TheLocalYokel
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- Jan 14, 2009
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- #21
I think the most effective sanction would be the banning of countries from European and World competitions. That might seem unfair on the players and the many decent supporters in a country but it's more important that racism is banished from the game - and of course from society.I haven't seen any footage but it seems that a large and organised group of hooligans in identical clothes were allowed in without being challenged by the authorities. If so then that is shocking, especially given that this is not the first time visiting teams in Bulgaria have been racially abused.
I feel UEFA protocol is completely inadequate. Abandoning play in the middle of the game with no further consequences won't stop the yobs who know they can just turn up and fling abuse at the next game.
If it turns out that a country's own authorities can't deal with it then it is UEFA's duty to impose punishment. The money fines they currently impose are no deterrent whatsoever. They need to start docking points, or awarding wins to teams who have been forced off by abuse, or having matches played behind closed doors - or banning teams from competitions if none of the first three measures stop hooligans accessing games.
English club teams received an indefinite ban from European competitions, which was not lifted for five years, following the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985. Liverpool FC, some of whose supporters were deemed the guilty parties, was banned for an additional three years later reduced to one year (six years in total).
UEFA, which is widely perceived as being weak when it comes to dealing with racism, showed in the aftermath of Heysel that it will take strong measures. Perhaps the UEFA of the 21st Century is not as robust or strong as the UEFA of the 1980s.
I believe that by its continuing pathetic response UEFA is indirectly party to the problem, and there is no doubt that it is a major problem - in many ways more serious than the undoubted corruption that exists in some parts of the football industry worldwide, and that's bad enough.
Sadly, the game in this country is not without racist aspects both on the pitch and amongst spectators which Gareth Southgate - what a dignified and honourable man he is - does not shirk in saying. So we certainly can't adopt a 'holier-than-thou' attitude towards other countries.