One Central European nation you will be surprised to hear is suffering from racism is Germany. A series of events of the past year have highlighted the problem to the world’s media. When striker Patrick Owomoyela was being considered for the German 2006 World Cup squad, he was branded as ‘non-German’ by an extreme right party and another German player, Gerald Asamoah, was subject to abuse in a Cup tie in Rostock. During Germany’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia, in Bratislava, German fans sang discriminatory songs. German fans were again in the sport light when fans of Alemannia Aachen chanted racist abuse directed against asylum seekers. The German FA fined the club a measly 50,000 Euros.
It seems as though racism is still rife in European football and the problem looks as though it is not going to go away overnight or be brushed under the carpet easily. European footballs governing body needs to take firmer action against fans of clubs who are guilty and the clubs respective national football federation need to back their ruling up. Perhaps certain European countries should look at how the British have managed to reduce racism in their grounds as an example on how to tackle racism.
Article comments
1 - alessandro nicolo
I saw the game regarding the Zoro incident. Awful. Of Italy and Spain, I think Spain and Aragones have been downright oblivious. It's a black mark on football. Good piece. Well documented.
2 - RJ Elliott
Fine piece.
But tell me, is there any racial abuse when White soccer/football players play in Africa or Asia?
3 - alessandro nicolo
Yeah. And do they know it's Christmas?
4 - Mell x
Well I am only 15 but I am studying racsim in football for a piece of GCSE coursework I am doing. I find it upsetting that people are picked on because of their colour or accent. We are all made of the same organs it is just some people look different. What would the world be like if we were all the same? I just find it a bit upsetting! I am enjoying studying this, and maybe in the future we can do more to prevent anymore racist acts against anyone.