WE DIDN’T IGNORE RACISM, EMILE, BUT UEFA AND FIFA FAIL TIME AND AGAIN

EMILE HESKEY says that when England played in Slovakia in 2002, nobody dwelt on the racist abuse he suffered during the game. His team-mates did not speak about it, and the FA only wanted a quick quote for a statement, nothing more. ‘The thing is, we make it a blind spot,’ he said. ‘We’re not allowed to talk. It’s happened, we move on.’ Yet that’s not entirely true. Dateline: Bratislava, October 12, 2002.

The poison in the air around this game could not seem to get any worse... Racism is alive and well and gaining ground in Eastern Europe. Events off the field were as desperately depressing as any night in the history of the national team... Contemptible racists who see no shame in comparing Emile Heskey and Ashley Cole to apes populate Slovakia... From the moment Heskey got the ball to late on when he left the field, ugly guttural noises emanated from the bank of Slovakian fans behind both goals. Such was the volume they could not all have been hooligans. That is what is so distressing. Ordinary citizens who see no sickness in racism. People that on the outside appear normal yet in their hearts carry darkness. What a sad sound it was.

So it was talked about — every report would have detailed the racism, not just mine — but that’s all it was. Talk. There has been a discussion about racism in football for decades now, there have been reports, there have been revelations, but it all goes nowhere unless backed by action from UEFA, or FIFA. So while it would have been kinder if Heskey’s colleagues had been alive to his feelings, it would have made no wider difference. This problem lies with the authorities. They have power beyond words.