FIFA's fight against racism

[cascarino16]

FIFA agree stiffer penalties to stamp out racism
Thu 16 Mar, 8:22 PM

ZURICH (Reuters) - Football's world governing body FIFA agreed on Thursday to punish acts of racism with severe penalties including the deduction of points and disqualification from competitions.

The proposals, put forward by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, were agreed during the first day of a two-day executive committee meeting in which French international and Juventus player Lilian Thuram gave a testimony about racism in football, describing it as a "plague".

Confederations and national associations will be compelled to incorporate the measures and infringements could lead to a two-year exclusion from international football, FIFA said in a statement.

"I have repeatedly stressed FIFA's and my firm personal stance against racism and discrimination but recent events have demonstrated that there is a need for concerted action and an urgency for more severe measures to be adopted in order to kick this evil out of the beautiful game," Blatter said.

FIFA's announcement of amendments to article 55 of its Disciplinary Code comes two days after England defender Rio Ferdinand had accused UEFA, the European confederation, of not doing enough to combat racism in the continent.

Ferdinand criticised the fines issued after England players suffered racist taunts in a friendly in Spain in November 2004, though both the match and sanctions were handled by FIFA.

"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," Ferdinand said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Manchester United defender's comments came as the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a resolution on Tuesday which will provide extra sanctions for tackling racist behaviour by giving referees the power to abandon matches.

On Thursday, FIFA outlined the punishments which will be implemented on the world stage.

These will range from match suspensions to point deductions -- three for a first offence, six for a second and relegation in case of further transgressions. A team could also be expelled from a competition depending on the severity of the case.

"Now that clubs and associations have an obligation to find a solution, they will find solutions necessary to eliminate this plague," Thuram said.

"Certain people take football hostage. Some people will never learn and that is the reason for which FIFA must intervene so as to return sanity to the game and keep these people away from the stadiums."



About bloomin time i reckon

[Definitely Maybe]

It'll be interesting to see how its implemented and what actually constitutes as worthy enough of a point deduction. Is it just for the extreme cases, like with Eto'o the other week, and the England/Spain game, or would it be any incident, no matter how big or small? There isnt a clear set of guidelines to dictate whether minority incidents are to be considered.

Its good to see FIFA cracking down for a change, but they're as corrupt as they come. I very much doubt any of the G14 members will be punished, or any of the bigger nations like Spain.

[Malagacf]

They will punish Turkey or smallers countries, but never England, Spain,...

[tomo1811]

bye bye to spain then... racist scum bags *spits*

[RichB_33]

I'd like to see them stick to their words.
But this being FIFA and Sepp Twatter, i'll believe it when i see it.

The Spanish FA should've been punished long ago.

[Malagacf]

Originally Posted by tomo1811

bye bye to spain then... racist scum bags *spits*

[Sweey]

Originally Posted by Malagacf

You didn't expect fairness from people living in England, surely? Biggest hypocrites going.

[tinkica]

u are all a bunch of gay emotional faggets
i have been a victim to rasicm 1000 times and i never cried about it it just made me stronger, and if i made 1000000 pounds a week i would never cry or even be insulted by a rasist remark.
People that are offended by these types of remarks are pussys who cant survive in the real world.
Sticks and stones may break my bones but i repeat but WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME UNLESS OF COURSE U ARE A FUCKING PUSSY FAGGET

[Sweey]

You deserve a permanent ban for being mentally retarded.

[deftones5]

i read the punishment might go as far as relagation...

ie. the spanish league will be halved!!!

[Sweey]

They won't be as tough on it as they should be, so I don't see much changing to be honest.

[Jonno394]

Originally Posted by Sweey

You didn't expect fairness from people living in England, surely? Biggest hypocrites going.

I have never witnessed/experienced mass racism by English fans. You seem to be very pessimistic in your view of english fans and the english game of late mate.

Originally Posted by Sweey

You deserve a permanent ban for being mentally retarded.

No, in my opinion he is right. The satisfaction the peopel being racist get is that they know it affects you. Whenever I get called something, I just let it slide off my back, people realise it doesnt affect you, so they do it less.

[Freestyle27]

Serves the wankers right if their club gets relegated

[Miggy]

Originally Posted by tomo1811

bye bye to spain then... racist scum bags *spits*

[Sweey]

Originally Posted by jonno394

I have never witnessed/experienced mass racism by English fans. You seem to be very pessimistic in your view of english fans and the english game of late mate.

It isn't all English fans, more the ones who try and make out how perfect and infallable this country is in football, racism etc. or even go as far to support it when English fans do it and castrate others for doing it (I've known tons of people like that) when that's so obviously not the case. Not everyone is like that, and living here I'll notice it more than in other countries.

Originally Posted by jonno394

No, in my opinion he is right. The satisfaction the peopel being racist get is that they know it affects you. Whenever I get called something, I just let it slide off my back, people realise it doesnt affect you, so they do it less.

But they need to be educated (somehow) to stop doing it. Admittedly I don't believe it possible to ever stamp out the problem, but that's like ignoring it which is what so many people are complaining about in the first place and thereby slagging UEFA and FIFA off every week.