Known as the beautiful game to its ardent disciples, no other sport in the history of mankind has evoked more passion and frenzy in its supporters than the game of soccer. An old soccer proverb states that, “some say soccer is a matter of life or death, but it's not. It's more important than that.” It is the only other religion that is not denounced by the Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists and Jews. Soccer is an art form, an opera and a military battle that drives the masses into priceless exhilaration or heart wrenching agony. It is the sport that unites the world and it is under attack. An ignorant minority of racist zealot's threatens to cast a dark cloud over the “beautiful game.”

A rash of racist episodes plagued the major leagues across Europe last season. With the World Cup slated in Germany in less than a year, fans, players and officials are working together to stop the onslaught before the sports reputation is permanently scarred. FIFA (soccer's governing body) President, Sepp Blatter, stated that “fighting this scourge is one of our most important tasks.” Looking at the numerous incidents from last season, it is clear that this plague is not a regional problem but one that affects the whole continent.

The most publicized racial incident occurred in an international friendly between Spain and England at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Nov.17, 2004. A number of black players in the English squad were greeted with jeers and monkey chants whenever they touched the ball. Britain's Sports Minister, Richard Caborn blasted the Spanish Government stating the events were “intolerable.” A Spokeswoman for Tony Blair stated that the Prime Minister was “disappointed,” and that “racism has no part to play in sport or any other matter.” FIFA officials investigated the incidents and handed the Spanish Football Federation a measly fine of 44,750 Euros. (About 55,000 US) The Chief Executor of the PFA in England, Gordan Taylor, criticized the fine stating that “the Spanish FA have been shown a yellow card, not the red that many would have expected.”

There were many copycat incidents in Spain throughout the year citing some political pundits to claim that these episodes severely damaged Spain's bid for the 2012 Olympics. There have been numerous incidents in Italy especially in Rome where monkey chants and fascist salutes are not uncommon during a match. The Italian team, Lazio who have previously been fined for racist incidents in the past, were fined again last season when their fans unleashed a torrent of monkey noises and grunts whenever a black opponent touched the ball during their match with Partisan Belgrade. Pierre Boya of Cameroon was the target of the fans racist fury whenever he touched the ball during the match on Nov.25, 2004. As punishment, Lazio was ordered to play its next European fixture in an empty stadium. In England last season, a fan was ejected for making racist remarks to Dwight Yorke, a black player from Trinidad and Tobago while he was warming up for the second half. Jason Perryman was banned from all soccer matches in England and Wales for five years and given a fine of 190.000.

It is important to note that the vast majority of soccer fans who attend matches and support the team do not in any way endorse the actions of the racist minority. They enjoy  soccer for the pure joy and exilhiration it brings them and they support the players on their club no matter what race, religion or creed. The question must be posed than, who are the subversives of ignorance that threaten to dismantle the “beautiful game?” We can start by looking at the “ultra” supporters among the clubs in Europe. “Ultra” supporters are an organized committee of hardcore fans for a particular soccer club. They have been known to storm practices and confront certain players who they feel are overrated and have not contributed enough to justify their price tag. If there is violence in the stadium during a match, chances are the infamous ultra's have played a vital role.

The Ultra Sur, a fascist  group of ultra's that support the club Real Madrid in Spain have reeked havoc on and off the soccer pitch. Their emblem is a Hammerskin that is a symbol of the white supremacist movement. They are heard and seen at soccer matches in the Bernabue Stadium singing fascist songs and waving swastika stamped flags during matches. The deceased General Franco is their publicly known hero. They have ostracized two black Brazilians on their own team by refusing to acknowledge their accomplishments and accolades. They also refuse to note their feats in their fanzines and soccer programs. The Ultra Sur is also feared on the streets of Madrid as they are known to patrol the streets looking for prostitutes, homosexuals and foreigners to rough up after matches.

“Ultra” Groups such as Lazio's “Irriducibili” are rich right wing suburban residents that cheer fanatically for their club. Lazio is a soccer club in Rome who will forever be associated with the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. He was often viewed sitting in the stands for Lazio's home games in the Stadio Olimpico who they share with inter city rivals, AS Roma. AS Roma are supported by Rome's influential and numerous Jewish population. The Lazio “Ultra's” will forever be remembered in infamy when they unfurled a fifty foot banner in their section of the stadium in 1999. The banner read “Auswitz is your town, the ovens are your houses.” More recently the club made headlines in 2005 when one of their stars Paulo Di Canio, a lifelong supporter of Lazio, gave a fascist salute after he scored a goal during the annual derby match with hated rivals AS Roma.

The most disturbing aspect of the incidents in Europe, seem to be the silence of the tens of thousands of fans who do not share the racist views of their own supporters. It is well known that most of the violent, right wing “ultra” groups are feared and loathed in their respective cities and that the average fan just wants to attend the matches peacefully. At some point though, the supporters must rally together and oust the minority that gives their club and sport a black eye. The Great Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri summed it up best when he stated that “the darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” It is a shame that the clubs with racist reputations and the federations that govern them are in denial about racism creeping back into the game of soccer. The culprits are rarely punished, and when they are, the fines are paltry. It is nothing short of miraculous the poise and patience shown by the players who are on the receiving end of the abuse. It is a testament to their will and character that they have kept their composure under extremely hostile circumstances.

One such man is Thierry Henry who plays in England for the team Arsenal. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world by soccer experts and fans alike. He has been the target of racist abuse when he played in the Serie A in Italy and knows the pain his fellow players have endured. He approached his NIKE and asked if they would sponsor his crusade against racism in football. They agreed and the STAND UP SPEAK UP campaign was born. The symbol of the campaign is two interlocking wristbands that are black and white. The STAND UP, SPEAK UP website states that “wearing the wristband shows that you stand in solidarity with the players and fans who share the determination to take positive action against racism in football.”  Henry states that “I am not naive enough to think the campaign will change everything just like that but it's obvious that standing by and doing nothing won't change things either. Maybe, just for ninety minutes at football, if the racists can be shamed into not shouting the things they do, that will already be a victory. What we are doing to tackle racism in football also needs to be done in other walks of life.” Henry can see the victories and achievements of the past being stolen by a minority of delinquents who are intent to fight this archaic battle to the bitter end.

UEFA, the players and fans alike must confront this travesty and the perpetrators who continue to spew their racist venom. One such example of bravery came during a match in the Netherlands last year, when referee Rene Temmink called the game early because of abusive racist chanting that engulfed the stadium. The crowd became increasingly intolerant of Temmink chanting, “Temmink to the gas chamber.” Acts of heroism from referees like Temmink and players such as Henry give us hope that we can kick racism not only out of the fields of soccer but the classrooms of life.

SOURCES

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59919-2004Dec12.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,2763,1354973,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4018421.stm

http://www.nike.com/standupspeakup/en/home.jsp?page=home

http://www.iht.com/articles/2000/02/12/lazio.2.t.php

http://www.slate.com/id/115070/#ContinueArticle