Racial slurs in sports

At the start of each 2014 FIFA World Cup match, a huge streamer is held by players and game officials. The streamer states in big bold letters, “Say No to Racism.”

The reminder is in line with FIFA’s recognition of its responsibility to do its part in eliminating all forms of discrimination in football. Such a public reminder is no doubt due to the discrimination displayed in European football by spectators especially against black players. To show that FIFA means business with respect to racism, Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes states: “Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group or people on account of race, skin, color, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth, or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.””

Fifa.com states that the FIFA Disciplinary Code which describes the sanctions incurred as a result of violation of the FIFA Statues, applies to every match and competitions organized by FIFA. Furthermore, the Disciplinary Code must be obeyed by all the associations and their respective members, including clubs, officials, players, match officials as well as any other persons FIFA admits to a match or competition, including spectators.

The FIFA website emphasizes that since 2002 and following the 2001 Buenos Aires resolution to fight racism, the FIFA Anti-Discrimination Days have taken place at one of FIFA competitions every year to raise awareness of the need to abolish racism and other forms of discrimination worldwide. The activities during the FIFA Anti-Discrimination Days include, among others, a special match protocol, at which the team captains read a declaration against discrimination.

After the declaration, the teams and referees come together at the center of the pitch showing a message to demonstrate football’s stance against discrimination. Involving the captains, teams and referees attracts the attention of the spectators in the stadium and on television and allows FIFA to send an unequivocal message against discrimination.

Despite FIFA’s tough official stance and very public pronouncements against racism, some highly placed officials within football’s international governing body have expressed dissatisfaction at how the FIFA is living out these pronouncements. Jeffrey Webb, head of one of FIFA’s continents, member of its executive committee and chair of the FIFA’s anti-racism task force has voiced, according to The Guardian.com, his disappointment at the failure to appoint staff trained to record discriminatory abuse in World Cup stadiums in the wake of a series of contentious incidents.

Guardian.com reports that FIFA did not take action over offensive chanting by Mexican fans, racist chanting at matches involving Russia and Croatia or “blacked up” fans who were pictured at the Germany vs. Ghana game.

Webb stated that “there is no reason why someone should be entering the stadium clearly displaying their intent. We at FIFA and the local organizing committee should be doing a much better job.” According to The Guardian, Webb’s proposal to have three officials at every match trained to spot and record evidence of discriminatory behavior had been knocked back by FIFA and the organizing committee.

Filipino athletes have themselves been subjected to racial slurs in some sporting events. Writer Ryan Songalia reported on Jan. 18 this year that the FIFA has fined the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) nearly P1.5 million (US$33,000) for racial abuse towards the Azkals and Filipino fans during their June 4, 2013 game.“ 

Songalia stated that the game between the two teams was supposed to be a friendly “but the fans in Hong Kong didn’t get the memo.”  The Azkals won the game which was marked by reports of thrash throwing, disrespect for the Philippine national anthem and chants that taunted Filipinos as “being just slaves.”

The HKFA, through its chief executive officer, Mark Sutcliffe said it was disappointed with the decision of the FIFA and would appeal it adding that, “I wasn’t at the match but reviewed all of the evidence and prepared a detailed report on the incidents for FIFA. In my opinion, the incidents were very minor in nature and there was significant provocation by a number of the Philippine players.  Having said that we do not condone any acts of violence or racial discrimination and as I stated publicly before, we will implement stadium bans on any individuals convicted of an offense of this nature.”

Another writer, Catherine A. Traywick (www.sbs.com) commented on the incident from a broader perspective: “Regardless of whether the Hong Kong fans were provoked, the incident has fairly sinister undertones, given that Filipinos comprise a significant marginalized underclass in Hong Kong. About 300,000 Filipinos and Indonesian women work as maids in the city, commonly regarded as indispensable to Hong Kong households. Yet these domestic workers lack many basic rights and are subject to laws that make them vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment.”

Just recently, be-medaled Filipino athlete Maristela Torres won the gold medal in long jump in a track and field competition in Hong Kong. The coach of one of her closest rivals for the gold was overheard to have been “encouraging and berating” Torres’ opponent by screaming at the latter that “you should not allow yourself to be beaten by a maid.”

Perhaps, racial slurs and discrimination should also be banned and penalized in other sports. Some people who say they have advanced in so many ways are not however fit to live in modern society for they behave like they were still in the 16th century.