Racism has been the dark underbelly of football for decades. We’ve come a long way since the 1980s, where black players were mercilessly hounded by opposing fans, but despite the efforts to promote anti-racism education campaigns, racism still routinely rears it ugly head.
This week American striker Jozy Altidore – who plays for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar – was the latest player to be subjected to racist chants from opposing supporters.
The chants came in a Dutch Cup game that was postponed, despite Altidore urging the referee to continue the match.
The incident comes just weeks after Kevin Prince Boateng, AC Milan’s heavily tattooed Ghanaian striker, made worldwide headlines when he staged a walk-off after being racially vilified by opposition fans.
Two similar incidents, resulting in very different reactions.
Boateng stopped mid-dribble, picked up the ball and booted it towards the Neanderthals on the terraces, before walking off the field in protest at his treatment.
At once, the brave Kevin-Prince became the king of football.
By contrast, Jozy Altidore bore the brunt of the racist taunts without protest.
After the game, amazingly, the American was philosophical about the incident: “It’s disappointing these things still happen in this time we’re in, but what are you going to do?”
“There’s nothing I can do about it,” Altidore lamented, “all I can do is pray for them and hope they become better people.”
Altidore is either a fountain of forgiveness or is simply not taking the issue seriously enough. For him to show such a level head is baffling.
But it also raises an interesting question: how best to tackle racism? And to what extent should players themselves be involved in the protests?
In 1988, John Barnes responded by back-heeling the bananas thrown at him off the field.
Recently in Australia a racist fan was banned for two years for heckling Wellington Phoenix striker Paul Ifill.
The Barbadian did his best to continue the match, and later used Twitter to thank the police and the FFA for acting “promptly and professionally” in punishing the Adelaide man.
In fact, Australian football has a proud history when it comes to black players.
During the 1960s, a group of Aboriginal footballers including Charles Perkins, Gordon Briscoe and John Moriarty all excelled in state competitions around the country.
Perkins was adamant that he never felt any prejudice from ‘new Australians’ involved in the game. It was a view echoed by Harry Williams, who was a part of the dominant St. George Budapest side in the 1970s.
Football in this country is still yet to have it’s own ‘Nicky Winmar’ moment.
Still, the recent incident in Adelaide, however isolated it may be, is worth monitoring.
One would hope that if Ifill had walked off the field, he would have received unanimous support from the FFA.
Unlike FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who despite promises of “zero tolerance” when dealing with racism, criticized walk-offs as a solution, suggesting that Boateng “ran away.”
Blatter has also in the past suggested that racism can be resolved by a handshake. It’s an old politicians trick – shake your head gravely and speak in platitudes, but do very little to actually address the problem when it comes up.
If Blatter was serious about zero tolerance, he should have immediately made his support clear for Kevin-Prince Boateng. By questioning the victim, Blatter missed an opportunity to set a precedent.
While the Italian Federation has since punished the offending fans by forcing their side Pro Patria to play one game behind closed doors, the dithering of the FIFA president had football fans wondering about the game’s leadership.
Clearly, Blatter is of the view that incidents such as these should be handled after the match, and heavy sanctions should act as a deterrent, not the stoppage of play.
There is, of course, a danger that footballers may exploit the issue to stage a walk-off when their team is losing. But this kind of mentality implicitly blames the victims.
Indeed, we’d be wise to remember that this is an issue that transcends football.
It’s all very easy for the President of FIFA to encourage black players to simply shake hands with their tormentors and get on with it.
But why should players like Jozy Altidore or Kevin-Prince Boateng have to get on with it?
If they do decide to turn the other cheek, all power to them. But it’s a decision that should be left up to them, not dictated to them by a Swiss bureaucrat.
Expecting players to simply ignore racism only trivialises its impact.
We’re still yet to see a walk-off in a high-profile competitive match. But the time will surely come.
With the tempestuous Mario Balotelli likely to join Boateng at Milan, it may come sooner rather than later.
Balotelli, who is an Italian by birth, has been subjected to chants like “there is no such thing as a black Italian” in his own country.
Balotelli has been vocal in his opposition to racism. He, like Boateng, refuses to turn the other cheek.
In 2009, Balotelli remarked “it’s a shame that everyone is more upset with me than the people yelling at me.”
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini would do well to heed Balotelli’s words. Blaming the victim gets us nowhere.
Kicking racism out of football should not be a passive struggle, and old white men certainly shouldn’t set its parameters.
Jocelyn McLennan
Roar Guru
.Pity there is racism in football because there is no racism in Athletics according to AA...only some very naughty doorknobs that call people racist names, but not officials...and athletes have hearing and sight problems too when they think they are called racist names.
MelbCro
Guest
so you are telling me that French parents at your schools teach their kids to hate Australians? lol, sure thing champ. You are reading too much into it. Good luck trying to turn the whole world into a politically correct nanny state.
nordster
Guest
hes an old man, we'll have to wait for a replacement to get that president...a female or lesbian prez would do it! They are what they are. I dont find him offensive or even too conservative given his age more buffonish but then i dont put that much stock in leaders to effect change.
SkinnyKid
Guest
really wish I could find the research paper I saw years back the linked all sorts of evidence back to hatred coming from fear. People have always used the fear anecdotally but you'll never hear a homophobe or a racists say they are scared of what they stand against so vehemently. Always this research paper really simplified it. Their same group? residents with in a 2km radius of Adelaide airport. If you don't know Adelaide airport in dead in the middle of western Adelaide, the middle to upper middle class end of town with some patches of serious money. Anyway most Adelaideians are happy with the airport so close to town, its been there longer than most of the houses after all ..... Yet there is a ever present angry residents petition group trying to get it moved. So the uni-students saw an opportunity. The survey the residents and found a direct and very distinct correlation between the most loud protesters wanting to move the airport and people with a real fear of flying.... Racism or most isms really are driven by fear.
Knight Vision
Guest
we can continue to pass on the hatred taught to us by past generations or we can decide that the buck stops with us and be the generation of change. As a young boy I listened to my Grand Fathers tales of the war against the Japanese and took in all the hatred he had for them, as a young man a decided that it wasnt right to have those feeling towards people alive today who had done nothing to me, and I teach my children the same. Hatred / racism is a negative emotion and I dont want my children to grow up in a place filled with it. The buck stops with us.
Knight Vision
Guest
Altidore lamented, “all I can do is pray for them and hope they become better people.” This is sadly so true. The only way for racism to die is for adults to be thoughtful in the way we raise our children. I child isnt born racist they are taught to be racist. All those little snide comments are picked up by eager young minds looking to emulate their idols, their Mum and Dad. My sons who have been raised in Australia and have Australian accents but were born in France have been subjected to racist comments at school , there is no way on earth these young kids come up with some of these comments on their own. If we truly want to make sport and the planet in general a better place we have to teach our kids that everyone is equal and our differences make life all the more exciting.
SkinnyKid
Guest
some history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZY8m0cm1oY
Evan Askew
Guest
Fuss, I don't want to go to far into a debate on the Palestinian peace process as this is a sports forum. Suffice to say that your statement that more Palestinian civillians have died at the hands of the Israelie defence force than Islaraeli civilians have died at the hands of suicide bombers is almost certainly correct. The idea expressed by the leader of La Familia that the Arabs are out to kill them is borne out of the belief, held by many Islamic states at the present and in the past, that the Israeli state has no right to exist. I have no idea what people who hold such views intend in order to achieve such goals, but I would wager a pretty penny that It wouldn't include the orderly deportation of the Jewish population of Israel with full restitution of all their property in Israel. I believe that a policy such as the destruction of the Israel state would include the extermination or deportation of the Jewish population. Hence the over aggressive actions intended to pacify the Palestinian population. That is excelent news regarding the signing of islamic players from Chechnya. One hopes that it has the same effect as Mo Johnsonsigning for Rangers did.and leads to more players of muslim background signing for Beitar. Such an outcome can only have a positive influence on the Palestinian peace process and the reaction of La Familia to this news does show that the hostility is directed to the islamic religion in general. Yet it is not only those of Palestine who hate the Jews. Iran and Egypt being notable examples.
SkinnyKid
Guest
incorrect....spend some time in Asia and you'll change your mind.
SkinnyKid
Guest
Little closer to home. Go ask the lads at Ajax Aussie Rules Club in Melbourne some of the things they hear every week... Horrendous stuff.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Evan More Palestinian civilians have been slaughtered by IDF than Israeli civilians slaughtered by Palestinians. Beitar's Russian Jewish owner just signed 2 Muslim players from Chechnyan .. La Familia is incensed by the decision ... I think it's obvious this small group of vile Israeli football fans aren't only anti-Arab; they hate all Muslims. Full story: http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/beitar-jerusalem-to-sign-two-muslim-players-despite-fans-protests.premium-1.496649
Evan Askew
Guest
I wonder if the same hatred would extend to any German, Austrian or Russian player that might be signed by this club? Regarding the terrible persecution suffered by the Jewish people in Europe and in the middle east and north Africa, a favourite defamatory device by anti semites was the assertion that all jews were cowards. And I would guess that since the Ghettos, the Einzatsgruppen death squads and the gas chambers of the holocaust, (not to mention the terrible persecution that was set to be unleashed in the USSR if Stalin had lived another couple of years) the Jewish people are not disposed toward taking any crap from people or groups of people who want to exterminate them or persecute them. And this ugly behaviour is a manifestation of that resolve. As the accountant who leads La Familia said, "we don't hate arabs because they are arabs, we hate them because they want to kill us."
Tigranes
Guest
Racism seems to be a lot more apparent in monocultural countries, such as those in Eastern Europe, where there are few if any people who arent white.
Ian
Guest
tonights game will be interesting for the roar. another new face who may be subbed on late seeing as he only arrived yesterday morning. it takes me 3 days to get over jet lag. yeah i'd like to see adelaide get up but wanderers are going along quite nicely. maybe adelaide will lift for their 'new' coach. hmm. the derby is always a tough one. heart perform well in derbies. victory are in good form. what my head says doesn't agree with my heart.
BigAl
Guest
abuse no doubt, but . . . racial abuse ?
Football United
Guest
Ballotelli's stance on racism is probably the only thing i will support him in. His treatment by italians is disgusting, after he destroyed the germans in the euro semi final, the azurri Fans next to me, commented in Italian what was essentially 'I don't care how many goals that son of a black w---- scores, he'll never be Italian.' I agree with Fuss though in that, especially in Europe, it is really a social problem rather than a football problem, the chants and vile monkey calls are a reflection of a highly nationalistic and anti immigrant society.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Ian its no niggle, just good old Fuss and young one kellett just doing the usual rounds. I'm over it already :D. Let's just hope he is too :D Brisbane to beat Central Coast, Heart to beat Victory and Adelaide to beat Wanderers :D Would make my weekend! :D
Ian
Guest
there is quite a bit of niggle here so i'll stay out of the personal stuff. however i'm sure Fuss you actually mean you hope CCM destroy the Brisbane Roar. not too long ago MV were a basket case again. carnage in the vicinty of 5-0 perhaps?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
langou Hard core racists are the people that worry me the most; not the people, who yell abuse to put a player off his game. This video shocked me .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKQHhed3djU For some reason, I thought this group of people would always say "NO" to racist behaviour given the extreme racism they endured. But, clearly, even victims of racism can morph into vile racists! Human beings are strange creatures.
Australian Rules
Guest
And this: http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8602522