FIFA chief wants refs to stop football games when racism occurs

World
By William

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino says a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach should be taken when racism occurs in matches at all levels.

A “zero tolerance” approach should be taken towards racism in football and referees at all levels should stop matches if such incidents occur, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.

Infantino met with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to discuss racism in sport after the Brazil international spoke out when he was targeted by the public in Spain last month.

The FIFA chief labeled the racists “criminals” and said football authorities should “take responsibility”.

Vinicius, who is black, has been the target of continued racist abuse from fans in Spanish stadiums all season, with referees or football authorities doing little to protect him.

Last month, Real Madrid filed a complaint with Spain’s attorney general, alleging that the racist abuse of Vinicius constituted a hate crime after the player was targeted during Valencia’s La Liga defeat.

“It is very important not just to talk about racism and discrimination, but to take action in a decisive and convincing way – zero tolerance,” Infantino said after meeting Vinicius and the rest of the Brazilian team in Barcelona.

“There is no football if there is racism – so let’s stop playing. The referees have this opportunity in FIFA competitions because we have this process to stop the game, and measures must be taken at every level, including at the national level,” Infantino said.

“It’s a football-related problem and we shouldn’t look for excuses like, ‘It’s a society’s problem, so it’s fine in football.’ In the world of football, we have to act very strongly,” said Infantino.

“We want to identify racists in stadiums and on social media. They are criminals. They should be banned from stadiums around the world. The authorities need to take these people to court and we will say this to all of them. Racism is a crime,” he added.

Infantino said FIFA would set up a task force, with Vinicius in a prominent role, to make specific recommendations.

FIFA set up an anti-racism task force in 2013 after a notorious incident of abuse in Italy by AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who is black.

Boateng worked with the task force that FIFA shut down in 2016, months after Infantino was elected.

FIFA then said the task force had “completely fulfilled its temporary mission”.

Closing the anti-racism panel was “a monumental mistake,” said one of its members, British-Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, said on Twitter.

“Is this a lame joke? @FIFAcom, at Gianni Infantino’s urging, has disbanded the FIFA Anti-Racism Task Force I was a part of from 2013-2016, despite telling him in July 2016 to strengthen it and give it teeth. FIFA said it had “accomplished its mission”. It took them 7 years to realize that racism still exists in football?”

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