Post date: Mar 21, 2013 9:20:47 PM
Tougher penalties against racism are needed in sport, say administrators and players.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 21, 2013) (UNTV) - United Nations leaders, FIFA and soccer players called on Thursday (March 21) for tougher punishment of racists in sport.
Speaking at a panel discussion in Geneva marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, they said more had to be done to combat racism and other forms of discrimination.Among the speakers was AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who led his team off the field in Italy in protest at racist chanting during a friendly match in January. That gesture was described as courageous by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, although he added it should not be seen as the solution to the problem.
Boateng told delegates in Geneva: "There were times in my life when I didn't want to deal with the subject. I tried to ignore racism, similar to a headache that you know it will go away if you just wait long enough. But that was misconception. Racism does not go away. If we don't confront it, it will spread."
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay deplored racism in sports and other areas and called for more action.
"This means that event organisers should provide secure sporting grounds where acts of racism are clearly outlawed. At the very least, they must ensure that any racist act is met with prompt and decisive action. There must be accountability for racist offences," she said.
Sepp Blatter was represented by FIFA's head of corporate social responsibilityFederico Addiechi, who read out a message on his behalf saying: "This is the gravest of the subjects and is one that FIFA treats with the utmost sincerity and utmost urgency. Nothing speaks more of injustice that the scourge of racism and intolerance in our world. It is a vile, destructive force."
Former Arsenal and France midfielder and current Football Development Executive at Manchester City Patrick Vieira reiterated the call for accountability.
Outside the conference he said: "During my career I faced racism and I always said the best answer is ignorance -- try to ignore that kind of people at the stadium. But it is a difficult situation to deal with and that is why I think I am really proud and really happy to be here today, because it is a really important day and try to send a message: 'enough is enough'."
Boateng commented afterwards: "We have to do something and we have to fight against it. But it is very important to not fight against it with anger, because then we do something bad as these people are. We have to fight against it with smiling, with humour and with positivity."
Addiechi said: "The position of FIFA about racism and discrimination in general is very clear: it is one of zero tolerance; it is one which very much embedded in our regulations, in the nature, in the 'DNA' of our organisation."
The calls for tougher punishment for acts of racism in sport, particularly football, were also raised by representatives of other organisations, including Football against Racism in Europe (FARE) and UEFA.