7 replies to this topic

[coco]

FIFA against Racism ?

Quote

Italy striker Mario Balotelli has admitted he is fed up of being racially abused while playing football.

The Manchester City striker earned his second cap for Italy on Wednesday night in a 1-1 draw with Romania but was taunted by some spectators.

Chants were hurled at the 20-year-old every time he touched the ball in the game that was played in Austria, reportedly mostly from his own fans.

Balotelli, who is the son of Brescia-based Ghanaian immigrants, was understandably unhappy to be the subject of the racist taunts.

"Honestly, I don't know what to say," Balotelli told Mediaset.

"If I have to hear those chants every time, you can't go forward like that.
Judgement

"I leave others to do the judgement.

"I am happy to be in the national team."

It is not the first time the former Inter Milan ace has found himself subjected to racist chants with Juventus being forced to play a match behind closed doors as punishment for racist chanting from some of their fans directed at Balotelli.

Plans to stop play or abandon matches if fans make racist chants are already in place, but Balotelli believes it is not fair that the majority of the supporters that turn up to the stadium should suffer because of the behaviour of a minority.

"It wouldn't be right to stop a game because a few fans that turn up to the stadium behave like that," added Balotelli.

"We need to change these people but it's not me that has to do it.

"Where I live, the people don't reason like these people.

"A multi-ethnic Italy already exists and we can do better."

Balotelli then took a swipe at the media in England.

"I would like to see that in Manchester they speak of these problems and not of my girlfriends," concluded Balotelli.

Its about time FIFA showed some courage, ban the Italian national team from the Euros in 2012, its the only answer, its pasta joke.

[The Moos]

I don't think they should ban the Italian national team. Ban the supporters instead.
If they want to ban the national team, they should give the people in charge an ultimatum - fix this problem within a certain number of years or else it will be a ban.

[coco]

The Moos, on 18 November 2010 - 11:05 AM, said:

I don't think they should ban the Italian national team. Ban the supporters instead.
If they want to ban the national team, they should give the people in charge an ultimatum - fix this problem within a certain number of years or else it will be a ban.

The trouble is that its not just a few football fans hurling the abuse, it's just the tip of the iceberg, same in Spain. FIFA cant change the way a nation behaves, but it can show a stand and use all it's power to try and stamp this out inside the grounds itself, it wouldnt take long for attitudes to change, football means so much to both nations, it more or less worked when English clubs got banned from .Europe, instantly, the fighting in the grounds stopped and never returned when the ban was lifted.

Imo Blatter and co are closet racists, thats why FIFA dont do much to prevent this happening. Banning the fans wont work, banning the teams will in the long run.

[Hutch]

coco, on 18 November 2010 - 02:54 PM, said:

The trouble is that its not just a few football fans hurling the abuse, it's just the tip of the iceberg, same in Spain. FIFA cant change the way a nation behaves, but it can show a stand and use all it's power to try and stamp this out inside the grounds itself, it wouldnt take long for attitudes to change, football means so much to both nations, it more or less worked when English clubs got banned from .Europe, instantly, the fighting in the grounds stopped and never returned when the ban was lifted.

Imo Blatter and co are closet racists, thats why FIFA dont do much to prevent this happening. Banning the fans wont work, banning the teams will in the long run.

You're right. I remember Stamford Bridge on Hitler's birthday. Straight arm salutes were everywhere, as were chants of Deutchland Uber Alles, hissing and "Spurs are on their way to Auschwitz". I don't doubt that certain right wing elements were present that day simply because it was Hitler's birthday. It was the same with the Chelsea NF badges and right wing newspapers sold in Fulham Road. "Football hooligans love a scrap, let's give 'em something to fight about." It doesn't matter that a lot of people didn't even understand the issues - I've seen black blokes joining in with National Front chants.

The English football authorities took action and racism in English football is almost a thing of the past. Racist behaviour is frowned upon by players and fans alike. If we can do it over here, there's no reason why the rest of Europe can't follow suit.

[coco]

Well said Hutch.

[chelseabootboy]

Its about time FIFA showed some courage, ban the Italian national team from the Euros in 2012, its the only answer, its pasta joke.
[/quote]

lol   

[TheWestwayWonder]

coco, on 18 November 2010 - 10:51 AM, said:

FIFA against Racism ?

Its about time FIFA showed some courage, ban the Italian national team from the Euros in 2012, its the only answer, its pasta joke.

Until things change in that organization, count on that never ever happening. They cant even look their own corruption in the face without pointing the finger of blame elsewhere.

And it sounds to me like Balotelli is already sick of life in Manchester.

Pasta joke was great  

[Sam Sz]

FIFA needs to get much stricter with how they react to racism.  Italy, Spain, and much of Eastern Europe is being drowned with racist elements.  Although it may not be condoned by the country's FA, Italy in this case, FIFA should take action on the team as well as the supporters to send a strong message.  If countries have to play multiple matches behind closed doors, get docked points, etc they'll stand up against racism much more than is being done now.  Racism should not be tolerated anywhere.  




On a side note, has there been any reaction from Balotelli's Italian teammates?  It seems to me that this sort of thing is tolerated by other Italian players, probably due to the society as a whole.  If Pirlo, de Rossi, Quagliarella, etc came out against the constant racist chants by their own fans it would send a message, at least a message of support.