Racist Acts in Soccer (Football)

This slideshow shows just some of the acts that have occured in the world's game.

Podcast recorded on :May 19, 2008 (Song Credit: Archie Bell & The Drells- Tighten Up)

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FIFA Threatens Clubs

The Issue of race has been a big issue in the World's Game in Recent years. While fans threw peanuts and taunted African players, what has FIFA done to change the behavior of fans? FIFA states that they want to start fining clubs, deducting points from clubs, suspend and/or exclude clubs and Players if fans acts or even some players acts continue. These racist acts are not new and have been happening for awhile, where was FIFA when Marco Zoro, Samuel Eto'o, or Thierry Henry were victims of these acts? They state that they have been aware of the issue for awhile but only recently has it been a big issue of interest. If some players threatening to leave the pitch, not bringing their families to matches anymore, or making commercials about the matter isn't a big enough clue, I don't know what is. We need to remind fans that Players are people also who just decided to play a sport while they were young. Since fans are Rreally supportive of their clubs, punishing the clubs for racists acts is a good choice.

Race in Football Matters?

The Issue of Race has been present in the World's most popular game Football (Soccer) for a long time. At games with big time clubs; every time an Black player touches the ball, monkey chants are directed towards the player. Not just that the chants happen but extremists such as Neo-Nazi's and Ku Klux Klan come to these matches as well chanting and yelling racial slurs. This problem has been spotted in many big time Football (Soccer) cities and countries such as Barcelona, Liverpool, Germany and Italy. Samuel Eto'o, a striker for FC Barcelona in Spain is a victim of these acts of many crazed fans, for example; in February of 2005 in a match with Real Zaragoza, Eto'o heard those monkey chants and slurs toward his character as a Native of Africa. Fellow Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry, and S.L. Benfica defender Marco Zoro have also been targets of racism and have spoken against it. In the Modern world with all the advancements we have, it amazes me how fans act sometimes towards a different race, at a Football match, I want to be able to watch without hearing racial slurs to my favorite player most who are the star player for their clubs. FIFA has finally decide to Show Racism the Red Card with new punishments for clubs whose fans show racism, but many believe the FIFA or UEFA are not doing as they preach for incidents have been reported but no punishments were given and that the people at big offices are ignorant.

It is amazing that some people would actually threaten a Player with Racial blabber just because they are of African origin. Let them play this wonderful game without the worry of racists on their sides. We need to Give Racism the Red Card.