Italy's Mario Balotelli has threatened to leave the pitch if he is a victim of racism during a game. Hart agrees with Euro 2012 anti-racism plan Thursday 7th June 2012 Uefa president Michel Platini says players at Euro 2012 will be booked if they walk off the pitch due to racial abuse. Platini insists referees will deal with any racist incidents that occur during the tournament. Referees will also be given the power to finish a game early if they believe any racist incidents are occurring. England goalkeeper Joe Hart, 25, said he agreed with Uefa's plans. Manchester City's Hart said: "We have discussed it and we will get on with it and let the referees and Uefa deal with it. "It is not for us to walk off the pitch if that problem does occur and, fingers crossed, it won't happen." The possibility of trouble was highlighted in a recent BBC program which showed incidents at grounds in Poland and Ukraine, who co-host Euro 2012. Former England defender Sol Campbell has already warned fans to stay away from Euro 2012. But Uefa, European football's governing body, said awarding the tournament to Poland and Ukraine was a chance to tackle major problems like racism. It said the tournament would allow both countries to improve their image. -------------------------------------- Well let's hope they (the host cities) do take this opportunity. Though they're also risking inviting a possible exacerbation of the insidious problem by choosing these locations.
Will there even ever be an Anti-Racism plan that can solve anything in Football? People will still have their prejudices and no plan can ever change that if people will not change that on their own for themselves.
The problem with Europe is that they're not as politically correct as Americans tend to be, what is a taboo subject in the US is not necessarily taboo in Europe. That doesn't mean they're more racist than Americans though, they're actually less racist.
Apparently Rio got into it with Man U personnel over differing plans to address racism in the game. Anyone heard about this?
I can't fuck with soccer. Aside from it being boring as fuck, too much racial shit because it's not like it's Boston vs. LA. It's nation against nation. And all the racial bullshit comes into play.
I think it's exciting. Soccer and basketball are the only team sports I like. Otherwise it's tennis, triathlons or some other individual activity. Soccer's cool once you get into it. And the fitness level it requires to run non-stop for 45 minute halves!
Idk if i am buying what you are selling here. to my understanding in Europe, soccer is like a religion for alot of people; more of a lifestyle than a pastime. It is also a way to vent political views and organize with likeminded people. Also Europe is less diverse in the sense that when you go to Italy it is mostly Italians and Spain is mainly spaniards etc...If you tried to do monkey chants in a sports arena here, outside of maybe hockey and NASCAR races, you are going to get stabbed or killed. People here are more secretive about their racism. So on one account I agree with you about the openness of racism but to say we are more racist? Idk...
In fact, there is not so much racism in stadiums. From time to time, we hear about racists acts ( monkeys sounds or things like that ), in East Europe, when national teams or clubs, who have black players, play in those countries. In West Europe, those acts are very uncommon and are very punished. Although, talking about Balotelli, some italians did not wanted him in national team, claiming there is no "black italian" in Italy. But when he scored at Euro, many italians was proud to have him in their team. Speaking of Rio Ferdinand, he was showing his disagreement with the English Federation, about the saction that they took against Terry. He thinks it is not enough. But the federation have stated that there is no evidence that Terry have said something disrespectful to Anton Ferdinand.
AS someone who is an avid soccer fan, these things follow a mob mentality in behavior in Europe when it comes to the behavior in Stadiums There are social shit stains who use the soccer matches as their outlet in life, literally. In many parts of Eastern Europe you have an intersection of politics, hooliganism and racism. Far right groups use these arenas to do things that draw attention to their agendas and express their wanker frustrations at life. For example in Serbia you will have an arena of 30,000 and 100 of those folks may be members of some "nationalist" group that came to the game just to behave like a pack of hyenas on a rampage. Its one of the primary outlets for these kind of characters. For me the most fitting thing is when their team is scored upon and lose the match.
I read about a young football team from the UK getting hasseled by the Serbs some weeks back. Things have not changed.
The England Under 21 National Team and this was part of the incident. [YOUTUBE]9ZZY9U1CdDs#![/YOUTUBE] The best part is England won the match, so fuck the Serbian racists i say.
Good to see actual repercussions! Inter fined for fans' racist chants about Balotelli When will they learn?!! http://news.yahoo.com/inter-fined-fans-racist-chants-balotelli-144049720--sow.html
