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FIFA Finally Take A Stand
Clubs
now risk relegation if they ignore racism.
After years of leniency towards racism in football, governing
body FIFA have finally taken a stand and brought in an amendment that
will mean clubs risk being relegated because of racist behaviour by
their supporters. Countries also risk being disqualified from the World
Cup if they fail to deal with the issue of racism.
Invited for the first of two
days of meetings of the FIFA Executive Committee, French international
and Juventus player Lilian Thuram provided testimony on his firm fight
against racism in football, notably declaring that 'there is only one
race, the human race. 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.'
Having heard Thuram's testimony, the Executive Committee approved an
amendment to article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code at the proposal
of the FIFA President, allowing for very strict sanctions to be imposed
after acts of racism or discrimination in football.
The measures range from match suspensions and deduction of points (3
points for a first offence, 6 for a second and relegation in case of
further offences) to disqualification of a team from a competition, depending
on the case. Confederations and member associations will be compelled
to incorporate these provisions in their regulations, and any association
that infringes the article can be excluded from international football
for two years.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said, '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. I am therefore extremely pleased that the football family and the FIFA Executive Committee have today taken a big step in this direction.'
Lilian Thuram congratulated FIFA for
this initiative, stating: 'Now that the clubs and associations have an
obligation to find a solution, they will find the solutions necessary
to eliminate this plague.'
Lets hope they do.
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