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The Federation of International Football Associations adopts tough punishment against soccer racists

|  By Anayo Ezugwu  |  Jul. 15, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

THE Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, is poised to fight and abolish all forms of discrimination in football. A FIFA congress in Mauritius, on May 31, adopted a resolution that would lead to tougher sanctions in cases of racism. The congress approved that any club involved in racism would face relegation. The World football’s governing body passed the anti-racism resolution with a 99 percent majority votes.

According to Sepp Blatter, FIFA president, the regulations specify that a first or minor offence should be punished by a warning, fine or with a match having to be played behind closed doors. Serious or repeat offences will be punished by a deduction of points, expulsion from a tournament or even relegation of the offending club from the league. He noted that the body also passed measures specifying that players or officials found guilty of racist abuse in any game should be banned from five matches. The resolution provides for the presence of a specialised official to be in the stadium to identify potential acts of racism or discrimination. This official will ease the burden on the referee and his assistants.

“We have been through a difficult time. It has been a test for the world of football and for those who lead it. There have been despicable events this year that have cast a long shadow over football and the rest of the society. I am speaking of the politics of hate, racism, ignorance, discrimination, intolerance, small-minded prejudice, that uncivilised, immoral and self-destructive force that we all detest, their time is up,” he said.

Article 3 of the FIFA Statute states: “Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”

The FIFA disciplinary code, which describes the sanctions incurred as a result of violations of the FIFA statute, applies to every match and competition organised by FIFA. Furthermore, the disciplinary code must be obeyed by all the associations and their respective members, including clubs, officials, players, match officials as well as any other person FIFA admits to a match or competition, including spectators.

Efforts of FIFA have been commended by sport analysts in Nigeria. Ayotunde Adelakun, a sport journalist, has commended FIFA for taking a stand on discrimination in the beautiful game. He said that FIFA has made a landmark move in tackling racism. “I am happy that FIFA president made the move to listen to the issues of racism. It is very important that all parties should be represented in this task of eradicating racism in our football. Players who are at the receiving end of racist abuses are crucial here, because they would be able to express how they really felt when abuse was hurled at them. Other people that should be listened to and incorporated in this assignment are fans, as well as clubs, federations and confederations,” Adelakun said.

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