TROPHIES MATTER
MAURIZIO SARRI believes football needs to intensify its efforts in the fight against racism.
With glossy slogans, ad campaigns and T-shirts papering over the cracks, the events surrounding Chelsea over the past week have been a snapshot of the problems in the Premier League, the lower leagues and across Europe.
It began with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling being abused, allegedly racially, by Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
Then on Thursday Blues supporters in Budapest were heard to chant anti-Semitic taunts aimed at arch-rivals Tottenham.
Sarri said: “It’s common that it is a problem. It is normal to fight all together against the problem.
“I am sometimes surprised that everybody looks in England for a solution. There is not a solution.
“There are some stupid people in England, France, Italy... it’s the same all over the world.”
Senior executives at Chelsea were fuming in Budapest on Thursday.
The minority of travelling fans whose chanting was called out plunged the club back in the spotlight.
But Chelsea are not alone. The Tottenham
fan who threw a banana skin at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang two weeks ago was condemned by both Arsenal and Spurs fans.
Kick It Out posted confirmation just a few days later of a worrying resurgence in racerelated incidents.
In English football incidents gain prominence only if they include players of a high profile such as Sterling, right.
It has led to many deciding against speaking out and more and more supporters feeling uncomfortable.
There are also big problems elsewhere. The Russian Football Union was fined £22,000 this year for racist chants by fans during a friendly against France.
And Sarri has spent more time in Hungary discussing racism, anti-Semitism and the behaviour of a section of Blues fans than he has talking about the football.
“I can only say that I condemn every form of racism and discrimination,” he said.
“Then I have to think about football, my team, my players. The club will react, for sure.”
He said England was now as bad as
Italy, where issues have been well documented.
“There is a form of discrimination with people of the south part of
Italy,” said Sarri. “I was the coach in Naples for three years and I know. There are the same problems.” Cesc Fabregas has defended Chelsea, insisting the club’s fans are being made scapegoats for football’s problem. “It’s easy to point now at the Chelsea supporters that did that,” he said. “But unfortunately this happens in many places. “It’s true it happened last weekend, we can’t deny that, but to point the finger at one club is unfair. “The investigation the club is dealing with well. What needs to be done will be done.” CHRIS HUGHTON believes that until black and Asian figures are in place at the very highest levels of British football, racism will not be eradicated from the game.