted against the Ivory Coast-born defender when he entered the field to warm up and taunted him whenever he touched the ball.

However as the game, won 3-0 by Inter, progressed other home supporters objected to the abuse by whistling every time the ultras began a chant against Zoro.

'I'm not happy,' Zoro told Italy's Sky Sport. 'As soon as I ran on to the field they shouted all sorts of things at me and you could hear what happened when I touched the ball -- I think it is a disgrace,' he said.

'It was good in the second half that part of the stadium didn't accept that behaviour, they are people who know football shouldn't be like that,' he added.

Zoro said he had received a positive reaction in most stadiums since his threat to halt the home game in November.

'I was applauded at Treviso and it has been fine in other grounds -- it is only here that I've had this problem again,' he said.

The Messina defender said he hoped the sport's world governing body FIFA would fulfil its plans to get tough on racism.

'I can't do anything about it, I just have to play the game. The fans have to realise what they are doing and I hope that FIFA carry out their plans,' he said.

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Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...363612&cc=5901

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LONDON -- Teams at the World Cup will be subject to FIFA's new anti-racism rules, which include a possible three-point penalty in the standings for misbehavior by fans.


FIFA's new rules took effect April 4 and will govern domestic competitions starting next season.


"The regulations will also be applied for this World Cup," FIFA president Sepp Blatter told Sky TV in an interview aired Tuesday. "At the first sign [of racism] there will be a deduction of three points, then we are finished with the problems of discrimination."


The measures for domestic leagues include a deduction of three points for a first offense, six for a second and relegation for a third. Fines can also be given to fans or officials for "any act or expression of a discriminatory and/or contemptuous nature."


Blatter said the FIFA Congress will discuss the matter when it meets before the World Cup opener in Munich, Germany, on June 9.


"We go now to the Congress in 45 to 50 days and then it will be by decision of the Congress ... to give FIFA the authority to intervene in case of non-application," he said.


Blatter also declined to join calls to bar Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from attending the tournament. Ahmadinejad has drawn criticism for labeling the Holocaust a myth and calling for Israel's destruction.


"If any head of state wants to travel to Germany, this is a matter to be dealt with by the German authorities and definitely not by FIFA," Blatter said. "I would be happy that any head of state would accompany his team and to be present in Germany."


Blatter was abrupt when asked about reports that 60,000 women from Eastern Europe would be trafficked into Germany for use in prostitution during the World Cup.


"We in FIFA, we are not responsible for the morality and the ethics of the whole population of the world," Blatter said. "We should go against gambling. We should go against drugs. We should go against religion. We should go against weapons, and so on. This is not our duty, our duty is football."

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Source:http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...365265&cc=5901

Discuss

This isn't a football problem. The mindless idiots who chant such things aren't sports or football fans. They're the local fascist group who have only gone to the game to cause trouble.

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

This isn't a football problem. The mindless idiots who chant such things aren't sports or football fans. They're the local fascist group who have only gone to the game to cause trouble.

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Well in SOME countries the FANS do the racist chantings, so IT IS a soccer/football problem. And even if in some countries it IS fascist groups, they should be fined and expelled from the stadium, that's what they do in United States soil.

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Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on UEFA for their failure to stamp out racism in football.



DenisDoyle/GettyImages
Eto'o leads the Barca team from the pitch after suffering racist abuse in Zaragoza.

The Manchester United defender is backing a European Parliament resolution which is calling on referees to be given extended powers to abandon matches where supporters make racially abusive taunts.

Ferdinand has grown increasingly frustrated with UEFA paying little more than 'lip-service' to the problem, which has spread across Italy and Spain and into the heart of Eastern Europe.

The 28-year-old was part of the England side when Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole were singled out for monkey chants by Spanish supporters during last year's friendly in Madrid.

World governing body FIFA imposed a paltry £44,750 fine on the Spanish FA for the abuse, a punishment which attracted widespread criticism.

Since then, Paolo di Canio has defended his use of a fascist salute after Lazio games, while only last month, Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o threatened to walk off the field in protest after he was racially abused by Real Zaragoza supporters.

Eto'o was also taunted in the corresponding fixture last year, yet the Spanish Football Federation fined Zaragoza a paltry 600 Euros (£400), following up with a 9000 Euro fine (£6000) for the latest offence.

Now, Ferdinand is calling for action.

'For too long now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the problem is,' he said.

'I talk to a lot of European players and know there are big problems in Spain, in Italy and in Eastern Europe.

'Just look at what happened to Samuel Eto'o. He was racially abused against Zaragoza and what happened? Zaragoza were fined a paltry 9000 Euros by the Spanish Football Federation.

'If he had reacted to the fans that were abusing him by gesturing to them, he would have been fined a couple of weeks' wages at the very least - but, yet again, nothing happens to the fans that abused him.

'It is time for UEFA to stop paying lip-service to the problem. The fines handed out after the England-Spain game were a joke. UEFA should look at imposing huge fines or deducting points within tournaments or competitions.

'If UEFA really is serious about kicking racism into touch they should adopt some of the penalties called for in the (EP) resolution and get on with punishing those who defame the game we all love with their backward, racist views.'

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Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...365265&cc=5901

No, it is not the fans. Anyone who chants racist abuse is not a football fan, because if they were, they would judge players on their football ability, not the colour of their skin.

And "the FIFA League" as you call it is a toothless bureacratic organisation, and its bark is much worse than its bite. There isn't much racism anyway, it just occurs now and again when a bunch of fascists manage to buy tickets.

If anything, I believe football actually decreaeses racism. Other than a few mindless idiots in very rare cases, football, and The World Cup in particular promotes the world coming together to celebrate the most popular sport in the world.

I like how an American is doing this

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Originally Posted by Old Manus

I like how an American is doing this

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Exactly.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5655244

It's not racism, it's pride.

The problem isn't as widespread as its made out to be, and it certainly isn't a problem limited to football matches. Racism in football has steadily decreased over the years in line with changing attitudes and greater tolerance in the world at large. Any idiots who still choose to racially abuse players are simply representative of the sector of society that has remained xenophobic and ignorant. This isn't a problem that the sport's governing body should be dealing with, it's about changing the way people think. The only thing that can be done is to identify those individuals who are causing trouble and prevent them from doing so.

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

No, it is not the fans. Anyone who chants racist abuse is not a football fan, because if they were, they would judge players on their football ability, not the colour of their skin.

And "the FIFA League" as you call it is a toothless bureacratic organisation, and its bark is much worse than its bite. There isn't much racism anyway, it just occurs now and again when a bunch of fascists manage to buy tickets.

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Yes, it is the fans. There is no universal law which says that one cannot be a racist while being a fan of football. I've seen videos where a good number of the people in attendance of an international football match started making monkey noises whenever the ball came in contact with a black player. To state that the troublemakers are all members of "local facist groups" is vastly oversimplifying and erroneoulsy classifying the problem of racism at football stadiums.

P.S. Smurf the smurfing racists, smurf them up their stupid asses.

-LYCHON

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Originally Posted by Lychon

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

No, it is not the fans. Anyone who chants racist abuse is not a football fan, because if they were, they would judge players on their football ability, not the colour of their skin.

And "the FIFA League" as you call it is a toothless bureacratic organisation, and its bark is much worse than its bite. There isn't much racism anyway, it just occurs now and again when a bunch of fascists manage to buy tickets.

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Yes, it is the fans. There is no universal law which says that one cannot be a racist while being a fan of football. I've seen videos where a good number of the people in attendance of an international football match started making monkey noises whenever the ball came in contact with a black player. To state that the troublemakers are all members of "local facist groups" is vastly oversimplifying and erroneoulsy classifying the problem of racism at football stadiums.

P.S. Smurf the smurfing racists, smurf them up their stupid asses.

-LYCHON

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QUOTED FOR TRUTH!

You tell 'em Lychon

Now I DARE Psychotic say it's not the fans

I'll say it again: It's not the fans.

There are two ways of seeing a footballer: Their skills, or the colour of their skin. Football, or racism. By choosing to boo, you are going against everything football is supposed to be about - unity, fair play, being in awe of fantastic players - and thus, you are no football fan.

it's that stupid American TV. They've brainwashed Europe. And football fans like football by defenition.

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

I'll say it again: It's not the fans.

There are two ways of seeing a footballer: Their skills, or the colour of their skin. Football, or racism. By choosing to boo, you are going against everything football is supposed to be about - unity, fair play, being in awe of fantastic players - and thus, you are no football fan.

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That works, but only if you go by your definition of being a football fan. But if your definition were true, then nobody would be a fan of any particular team, they would just gravitate towards whoever was playing best in a season. There's little difference between supporting a team for no reason except it being 'your team', and lambasting other teams for no reason than them being 'other teams'. Racism often enters into it merely when it's convenient to use it against the 'other teams'. So I would contend that it is, in fact, the fans, and that your argument is a "No true Scotsman" fallacy.

I've come to back Psychotic up, because he is cool for recognising Lee Trundle's leetzor skills.

It's not the fans, and somesuch.

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Originally Posted by Psychotic

I'll say it again: It's not the fans.

There are two ways of seeing a footballer: Their skills, or the colour of their skin. Football, or racism. By choosing to boo, you are going against everything football is supposed to be about - unity, fair play, being in awe of fantastic players - and thus, you are no football fan.

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Your definition of a football fan is subjective and idealistic. Like I said before, there is no universal law which prohibits someone from being a racist while being a fan of football. I don't know why you are trying to cover up the dark side of the World Cup. I just watched a story on the news about human trafficking and the influx of prostitutes in and around the World Cup events. There is no denying that some FANS of football are racist, just like some fans of other sports (Nascar, Hockey, etc...). There is a definite problem here, and ignoring it is only aiding neo-Nazi ideology by obscuring the problem Europre (and America) have with racism.

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Originally Posted by Fantasy Fan

it's that stupid American TV. They've brainwashed Europe. And football fans like football by defenition.

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:eep:.............. We've "brainwashed" Europe? Hey buddy, how about showing some gratitude after we bailed out your precious Europe after WWII? You'd still be picking debris out of your arses if it wasn't for us. American TV, just like American video/ computer games, is one of the most beautiful things that ever graced this Earth. You don't like it? Then don't watch it! Lol ........brainwashed...as if!

-LYCHON

P.S. USA, England, or Germany FTW!!!

I'm not covering up the dark side of the World Cup, especially as there has been no racism in the World Cup so far. Yeah, I know that was a semantic argument :p I do admit football has a dark side, and I'm not trying to "cover it up", I just don't like focusing on the negative elements of the sport I love. I'm not denying them completely, but I prefer to concentrate on the good things.

I don't think it's fair to call this a "definite problem". There are thousands of football games played every week, and racist abuse such as in the examples is uncommon, and when it has occurred, it has been universally condemmed by fans, players, the clubs, the organising bodies and the media.

None of the football fans I know consider the racists to be football fans. Everyone considers them to be mindless idiots. Perhaps that is subjective and idealistic, but to me at least, it's better than letting a few black sheep give football fans a bad name, when they already have enough of one.

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Hey buddy, how about showing some gratitude after we bailed out your precious Europe after WWII?

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I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were being facetious there.

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Originally Posted by Fantasy Fan

it's that stupid American TV. They've brainwashed Europe. And football fans like football by defenition.

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Originally Posted by Lychon

:eep:.............. We've "brainwashed" Europe? Hey buddy, how about showing some gratitude after we bailed out your precious Europe after WWII? You'd still be picking debris out of your arses if it wasn't for us.

-LYCHON

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Mate that is the biggest load of bigheaded Americanism I have ever heard.

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Originally Posted by Lychon

American TV, just like American video/ computer games, is one of the most beautiful things that ever graced this Earth. You don't like it? Then don't watch it! Lol ........brainwashed...as if!

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Sorry but what are you smoking!?! American T.V has got to be one of the stupidest things that has ever existed. Sure some good things have come out of it but on the whole its .

Anyway back to topic, as with any worldwide sport championship, there is always going to be some racism. There was some here in the Rugby Union thingy. There will be some in the FIFA cup. When you have that many nations it's just natural that you'll get the arrogent turd going to the game to yell some racial abuse.

On a leaving note: AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!!

Haha, yeah I think the WWII stuff is reaching a little far here.

Adjusting the deninition of football 'fan' doesn't change the fact that this takes place, but I don't see how punishing the teams is going to help matters. Wouldn't that just cause people to act rude to the home team to help them in the standings?

As far as pride goes, saying your team is the best is pride. Acting rude and abusive towards the other teams is not pride, it's idiocy.

Also I don't see how this is America's fault, or that it has anything to do with the US at all, but I'm sure we're somehow involved. We are the source of all good and bad in this world, after all.

All sports have their occasional drunken idiots claiming their region's ability to hit/kick/throw a ball makes them better people than some other region, but for some reason football/soccer has a bad reputation of this happening frequently. Maybe it's all talk, but I know I would never go to a European soccer game.

I just don't understand were you Americans are getting these facts from. Did any of you watch Portugal vs Angola, or Argentina vs Ivory Coast, or Sweden vs Paraguay? Thought not. All games where it is a predominently white population vs a predominently black population. Not a hint of racism and fans had the utmost respect for each other.

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Originally Posted by Malboro_Menace

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Originally Posted by Fantasy Fan

it's that stupid American TV. They've brainwashed Europe. And football fans like football by defenition.

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Originally Posted by Lychon

:eep:.............. We've "brainwashed" Europe? Hey buddy, how about showing some gratitude after we bailed out your precious Europe after WWII? You'd still be picking debris out of your arses if it wasn't for us.

-LYCHON

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Mate that is the biggest load of bigheaded Americanism I have ever heard.

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Originally Posted by Lychon

American TV, just like American video/ computer games, is one of the most beautiful things that ever graced this Earth. You don't like it? Then don't watch it! Lol ........brainwashed...as if!

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Sorry but what are you smoking!?! American T.V has got to be one of the stupidest things that has ever existed. Sure some good things have come out of it but on the whole its .

Anyway back to topic, as with any worldwide sport championship, there is always going to be some racism. There was some here in the Rugby Union thingy. There will be some in the FIFA cup. When you have that many nations it's just natural that you'll get the arrogent turd going to the game to yell some racial abuse.

On a leaving note: AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!!

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What am I smoking? I think the question here is what are you drinking? Read the history books and you'll discover a little thing known as the Marshall Plan in regards to World War II. It was part of the Cold War the United States was engaged in with the Soviet Union. It's in part thanks to us that communism came crashing down in the late 1980s and why some nations now enjoy a greater amount of freedom instead of being oppressed by totalitarian dictatorships.

And American TV is the farthest thing from 'stupid.' The best of science fiction, comedy, and drama are all from American television. Not only that, but American film is also at the pinnacle of the industry. Need I mention that Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas are Americans? Need I mention that Humphrey Bogart, Lucille Ball, Chevy Chase, Jim Carrey, and a smurfload more are Americans? In fact, the development of the modern Japan was sparked in the destruction it incurred during World War II by the United States and therefore Final Fantasy is an indirect result of US intervention in Japan. :D

Also, just because some football matches show no signs of racism from the fans (or others in attendance) doesn’t mean that the problem is solved. It is most likely that the fans who would have liked to make racist remarks kept their stupid mouths shut because FIFA threatened their teams with penalties. Maybe that answers you question about where "us Americans" get our notions from. You see, we use a little thing called dialectics.


P.S. Didn’t Australia originally accept a smurfload of convicts as a location to hold them?


-LYCHON

1. Can we concentrate more on the topic at hand? We don't need another thread where Americans boast about their perceived superiority.

2. I have been to several football matches, and have watched several more on TV. In all that time I can only recall twice where a player has been racially abused. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's very rare and is started by racists who manage to get hold of tickets, not fans who appreciate the world's no.1 sport. And don't pretend that there is no such thing as racism in the United States.

3. If I ever have children, I would have no concerns about taking them to see a football match.

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Originally Posted by tomamar04

1. Can we concentrate more on the topic at hand? We don't need another thread where Americans boast about their perceived superiority.

2. I have been to several football matches, and have watched several more on TV. In all that time I can only recall twice where a player has been racially abused. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's very rare and is started by racists who manage to get hold of tickets, not fans who appreciate the world's no.1 sport. And don't pretend that there is no such thing as racism in the United States.

3. If I ever have children, I would have no concerns about taking them to see a football match.

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Funny, if I"m not mistaken, most news I see/hear 'bout when it comes to racism points to countries such as Spain and Germany, but I'm sure there are others.


As far as I can see, those fans who DARE say racist words towards other players should be FINED and KICKED OUT of the stadium, pure and simple.

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As far as I can see, those fans who DARE say racist words towards other players should be FINED and KICKED OUT of the stadium, pure and simple.

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Anyone who is caught being racist at a football match in the UK is banned from that stadium for life.

Look, all I'm saying is that racism is not a big part of football in any way shape or form. You get racism in all walks of life.

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Originally Posted by tomamar04

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As far as I can see, those fans who DARE say racist words towards other players should be FINED and KICKED OUT of the stadium, pure and simple.

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Anyone who is caught being racist at a football match in the UK is banned from that stadium for life.

Look, all I'm saying is that racism is not a big part of football in any way shape or form. You get racism in all walks of life.

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Well, I applaud England, very good. FIFA can learn from England, easy as that.

-There's a difference between getting MASSIVE amounts of racism throughout a stadium and 2 bastards saying racist words/chants.