Racism in Sport

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England veto Madrid for Spain tie

The Football Association will not allow a planned friendly with Spain to be played at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium because of fears over racist abuse.

Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips suffered racist abuse the last time England played there in 2004.

"We are currently in talks with the Spanish Federation," said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

"The FA were clear from the outset that we would not play the game in Madrid due to racial abuse we faced in 2004."

England manager Fabio Capello had two spells as manager at Real Madrid, winning La Liga in 2007.

"This fixture is one of the friendly games that Fabio Capello requested to play," added Bevington. "But as yet, a venue is still to be confirmed and the contract still to be signed.

"Fabio is totally supportive of this fixture."

The friendly would be an attractive game with Spain, the European champions, having a number of England-based players in their side including Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso.

England were beaten 1-0 when they played in Madrid in 2004 with Cole, Wright-Phillips, Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas all subjected to racist abuse.

Centre-back Matthew Upson recalled: "I was at that game. I remember the racist chanting and it was not very pleasant.

"If we have to get a game moved because of the racist environment then we will. It is a positive step towards stamping it out."

In 2006, former Spanish coach Luis Aragones was fined £2,060 for making racist remarks about Thierry Henry.

Only last month England striker Emile Heskey was racially abused during England's 4-1 victory against Croatia in Zagreb.

Croatia were fined £15,000 by Fifa for the behaviour of their supporters.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard who plays with Torres and Alonso at Liverpool says he would relish the opportunity to take on the European champions.

"I'll be delighted if the game goes ahead," he said.

"Obviously I've got Spanish team mates and it'll be a nice challenge for me to take on the European champions.

"But I think it's a good idea for it to be played away from the Bernabeu."

What is your opionion on the England decision? Do you think they are over-reacting? Or do you think that racism is a real problem in sport?

Comments

Jose Luis said…
I was in that match between Spain and England in the Santiago Bernabeu, and is true that some english players suffered racism chanting. But not everybody insulted, only a part of the audience. I think always is the same. In every place and every country there are similar fanatic people. In the last European Championship, some germans and poles fight before and after the match. In France, every weekend, have problems when the Olympic of Marseille play out their city. Or when england play abroad, the Hooligans destroy the public property. With yhe tifosi in England is the same. I think, nowadays, the racism and the violence is a real problem in sports. The goverments have to take serious actions against these people, and all the countries have to collaborate in the internacional events.
Tuesday, 21 October, 2008
Graham said…
I was at* the match between Spain and England in the Santiago Bernabeu, and it* is true that some *English players suffered racist* chanting. But not everybody used insulting language* only a part of the crowd*. I think it* is* always the same. In every stadium* and every country there are such* fanatics. In the last European Championship, some *Germans and *Poles *fought before and after the match.*Every weekend in France, *there are problems when Olympic Marseille play *away. Or when England play abroad, the Hooligans destroy public property. *It's the same with the tifosi in Italy. Nowadays, I think that *racism and*violence is a real problem in sport. *Governments have to take serious *action against these people, and all *countries have to collaborate in *international events.

Be careful with your use of the definite article,"the". You don't use it when generalizing, talking about all such things. You use "the" when talking about something specific.

I agree with you that it is only a minority who make such racist chants. I think it is a pity that others have to suffer because of a few, ie the cancelation of a match, but the clubs have to get much stricter with their supposed fans.
Friday, 24 October, 2008
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