Russia: Still Struggling with Racism in Soccer

FC Zenit Fans at a Russian Premier League game in 2008
[Attribution to Wikipedia User: Аурелиано Буэндиа
used under Creative Commons License]

Almost a year ago in December 2012, a group of Fans to Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg shocked many soccer fans with a demand to their club to exclude non-white and gay players. The largest Zenit supporter’s group, Landscrona, expressed that these dark-skinned players are “forced down their throats” and that gay players are not “worthy” of their city. Zenit has a history of racism; monkey chants and the hurling of bananas barely scratch the surface of personal accounts from black players of abuse on and off the pitch. Before the signings of Brazilian “Hulk” and Belgian Midfielder Axel Witsel, Zenit were the only team in the Russian division without a black player[1]. A year later, Russian sport has not improved. Amidst controversy between the Winter Olympics and human rights abuses against the Russian LGBT community, social and racial strife prevails.

Recently, during a Champions League[2] match Manchester City and CSKA Moscow, Ivorian midfielder Yaya Touré commented that he was the subject of monkey chants from the visiting Moscow fans. Although Moscow responded that the fans simply booed and whistled, UEFA[3] forced CSKA Moscow to partially close their stadium for their next Champions League match[4]. The puzzling part of the whole ordeal is how, through these instances of overt racism and abuse, Russia is still able to hold two of the most important international events in the world, the Olympics in 2014 and the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Many players fill in a need to boycott the event as questions of protection and abuses add to the controversy around the Olympics. Touré himself stated that, “If we are not confident coming to the World Cup in Russia, then we don’t come”[5].

Midfielder Yaya Touré (pictured here playing for FC Barcelona) stated that CSKA Moscow
fans racially abused him during a match.
[Attribution to Flickr Member Oemar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99591081@N00/4636545390)
used Creative Commons License]

On the big stage, Russia should be wary about how their fans behave. The treatment of black and gay players and fans should be their top priority although the solution is more obviously presented than implemented. Over 30 years ago, English soccer battled with the same problems of racism and hooliganism. Through a united effort of police authorities, fans, clubs, and players English Football was saved from an abyss of violence and anarchy. Tougher laws, which include lifetime bans, maintained a zero tolerance policy against racism and violence that redeemed the game. In Russia, a harsher fan law that would come into effect in January 2014 promises to raise fines and instill mandatory community service to violent fans in stadiums. Nonetheless, the “fan law” seems more like a cosmetic solution to the systematic denial of any racism at all in Russia.  CSKA Moscow insists that the complaints of racism remain exaggerated if at all existent. Safety for foreign visitors linger as the World Cup in 2018 slowly approaches. Ged Grebby of “Show Racism the Red Card,” an anti-racism group based in Britain, suggests that more concrete measures, such as a significant ban or even the stripping of the World Cup, may be the appropriate wake-up call to initiate reform in Russian soccer[6]. Nonetheless, Russia should expect the road to 2018 to be even more arduous and more critical should stringent political regulation of fan behavior continue to be ignored.

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[1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2249569/Zenit-St-Petersburg-fans-demand-non-white-gay-players.html

[2] Intercontinental European competition held between Europe’s top soccer teams

[3] European governing soccer body

[4] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2013/10/30/uefa-punishes-soccer-club-cska-moscow-for-racism/

[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/sports/soccer/russias-world-cup-spotlight-dimmed-by-new-racism-accusations.html?_r=0

[6] http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-hooliganism-england/25163321.html

Europe: More Clubs Sanctioned with Stadium Closures

Lech Poznan celebrate winning first place in the Polish league.
Picture used under Creative Commons Share-Alike license. Attribution to original author: Klapi

Following the partial closing of SS Lazio’s Stadio Olympico for racist chants against Juventus’ black players, UEFA is now sanctioning Hungarian club Honved Budapest and two Polish clubs, Lech Poznan and Piast Gliwice, for similar racist chants against players and fans[1]. Honved Budapest received the worst punishment for racist chants against Fk Vojvodivina’s Serbian fans. Not only faced with playing its next two European[2] games behind closed doors, but Honved must also pay a fine of € 50,000. The two Polish clubs, like SS Lazio weeks before, have only a portion of their supporters’ section blocked off for their next home game[3].

Racism is still rampant in Europe and especially in soccer, a game of the common man where public sentiments of exclusion and prejudice cannot hide behind the handshakes of politicians. UEFA[4] and FIFA must take further initiative to outline and systematize a process to sanction clubs for racism against fans and players. In the case of SS Lazio and the two Polish clubs, the line between racism that constitutes a partial closure of a section and the full closure of a stadium remains murky. Closures can be effective as it affects the soccer club’s revenue and thus puts future pressure on the club to prevent supporters, fans, and players from racist chants. However, partial closures serve as a slap in the wrist as it does not force the club to be more proactive about its stadium’s behavior. As the beautiful game becomes more globalized, upcoming World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 demand more rigid regulations and sanctions from FIFA’s front office. In places where human rights, ethnic integration, and religious tolerance remain questionable governing bodies must act more concretely to keep the beautiful game beautiful.

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[1] http://alwaysoffside.blogspot.com/2013/08/italy-lazio-fc-further-demonstrates.html

[2] European tournament instead of the domestic league tournament.

[3] http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Des-clubs-condamnes-pour-racisme/399002

[4] European regional governing body that works under FIFA, the international governing body of soccer

Denmark: No Foreign Names Allowed

Manchester United facing F.C. Copenhagen in a Champions League match on October 17, 2006.
Attribution: Christianvinter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Christianvinter) used under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike License

FC Copenhagen caused a stir when they recently decided to cancel tickets to upcoming Champions League[1] matches based on the purchasers’ “foreign” sounding names. The club responded that the measure has been undertaken for security measures in an effort to prevent non-Danish supporters from attending their first Champions League clash against Turkish club Galatasaray S.K.[2] However, what constitutes a non-Dane and a Dane bleeds into the larger controversies surrounding Denmark’s growing Muslim and Middle-Eastern population. One of the affected, Masoud Barid, a Dane of Afghani-descent expressed his desire to merely support his club although the club’s recent exclusions have left a bad taste in his mouth[3]. The event in the end brings into question the integration of immigrants of Non-Scandinavian descent into Denmark. 

Immigration is not something new in Denmark. The welfare state has lent itself to some vague interpretations of who deserves social services and who doesn’t. Recently, a growing Muslim population has catalyzed feelings of nationalist backlashes. 95% of all Danes are Evangelical Lutherans which has left the hyper-minority Muslims (2% of the population) with very little help and much less support in their search for integration in the overwhelmingly homogenous Danish society[4]. August 2013 also introduced controversy in Denmark over Copenhagen’s first purpose built mosque. When Danes found out that the Mosque was partly funded by the Qatari royal family, political parties protested to have finances for the mosque hindered. However, the controversy only mirrors the various other complaints ethnic Scandinavians have against increasing immigrants, particularly those from the Middle East[5].

The complaints can at times seem trivial and at points outlandish. One of the biggest being against the use of Halal meat in schools and hospitals[6]. Another can be the popular belief that Islam is incompatible with democracy and women’s rights. In a blog, one of Denmark’s leading public intellectuals, Henrik Dahl tells of Muslims banning pork in local city councils and banning Christmas trees in public spaces although he adds the disclaimer that “some Muslim immigrants and refugees are fitting in quietly to Denmark’s generous welfare system”[7].

Exclusion is often times easier than inclusion as integration requires the process of systemizing who deserves political representation and social benefits and who doesn’t. The process becomes murky in a homogenous state because it also brings about the question of what makes a Dane. Nevertheless, the process of denying fans tickets because of their “foreign” names reflects the generalizing view that some Danes take on a population. Only because a very small minority commits violent acts or finds difficulty conforming to social mores, does not mean that the overwhelming majority of immigrants, Muslims or not, can be bottlenecked into such a broad stroke. The game of football (soccer) should be used as a force of integration, a chance to find common ground within a common passion, instead the club is using the Champions League games as yet another outlet in which to prevent access to an already marginalized group. Hopefully FC Copenhagen can learn to embrace its diverse fan base instead of excluding them.

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[1] Tournament among the top teams of Europe’s leagues played at the same time of the regular season

[2] http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2013/08/31/4227169/copenhagen-ban-fans-with-foreign-names-from-champions-league

[3] http://cphpost.dk/sport/fc-copenhagen-embroiled-discrimination-scandal

[4] https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html

[5] http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21583660-denmarks-largest-religious-minority-gets-its-first-proper-prayer-house-mosques-and-meat

[6] Ibid

[7] http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/08/28/are-muslims-ready-for-democracy-lessons-from-denmark/

Italy: Lazio FC further demonstrates Italy's racism problem

Juventus dominated the Supercoppa with a 4-0 domination over Rome-based club Lazio. With the win, Juventus once again have become favorites for another shot at the top of Serie A[1]. Nonetheless, much of the action occurred in the stands as the Italian federation announced today that Lazio will have part of their stadium closed for the home-opener.

From the 16^th-28^th minute of the first half to the 20^th-43^rd minute of the second half, Lazio fans were hurling insults and initiating monkey chants at Juventus’ black players, particularly Paul Pogba, Kwadwo Asamoah and Angelo Ogbonna[2]. Lazio fans and players have been known for their enthusiastic display of far-right allegiances. In 2005, controversy hit the club when then player Paolo Di Canio, a self-proclaimed fascist, gave a fascist salute to Lazio’s fans. A one game ban and fine ensued[3]. In 2007, apart from chanting racist slurs and insults, Lazio fans injured five Romanian fans and put one in the hospital after stabbing him in the side[4].

Racism and violence has been a staple of Italian soccer as of late. But, the trend seems to mimic a long legacy of underlying fascism paired with ethnic homogeny. In response to Di Canio’s overt fascist salute, Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA[5], stated that clubs that uphold racism must face relegation, suspension, and expulsion[6]. Now it seems, however, that even 8 years later any sign of punishment is cosmetic and is only done to appease reformists. Lazio does not even face an outright ban. For one game, Lazio will lose just a part of their stadium and there is no telling that these racist Lazio supporters will not merely shift places. Even Di Canio’s original punishment of a one game ban serves as an insult to the wider social issues in Italy.

The famous Curva Nord supporter group
Attribution: Andrew

Recently, in response to a changing ethnic fabric, Italians have been getting cozier with Italian dictator leader Benito Mussolini. After a visit to a Holocaust memorial, three-time Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stated that apart from racial segregation, Mussolini stood as “a leader who in so many other ways did well”[7]. Had Berlusconi’s own club AC Milan not benefited from the talents of African players, such as Prince Boateng, he could have as well omitted that racial segregation part. The same prose exists among soccer elite. Now Sunderland manager, Di Canio expressed his true feelings about a personal idol, Benito Mussolini. Di Canio proclaims, “I am fascinated by Mussolini…I think he was a deeply misunderstood individual…He was basically a very principled individual”[8]. Lazio has responded and the often controversial Curva Nord supporter group expects to end their monkey chants, but not without a claim that the chant is banter, not racism[9]. Nevertheless, before real integration occurs in Italian football, Italians will have to amend their past to correct the present, and then hopefully enlighten their future. 

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[1] The Italian Soccer League

[2] http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1527351/lazio-hit-racism-punishment?cc=5901

[3]http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M_4DAAAAIBAJ&dq=lazio%20racism&pg=2898%2C120851

[4] http://in.reuters.com/article/2007/08/15/idINIndia-28992920070815

[5] The International Political Body of Soccer

[6]http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M_4DAAAAIBAJ&dq=lazio%20racism&pg=2898%2C120851

[7] http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/fascism-lives-on-in-italy-seven-decades-after-the-end-of-mussolinis-rule-8557553.html

[8] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/paolo-di-canio-my-life-speaks-for-me-6273526.html

[9] http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1528980/lazio-fans-reject-ridiculous-racism-accusation?cc=5901

Jordan: Soccer in the Refugee Camps

With the civil war still raging in Syria, the number of refugees searching for safety has increased in astonishing numbers, particularly in Za’atri, Jordan. Home to over 120,000 refugees, the Za’atri camp reflects some of the bigger refugee problems in Jordan. Although Jordan receives a good portion of the $800 million dollars the United States provides for humanitarian aid in Syria, the high death toll of 93,000 people has left many refugees uneasy. Recently during Secretary Kerry’s visit to the area, many refuges urged the United States to instill a no-fly zone[1]. The concern is of course warranted because the numbers, the need, and the refugees are so staggering. The United Nations projects the total number of refugees at 1,831,024 with 629,569 refugees in Lebanon, 502,296 in Jordan, 428,198 in Turkey, 161,697 in Iraq, and 95,364 in Egypt. More astonishing still is the fact that 2/3 of these refugees are women and children[2]-[3]. Forced with the reality that they have no home in the midst of a seemingly infinite flux between survival and childhood, young refugees face the harsh realities of living in a refugee camp. In a completely foreign environment, soccer, simple and popular, can help forge an identity or at least a past time for many of these misplaced youth. The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement has sponsored “Spirit of Soccer” in an effort to teach kids of the potential hazards in and around the Za’atri refugee camp, such as those posed by landmines[4]. Nonetheless, I think that the game of soccer fills in a stronger void, the ability to feel free and young. Perhaps it’s the sandy pitch, the ball at their feet, and the joy of scoring the perfect goal that can deflate the impact of the guns, the fear, and the loss from the Syrian border.

For more information on the cool stuff the “Spirit of Soccer” is doing visit their site HERE.

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[1] http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/18/world/meast/syria-civil-war

[2] http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/syria.php

[3] http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php

[4] http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/07/212039.htm

Italian Soccer: Racism Persists On and Off the Pitch

Roberto Calderoli

Italian politician Roberto Calderoli has incited controversy in Italy for calling Italy’s first black minister Cecile Kyenge an orangutan. Kyenge, a Congolese immigrant, is supporting an initiative to make a path to Italian citizenship more accessible to immigrants[1]. However, Calderoli’s racist remarks allude to similar remarks after Italy’s win against France in the 2006 FIFA World Cup where he remarked that France sacrificed their national identity to field blacks, Muslims, and communists[2]. Italy’s inclusion of Ghanian-Italian forward Mario Balotelli and Egyptian-Italian winger Stephan El Shaarawy into the national side could serve as a step forward to the overwhelmingly homogenous Italian population. Yet, racism on the pitch persists and it seems that intolerance in Italian politics and soccer shows little sign of subsiding.

Despite awesome showings at EURO 2012 and the 2013 Confederations Cup, Mario Balotelli has been galvanized by racist chants and remarks. In early May, visiting Roma fans were caught repeating racist chants to Balotelli at the San Siro. In response, Balotelli faced the supporter group inciting the chants in order to quiet them[3]. Although president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter condemned the remarks in an address the next day, many feel that the Italian Soccer Federation is not approaching the problem in the correct manner[4]. Opting to fine the soccer clubs themselves, the federation misses the root of the problem, the nationalist supporter groups who promulgate racism in the stadiums. Moreover, fines seem to have very little effect on clubs considering that the thousands in fines do not compare to the millions in revenue.  Nonetheless, the problem stems from the nationalist approach that many of the “ultra” supporter groups uphold although they also provide much club support.

(Right) Mario Balotelli playing for Italy [Attribution: Football.ua]

Should Italy seek to make progressive change, it must combat arcane nationalist sentiments. Although the introduction of diverse soccer players, such as Mario Balotelli, seems to show a step in the right direction, such progress is hampered through racist responses on the pitch. In turn, the racist sentiments mimic the same audacious dialogue upheld in the government system, particularly for reformists that want to break the old nationalist guard. It was in both the 1934 and 1938 that Mussolini attributed the great success of Italian soccer to the resilience of ethnic Italians. It was in 2006 that Roberto Calderoli praised Italy for the same reason. It is in 2013, that politicians, immigrants, and even soccer players of color cannot escape this fallacy, on or off the pitch.

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[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/14/roberto-calderoli-organutan-cecile-kyenge_n_3594320.html

[2] http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/calderoli-francia-fatta-negri-e-islamici.html

[3] http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/acmilan/id/1528?cc=5901

[4] http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1446156/sepp-blatter-condemns-roma-fans-racist-chanting-balotelli?cc=5901