Racist abuse at games ‘a real threat to Asian fans’
OZIL LAUNCHES ‘FOOTBALL FOR PEACE’ CENTRE AMID RISE IN HATE CRIMES
FOOTBALL authorities have been urged to take tougher action instead of just using words to show racism the red card in stadiums.
Racism incidents in England are up by more than 50 per cent this season compared to when grounds were last full in the pre-pandemic 2019-20 season, according to the Kick It Out charity.
It comes after six people were arrested at Wembley Stadium in October as racist abuse and violent clashes with police marred England’s World Cup qualifier with Hungary.
Fighting broke out in the away section after officers attempted to arrest a Hungary fan for allegedly racially abusing a steward.
Arun Kang OBE, chief executive of charity Sporting Equals, told Eastern Eye: “We have all witnessed scenes of physical and verbal abuse that has been rising in the football sporting community, especially over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It, sadly, comes as little surprise to us at Sporting Equals that data is highlighting an increase in reports of racism when compared to pre-pandemic matches.
“This rise highlights how quickly spaces became unsafe for ethnically diverse communities in sport, which is still truly shocking. But this is something we have been spotlighting for many years with little change in attitude.
“Racism is still incredibly real and potent as a threat that the government and football authorities need to recognise and commit to changing through tangible action.”
It comes as former Arsenal player and German international Mesut Ozil vowed to give British Asian players a platform to shine after linking up with the Football Association (FA) and Bradford City for the launch of the Football for Peace Mesut Ozil Centre in the Yorkshire city.
The development centre aims to provide pathways into the game and education, and will be hosted at the University of Bradford with elite sessions taking place at Bradford City’s training ground.
Kang added: “There also needs to be a greater commitment from football clubs to make lasting and impactful systemic changes regarding how incidents are reported and managed. There is a need for stronger and swifter investigation as well as accountability and prosecution of those found guilty of engaging in racism in digital and physical spaces.
“Sporting Equals have previously released statements on instances of racism in football including the UEFA Euros 2020, and more recently, the barriers that the British south Asian community face that prevents them from engaging in elite sport, particularly football.
“The football authorities need to look to work beyond their network and engage with other partners to develop concrete resolves and strategies to eradicate the threat of racism and develop safe spaces for all fans and players alike.”
Dr Amy Clarke is a research fellow at the Centre for Hate Studies at Leicester University.
She told Eastern Eye: “It is hugely disappointing to see that there has been such a significant rise in racist incidents being reported in football stadiums. The racist behaviour of football fans, largely towards players, is completely unacceptable.
“However, these behaviours are unfortunately not confined to a minority of football fans. What is currently playing out within the sport is simply a reflection of what we’re witnessing in wider society.
“Nationally and globally, we are witnessing spiralling levels of hate crime, the mainstreaming of farright ideology and a heightened sense of hostility directed towards minority groups.
“What is troubling, though, is that despite FIFA’s supposed ‘zero tolerance’ stance towards racist and violent behaviour, and the concerns raised by the FA and the Metropolitan Police about the Hungary fans’ presence prior to [the] match, the game went ahead anyway.
“Empty statements that ‘strongly condemn’ this behaviour must be replaced with meaningful and decisive action if we are to hope for any real change in the ‘beautiful game’.”
Meanwhile, new figures showed that crime motivated by racial prejudice hit its highest level on record after a 12 per cent rise.
Race-related offences made up two-thirds of the 124,091 hate crimes recorded by police in the year to March 2021, according to Home Office statistics.
The nine per cent rise in all hate crime was attributed partly to improvements in recording, growing public awareness and a better understanding of what is a hate crime.
Yashmin Harun BEM, chair and founder of the Muslimah Sports Association, said the figures on racist incidents at football grounds are disappointing but not surprising.
She added: “They reaffirm what we already know, and that is racism within football, on and off the pitch, is on the rise and never really went away. I suppose the positive we can take away from this is that people are coming forward and reporting such incidents.
“It was also positive to see the FA release their three-year Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy. This shows the FA are committed to change in the culture of football, but we now must see stringent action against those who commit racist attacks against supporters and footballers.
“Supporters must not be deterred from attending games as it will mean the racists have won. The majority of grounds and supporters are welcoming.”
Nadeem Shan, a football coach in Yorkshire, believes that more diverse fan bases in stadiums are found at the successful Premier League teams in England.
“There is a reluctance among [many] south Asians to go
and watch a football game. It stems from the 1970s and 1980s, and the association with alcohol and hooliganism,” Shan said.
“I have gone to Liverpool games, there is a good mix of people from different parts of the world. It is an open city, so you are not going to get much racism. Manchester is also a very diverse city – I have been to a Manchester City match.”
He added: “Slowly clubs are having inclusion managers like Blackburn Rovers, who have done something [like] allowing people to pray at their stadium.
“There is not enough money being pumped in. They do a little bit [of campaigning] then move on. I am fed up of all the talk.”
The English FA’s new three-year equality, diversity and inclusion strategy called A Game For All was launched in October.
It has outlined three key strategic commitments – Lead the Change, Be the Change, and Inspire the Change – which will ensure that tackling discrimination remains a core priority, it said. The FA said it will continue to tackle bias on and off the pitch through delivering effective sanctioning and education, furthering efforts to tackle online abuse, creating safe venues, as well as building trust in reporting mechanisms and disciplinary processes for incidents of
prejudice.