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| The ugly spectre of racism in football on the rise across Europe | The ugly spectre of racism in football on the rise across Europe |
| (18 days later) | |
| Belgium | Belgium |
| Belgium continues to have significant problems with racism, not confined to football. In February, the Charleroi defender Francis N’Ganga was abused at Club Brugge, and the Standard Liège winger Paul-José M’Poku complained of abuse in successive games at Lokeren and Brugge the same week. “This is unacceptable,” the Belgian FA chairman, Gérard Linard, said. “We are going to sit down with the Pro League to find solutions that work for everyone and tackle the real problem.” In May, 29 people were arrested after fighting broke out following a derby between Antwerp and Beerschot-Wilrijk that featured racist and antisemitic banners and chants, and last month several Standard Liège players, including M’Poku, were racially abused by fans of Kortrijk, the club escaping sanction on a technicality. In September, the Mechelen assistant coach, Frederik Vanderbiest, was banned for three matches and fined €1,500 for racially abusing the Union assistant coach, Abder Ramdane, during a First Division B match. Simon Burnton | Belgium continues to have significant problems with racism, not confined to football. In February, the Charleroi defender Francis N’Ganga was abused at Club Brugge, and the Standard Liège winger Paul-José M’Poku complained of abuse in successive games at Lokeren and Brugge the same week. “This is unacceptable,” the Belgian FA chairman, Gérard Linard, said. “We are going to sit down with the Pro League to find solutions that work for everyone and tackle the real problem.” In May, 29 people were arrested after fighting broke out following a derby between Antwerp and Beerschot-Wilrijk that featured racist and antisemitic banners and chants, and last month several Standard Liège players, including M’Poku, were racially abused by fans of Kortrijk, the club escaping sanction on a technicality. In September, the Mechelen assistant coach, Frederik Vanderbiest, was banned for three matches and fined €1,500 for racially abusing the Union assistant coach, Abder Ramdane, during a First Division B match. Simon Burnton |
| Bosnia | Bosnia |
| It was reported that the ethnic Serb Ognjen Vranjes, who plays for Anderlecht and the national team, has a tattoo of Momcilo Dujic, a man considered by the Muslim and Croatian population to be a war criminal, while parts of the Serbian population see him as a war hero. There was outcry and calls for Vranjes to be thrown out of the national team. The Bosnian FA condemned his decision but did not fine or ban him. Sasa Ibrulj | It was reported that the ethnic Serb Ognjen Vranjes, who plays for Anderlecht and the national team, has a tattoo of Momcilo Dujic, a man considered by the Muslim and Croatian population to be a war criminal, while parts of the Serbian population see him as a war hero. There was outcry and calls for Vranjes to be thrown out of the national team. The Bosnian FA condemned his decision but did not fine or ban him. Sasa Ibrulj |
| Football should not carry the can for society’s ills – but can help to remedy them | Barney Ronay | Football should not carry the can for society’s ills – but can help to remedy them | Barney Ronay |
| Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
| Levski Sofia were fined by Uefa and ordered to play two matches behind closed doors after racism and violence by their fans in both legs of their Europa League preliminary tie against Vaduz of Liechtenstein. Racist chanting was noted by Uefa delegates at both matches and the first game could continue only after Levski officials had pleaded with the supporters to stop. In 2014, the club was fined £7,750 after masked fans held up a “Say Yes to Racism” banner. Levski’s city rivals, CSKA, were fined the following year when a Nazi flag was displayed among their fans. Metodi Shumanov | Levski Sofia were fined by Uefa and ordered to play two matches behind closed doors after racism and violence by their fans in both legs of their Europa League preliminary tie against Vaduz of Liechtenstein. Racist chanting was noted by Uefa delegates at both matches and the first game could continue only after Levski officials had pleaded with the supporters to stop. In 2014, the club was fined £7,750 after masked fans held up a “Say Yes to Racism” banner. Levski’s city rivals, CSKA, were fined the following year when a Nazi flag was displayed among their fans. Metodi Shumanov |
| Croatia | Croatia |
| Two days before the World Cup final, Igor Stimac, the former Croatia international and coach, published on his Facebook page the surnames of the 13 players of African descent in the France squad and added little flags of countries such as Cameroon (Mbappé) and Guinea (Pogba) next to them, writing – in Croatian and English – “Anyone knows who exactly we play against in the final?” He deleted the post, but the next day he told Anadolu Agency: “What awaits us is the selection of France and the African continent. They drew their best 11 from a huge base of one billion people”. Stimac did not face any sanction and still appears as a TV pundit. Alex Holiga | Two days before the World Cup final, Igor Stimac, the former Croatia international and coach, published on his Facebook page the surnames of the 13 players of African descent in the France squad and added little flags of countries such as Cameroon (Mbappé) and Guinea (Pogba) next to them, writing – in Croatian and English – “Anyone knows who exactly we play against in the final?” He deleted the post, but the next day he told Anadolu Agency: “What awaits us is the selection of France and the African continent. They drew their best 11 from a huge base of one billion people”. Stimac did not face any sanction and still appears as a TV pundit. Alex Holiga |
| Denmark | Denmark |
| Midtjylland banned two supporters after they unveiled a banner during the Europa League game against the Swedish side Malmö saying “Tomorrow you are again immigrants in your own city”. Malmö, and in particular the suburb Rosengård, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic grew up, has a large immigrant population and has been the scene of violent clashes between immigrants and police in recent years. Midtjylland strongly condemned the banner and the captain, Tim Sparv, said: “It is really strange that it made it through security. I can’t believe that the majority of fans were behind that banner. I’m really disappointed.” Claus Kejlstrup, chairman of the Black Wolves supporter group, however, told TV2: “I don’t think it crossed a line. It is just some people having too much time on their hands.” Marcus Christenson | Midtjylland banned two supporters after they unveiled a banner during the Europa League game against the Swedish side Malmö saying “Tomorrow you are again immigrants in your own city”. Malmö, and in particular the suburb Rosengård, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic grew up, has a large immigrant population and has been the scene of violent clashes between immigrants and police in recent years. Midtjylland strongly condemned the banner and the captain, Tim Sparv, said: “It is really strange that it made it through security. I can’t believe that the majority of fans were behind that banner. I’m really disappointed.” Claus Kejlstrup, chairman of the Black Wolves supporter group, however, told TV2: “I don’t think it crossed a line. It is just some people having too much time on their hands.” Marcus Christenson |
| England | England |
| In November, Kick it Out revealed an 11% rise in reported discriminatory abuse at football matches in 2017-18, compared with the previous season. It was the sixth year in a row that the number of incidents of reported abuse has risen and of the 520 reports last season 53% were racist in nature. There was a 30% rise in cases reported at Football League matches. A separate Kick It Out survey found that 40% of fans do not know how to report abuse, but it may be that the increasing number of reports reflects the ease with which they can now be made, including on social media and on Kick It Out’s reporting app, launched in 2015, rather than an increase in abuse. In recent weeks high-profile incidents, involving Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, have reignited debate about the issue, although the fans involved on both occasions have denied having racist motivations. To make a bad week even worse Chelsea fans were heard singing an antisemitic chant at Vidi in the Europa League. SB | In November, Kick it Out revealed an 11% rise in reported discriminatory abuse at football matches in 2017-18, compared with the previous season. It was the sixth year in a row that the number of incidents of reported abuse has risen and of the 520 reports last season 53% were racist in nature. There was a 30% rise in cases reported at Football League matches. A separate Kick It Out survey found that 40% of fans do not know how to report abuse, but it may be that the increasing number of reports reflects the ease with which they can now be made, including on social media and on Kick It Out’s reporting app, launched in 2015, rather than an increase in abuse. In recent weeks high-profile incidents, involving Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, have reignited debate about the issue, although the fans involved on both occasions have denied having racist motivations. To make a bad week even worse Chelsea fans were heard singing an antisemitic chant at Vidi in the Europa League. SB |
| France | France |
| French officials and media were quick to denounce the racism of foreign commentators who cast doubt on the Frenchness of Les Bleus’ ethnically diverse World Cup-winning squad. But authorities were less emphatic about other cases brought to their attention. The Nice striker Mario Balotelli was booked in February for remonstrating with Dijon fans who, he said, had racially abused him. Balotelli had complained to the referee, who said he heard nothing. The league rescinded the yellow card but found no grounds for action against the referee or Dijon. Racism in amateur football gained national attention after Kerfalla Sissoko, a black player for the Alsace club AS Benfold, was racially abused and beaten unconscious by opposing players and fans during a match against Mackenheim. That club were ordered to play four matches behind closed doors and two of their players were banned for 10 matches – as was Sissoko, who said the punch he threw was in self-defence. A survey of 300 amateur sports clubs in March by the anti-racism group Licra found 74 cases of racism. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain remain under police investigation after media leaks suggested at least one of the club’s academy recruiters operated a policy of ethnic profiling of players between 2013 and 2018. Documents and computers were seized from the club last week. PSG say their internal inquiry has found no evidence of discrimination and any such policy can only have been “an unacceptable personal initiative”. Paul Doyle | French officials and media were quick to denounce the racism of foreign commentators who cast doubt on the Frenchness of Les Bleus’ ethnically diverse World Cup-winning squad. But authorities were less emphatic about other cases brought to their attention. The Nice striker Mario Balotelli was booked in February for remonstrating with Dijon fans who, he said, had racially abused him. Balotelli had complained to the referee, who said he heard nothing. The league rescinded the yellow card but found no grounds for action against the referee or Dijon. Racism in amateur football gained national attention after Kerfalla Sissoko, a black player for the Alsace club AS Benfold, was racially abused and beaten unconscious by opposing players and fans during a match against Mackenheim. That club were ordered to play four matches behind closed doors and two of their players were banned for 10 matches – as was Sissoko, who said the punch he threw was in self-defence. A survey of 300 amateur sports clubs in March by the anti-racism group Licra found 74 cases of racism. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain remain under police investigation after media leaks suggested at least one of the club’s academy recruiters operated a policy of ethnic profiling of players between 2013 and 2018. Documents and computers were seized from the club last week. PSG say their internal inquiry has found no evidence of discrimination and any such policy can only have been “an unacceptable personal initiative”. Paul Doyle |
| Germany | Germany |
| Germany’s embarrassing elimination from the World Cup took a sinister turn when their midfielder Mesut Özil announced he no longer wished to play for the national team because of “racism and disrespect”. Özil claimed his performances were criticised particularly bitterly because of his Turkish roots, saying: “I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose”. Özil also accused the DFB president, Reinhard Grindel, of choosing to “selfishly turn me into political propaganda” after far‑right groups highlighted Grindel’s criticism of the player for having a photograph taken with the president of Turkey, Recep Erdoğan. Grindel admitted: “In hindsight, I should have unequivocally said what for me and the association is obvious: any form of racial hostility is intolerable.” Also, following complaints, the DFB stopped using the song they had been playing in stadiums since 2006 to celebrate goals by the national team: the song was written by Oliver Pocher, a white comedian who regularly wore black makeup in skits mocking Jérôme Boateng. PD | Germany’s embarrassing elimination from the World Cup took a sinister turn when their midfielder Mesut Özil announced he no longer wished to play for the national team because of “racism and disrespect”. Özil claimed his performances were criticised particularly bitterly because of his Turkish roots, saying: “I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose”. Özil also accused the DFB president, Reinhard Grindel, of choosing to “selfishly turn me into political propaganda” after far‑right groups highlighted Grindel’s criticism of the player for having a photograph taken with the president of Turkey, Recep Erdoğan. Grindel admitted: “In hindsight, I should have unequivocally said what for me and the association is obvious: any form of racial hostility is intolerable.” Also, following complaints, the DFB stopped using the song they had been playing in stadiums since 2006 to celebrate goals by the national team: the song was written by Oliver Pocher, a white comedian who regularly wore black makeup in skits mocking Jérôme Boateng. PD |
| Iceland | Iceland |
| After a cup tie in May between the second-tier teams Fram and Víkingur Ólafsvík, a staff member of Víkingur wrote on social media: “A good victory, but the gloss was taken off it by the language used by some fans towards our black players.” Víkingur had a player from Sierra Leone and one from Ghana in their team as well as a black Icelandic player of Senegalese origin. Fram reacted swiftly, condemning the supporters’ behaviour and saying they would investigate the matter thoroughly. A day later a Fram supporter admitted that he had used unacceptable language and apologised to the player as well as both clubs. Vidir Sigurdsson | After a cup tie in May between the second-tier teams Fram and Víkingur Ólafsvík, a staff member of Víkingur wrote on social media: “A good victory, but the gloss was taken off it by the language used by some fans towards our black players.” Víkingur had a player from Sierra Leone and one from Ghana in their team as well as a black Icelandic player of Senegalese origin. Fram reacted swiftly, condemning the supporters’ behaviour and saying they would investigate the matter thoroughly. A day later a Fram supporter admitted that he had used unacceptable language and apologised to the player as well as both clubs. Vidir Sigurdsson |
| Italy | Italy |
| In January, Juventus’s Blaise Matuidi said he was racially abused at Cagliari. “I can’t pretend nothing happened, it’s a disgrace: we must react,” the Frenchman said after the game before adding in an Instagram post: “Today I experienced racism during the match. Weak people try to intimidate with hate.” The Frenchman said he told the referee about the abuse but the match was not halted and the Italian federation chose not to punish Cagliari (although the club did apologise to Matuidi). A few weeks later Atalanta had to close their main stand for one game after their fans had racially abused Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. The same player was then targeted again at Juventus in October with the champions also being punished with a partial stadium ban and fined €10,000. In Italy, there is what is known as “territorial racism”. Napoli are often racially insulted because they come from southern Italy, with away fans singing about volcanoes erupting in the city or problems with waste disposal. The Napoli coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said recently: “If these racist chants continue, we’ll leave the pitch and forfeit the game. It’s a disgrace.” In October, a Lazio fan was arrested by police after making a Nazi salute before the game against Anderlecht in the Europa League. Fabrizio Romano | In January, Juventus’s Blaise Matuidi said he was racially abused at Cagliari. “I can’t pretend nothing happened, it’s a disgrace: we must react,” the Frenchman said after the game before adding in an Instagram post: “Today I experienced racism during the match. Weak people try to intimidate with hate.” The Frenchman said he told the referee about the abuse but the match was not halted and the Italian federation chose not to punish Cagliari (although the club did apologise to Matuidi). A few weeks later Atalanta had to close their main stand for one game after their fans had racially abused Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. The same player was then targeted again at Juventus in October with the champions also being punished with a partial stadium ban and fined €10,000. In Italy, there is what is known as “territorial racism”. Napoli are often racially insulted because they come from southern Italy, with away fans singing about volcanoes erupting in the city or problems with waste disposal. The Napoli coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said recently: “If these racist chants continue, we’ll leave the pitch and forfeit the game. It’s a disgrace.” In October, a Lazio fan was arrested by police after making a Nazi salute before the game against Anderlecht in the Europa League. Fabrizio Romano |
| Netherlands | Netherlands |
| The Dutch FA banned a VVV Venlo fan for one year after he directed monkey chants towards Ajax players during a match in August. The decision came a year after the club were forced to apologise after a small group of supporters had been filmed making monkey chants and abusing PSV players. VVV apologised to PSV for the incident and said those responsible would be sanctioned. In September, Vitesse ultras were heard singing antisemitic chants against Ajax. MC | The Dutch FA banned a VVV Venlo fan for one year after he directed monkey chants towards Ajax players during a match in August. The decision came a year after the club were forced to apologise after a small group of supporters had been filmed making monkey chants and abusing PSV players. VVV apologised to PSV for the incident and said those responsible would be sanctioned. In September, Vitesse ultras were heard singing antisemitic chants against Ajax. MC |
| Romania | Romania |
| Steaua Bucharest’s Harlem Gnohéré was subjected to monkey chants by Dinamo fans after he had scored in the Bucharest derby. Gnohéré says he told the referee but the official did not act. In October, Dinamo fans directed monkey chants towards their own player, Armando Cooper, but were not sanctioned by the club. Emanuel Rosu | Steaua Bucharest’s Harlem Gnohéré was subjected to monkey chants by Dinamo fans after he had scored in the Bucharest derby. Gnohéré says he told the referee but the official did not act. In October, Dinamo fans directed monkey chants towards their own player, Armando Cooper, but were not sanctioned by the club. Emanuel Rosu |
| Russia | Russia |
| Russia emerged from a World Cup where racism was expected to be a key issue with no major incidents. A Russian MP said that women should avoid sleeping with foreign fans for fear of mixed-race offspring, but was quickly ridiculed by members of her own government. Club football and matches leading up to the World Cup were a different story. A friendly against France in St Petersburg in March was marred by monkey chants at Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembélé. The Russian Football Union was fined £22,000 for that. Other examples include Torpedo Moscow cancelling plans to buy a black defender because of fan opposition and Lokomotiv Moscow being fined 50,000 rubles (£600) for monkey chants in July. Andrew Roth | Russia emerged from a World Cup where racism was expected to be a key issue with no major incidents. A Russian MP said that women should avoid sleeping with foreign fans for fear of mixed-race offspring, but was quickly ridiculed by members of her own government. Club football and matches leading up to the World Cup were a different story. A friendly against France in St Petersburg in March was marred by monkey chants at Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembélé. The Russian Football Union was fined £22,000 for that. Other examples include Torpedo Moscow cancelling plans to buy a black defender because of fan opposition and Lokomotiv Moscow being fined 50,000 rubles (£600) for monkey chants in July. Andrew Roth |
| Scotland | Scotland |
| The stench of sectarianism has never been removed from Scottish football, with the issue still evident among the away support of Celtic and Rangers. Neil Lennon, the Hibernian manager, spoke out after being hit by a coin and subjected to threatening graffiti at a recent Edinburgh derby. “You call it sectarianism here in Scotland, I call it racism,” he said. “If a black man is abused, you’re not just abusing the colour of his skin, you’re abusing his culture, heritage, background. It’s the exact same when I get called a Fenian, a pauper, a beggar, a tarrier.” More typical cases of racism are rare but there has been a recent spike. Falkirk’s Dennon Lewis has accused his own club’s followers of racist abuse, Aberdeen’s manager, Derek McInnes, condemned the racist behaviour of a supporter towards Celtic’s Scott Sinclair and two people were arrested after allegations that Hearts fans had targeted the Motherwell player Christian Mbulu. Ewan Murray | The stench of sectarianism has never been removed from Scottish football, with the issue still evident among the away support of Celtic and Rangers. Neil Lennon, the Hibernian manager, spoke out after being hit by a coin and subjected to threatening graffiti at a recent Edinburgh derby. “You call it sectarianism here in Scotland, I call it racism,” he said. “If a black man is abused, you’re not just abusing the colour of his skin, you’re abusing his culture, heritage, background. It’s the exact same when I get called a Fenian, a pauper, a beggar, a tarrier.” More typical cases of racism are rare but there has been a recent spike. Falkirk’s Dennon Lewis has accused his own club’s followers of racist abuse, Aberdeen’s manager, Derek McInnes, condemned the racist behaviour of a supporter towards Celtic’s Scott Sinclair and two people were arrested after allegations that Hearts fans had targeted the Motherwell player Christian Mbulu. Ewan Murray |
| Spain | Spain |
| Chelsea face partial stadium closure if Uefa finds fans guilty of antisemitism | Chelsea face partial stadium closure if Uefa finds fans guilty of antisemitism |
| In January, a video emerged of Sporting Gijón fans from the area occupied by the Ultra Boys chanting: “We don’t want players of colour; we want players from Mareo [the club’s youth system], proud of Gijón.” The president of the league, Javier Tebas, noted that Iñaki Williams had been subjected to monkey chants in Gijón two years earlier and demanded an “exemplary sanction”: a fine of €18,000 was imposed upon Sporting by the competition committee but the TAD, Spain’s sporting disciplinary court, nullified that on the grounds that the club could not be held directly responsible since it had followed protocols on fan behaviour and had expelled the man responsible. In another case, Uefa closed 3,000 seats at Atlético’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium after far-right flags were displayed during the Europa League final. Sid Lowe | In January, a video emerged of Sporting Gijón fans from the area occupied by the Ultra Boys chanting: “We don’t want players of colour; we want players from Mareo [the club’s youth system], proud of Gijón.” The president of the league, Javier Tebas, noted that Iñaki Williams had been subjected to monkey chants in Gijón two years earlier and demanded an “exemplary sanction”: a fine of €18,000 was imposed upon Sporting by the competition committee but the TAD, Spain’s sporting disciplinary court, nullified that on the grounds that the club could not be held directly responsible since it had followed protocols on fan behaviour and had expelled the man responsible. In another case, Uefa closed 3,000 seats at Atlético’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium after far-right flags were displayed during the Europa League final. Sid Lowe |
| Sweden | Sweden |
| The entire national team squad lined up to chant “Fuck racism” after one of their players, Jimmy Durmaz, was targeted for online abuse after conceding a free-kick that led to a winning goal for Germany in the World Cup. Durmaz, born in Sweden to Assyrian parents, said: “I am a footballer at the highest level so I have to accept that I am criticised for what I do on the pitch … but there are limits … when someone threatens me, when they call me darkie, bloody Arab, terrorist, Taliban … then that limit has been passed.” PD | The entire national team squad lined up to chant “Fuck racism” after one of their players, Jimmy Durmaz, was targeted for online abuse after conceding a free-kick that led to a winning goal for Germany in the World Cup. Durmaz, born in Sweden to Assyrian parents, said: “I am a footballer at the highest level so I have to accept that I am criticised for what I do on the pitch … but there are limits … when someone threatens me, when they call me darkie, bloody Arab, terrorist, Taliban … then that limit has been passed.” PD |
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