Racism among football fans is a problem closer to home, too
IT’S not just foreign football fans who take part in despicable racist behaviour in stadiums, according to a West Midlands MP.
The problem still exists at home – and some Villa fans are among the culprits.
Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes, who supports Villa himself, told fellow MPs in the House of Commons about the racist behaviour of “a small number of Villa fans”.
But he said the response of most fans, and particularly the club itself, was one of “utter condemnation”.
He was one of a number of MPs to demand tougher action against racism following the disgraceful scenes during England’s 6-0 victory over Bulgaria.
The match was halted twice in the first half following complaints of racist abuse suffered by the England squad, which included racist chants and salutes from a section of supporters.
Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings was targeted for abuse by sections of the home crowd in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.
A number of West Midlands MPs have accused football’s governing bodies of failing to take the fight against racism seriously.
Most of the criticism was aimed to UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe, although there was also some criticism of FIFA, the worldwide governing body.
And some MPs pointed out that there were still problems in domestic games, despite the efforts of clubs to stamp out racism.
Mr Hughes (Con) told the House of Commons: “I am a Villa fan, and our recent victory over Norwich was marred by the fact that a small number of Villa fans were chanting racist abuse against Zimbabwean defender Marvelous Nakamba.
“He was clearly unfazed by it but the reaction of the fans and the club was utter condemnation.
“Does that show that if we work with the clubs and the fans we will eventually be able to kick racism out of football?”
Sports Minister Nigel Adams, in response, pointed out that fans who take part in racist abuse in the UK face prosecution.
He said: “My Honourable Friend is spot on. I remind the House that racist and homophobic chanting at football matches is a criminal offence. It is quite simple.
“Action can be taken, and we have provided some funding to Kick It Out to ensure that all hate crimes, whether during a game or on social media, are accurately recorded so that the necessary action, including on whether to involve the Crown Prosecution Service, is taken.”
The Government has said it plans to write to the European football body UEFA, urging it to conclude investigations into what happened at the match swiftly “and to ensure that all football authorities and fans are clear that the consequences of failing to tackle this issue will be severe”.
Solihull MP Julian Knight urged the Government to do a bit more and hold face-to-face meetings.
He said: “I know the Minister will agree that it has taken UEFA and FIFA far too long to get a grip on this issue.
“The fact that this is the first time the protocol has been enacted indicates that those two bodies have not taken this issue seriously enough.
“The Minister is going to write to UEFA but will he consider going to meet UEFA and FIFA to express the anger of this House and the fact that we believe that enough is enough?”
Dudley South MP Mike Wood (Con) said UEFA appeared to have been slow to tackle the problem, a sentiment echoed by many MPs. He praised Tyrone Mings for his “strength of character”, adding: “The Football Association chairman said that there are many at UEFA with very strong feelings about racist abuse, but, sadly, those feelings often seem to be rather quiet.
“Is it not time that these people not only spoke up, but took proper action to stamp out the vile abuse that we witnessed?”
Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam, praised the England team for carrying on with the game but said it was important they felt able to walk off the pitch if they chose.
“Is it not important that, in the support we give to players, we send a signal not just from this place but from football authorities, national and international, that if those players choose to stay on the pitch, in the face of this awful abuse, they will have our admiration for their courage and commitment to the sport.
“But it is important too that if they choose to walk off the pitch, we will respect that choice, too, and there will be no negative consequences for their career, either in the short term or the long term?”
Bulgarian Football President Borislav Mikhailov resigned after the match.
He had earlier been critical of England’s pre-match concerns, and dismissed the recorded instances of racist behaviour at the game.
UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, issued a statement about the incident, saying: “As a governing body, I know we are not going to win any popularity contests.
“But some of the views expressed about UEFA’s approach to fighting racism have been a long way off the mark.”
He insisted: “UEFA’s sanctions are among the toughest in sport for clubs and associations whose supporters are racist at our matches.
“The minimum sanction is a partial closure of the stadium – a move which costs the hosts at least hundreds of thousands in lost revenue and attaches a stigma to their supporters.”
Our recent victory over Norwich was marred by the fact that a small number of
Villa fans were chanting racist abuse.
MP Eddie Hughes