The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Infantino calls for worldwide bans in fight on racism
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has demanded “new, stronger and more effective ways to eradicate racism in football” in the wake of the abuse suffered by England players during their Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria, calling for worldwide life bans for those found guilty of racist behaviour.
Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria and England following Monday’s match in Sofia, which was stopped twice as Bulgarian fans made Nazi salutes and directed monkey noises at black England players.
Charges against the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) include the racist behaviour, throwing of objects and disruption of a national anthem by home supporters, and showing replays on a giant screen.
The English Football Association has been charged with disruption of a national anthem, as well as providing an insufficient number of travelling stewards.
Infantino said in a statement: “I call on all football governing bodies to join us and think together of new, stronger and more effective ways to eradicate racism in football.
“As a starting point, I suggest that all competition organisers enact regulations which envisage life bans from stadiums for those who are found guilty of racist behaviour at a football match. Fifa can then enforce such bans at a worldwide level.”
An FA spokesperson told the PA news agency: “We acknowledge the charges but will not be commenting further as it is an ongoing process.”
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin had earlier urged the “football family” to “wage war on the racists”.
Ceferin blamed a rise in nationalism across Europe for fuelling racism and said the body was committed to eradicating the “disease” from football.
Within minutes of his statement, the BFU announced the resignation of its president Borislav Mihaylov, saying the position was “detrimental to Bulgarian football”.