Racism in football

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"No to racism":
poster campaign of the MRAP (movement against racism and for friendship between peoples)

Racism in football refers to the devaluation of football players on the basis of their ethnicity, especially the color of their skin. It manifests itself, for example, through chants and banana throws on the part of the fans or insulting the players on the pitch. There are reports from numerous countries about racism in football.

description

The xenophobia , which is latent in the middle of society, is openly evident in and around the football stadium . Those affected complain that referees sometimes express their dislike, which can promote the negative mood. In the protection of the crowd, one's own aggression does not have to be suppressed and the individual cannot be made responsible for one's own actions. Various triggers of frustration (e.g. about the situation of their traditional club or about the personal situation) as well as an associated "escape from everyday life" and the search for social belonging are named as causes . In addition, there is a political shift to the right, which gives right-wing fan and hooligan groups an upswing. An affected association chairman said in 2006: “[There] sentences are suddenly said loudly and openly. Parties like the NPD , which sit in […] the parliaments, seem to give these people the right not to hold back with their hatred. "

In football in particular, identification with one's own club is based on a strong sense of unity. The own group is stabilized by the devaluation of the other. There is also a dovetailing of racist and xenophobic attitudes of soccer fans with sexism and devaluation of homosexuals .

Because of the high social status of the sport of football and the associated media presence , right-wing extremists and racists use the stadiums as a stage for their opinions. An Italian fan of the mood: “We [...] don't just go to the stadium to see a football match. We also want to represent our political point of view there [...]. "

Initiated by former and current dark-skinned football professionals (including Sol Campbell , Raheem Sterling , Chris Hughton , Dwight Yorke ), a debate in English football about the structural disadvantage of dark-skinned coaches was initiated in 2020 .

history

Since the late 1970s, an increasing influence of right-wing extremist and racist groups on fan culture has been observed in English football. This development spread to Germany in the early 1980s. During this time, the number of racist incidents in football increased. Since the 1990s fan initiatives have been trying harder to find counter-strategies and also calling on the clubs to take on more responsibility. In the course of the commercialization of football, racist incidents were seen as a hindrance and efforts on the part of clubs and associations were increased, with the result that at the beginning of the 21st century, racist incidents in football are on the decline and at the same time more outlawed. The phenomenon then shifted to platforms away from the football stadiums.

However, racist statements in stadiums are still largely without consequences. Racist incidents in football are documented in numerous countries, for example in Germany, England, Italy, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Cyprus.

Reactions and actions

According to Gunter Pilz, the phenomenon of racism in football is addressed on different levels: through fan projects, clubs and associations, and the police. This involves educational work, campaigns, networking, the promotion of self-regulatory mechanisms, but also sanctions.

The DFB honors the first time in 2005, donated Julius-Hirsch Award annually "exemplary and highly visible use" u. a. against racism "in the stadium, in the club and in society". On March 14, 2006, the European Parliament passed the "Declaration on Combating Racism in Football". The same year also responded FIFA with the announcement of various measures in the light of expected racist abuse during the 18th FIFA World Cup . The association only wanted to sanction misconduct and offenses “on the field”.

The educational work in the clubs is not only dedicated to racially conspicuous fans or fan groups, but also focuses on the entire club environment. A professional club that is particularly committed to fighting racism in football is FC St. Pauli .

In 2010, the United Nations dedicated its International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ( International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination , every year on March 21 ) to the topic of racism in sport . In a letter of intent adopted in 2013, UEFA announced a “zero tolerance position” against racism. The protocol provides for the following procedure to be followed in the event of racist statements at matches played within UEFA: First, a stadium announcement is made at the request of the referee. As a second step, the game is paused for ten minutes. In the event of further violations, the game is finally canceled.

In the case of smaller clubs, the supporters, who are conspicuous through abuse, are usually left alone, because otherwise an economically important item of income would be lost.

Examples (selection)

  • At the end of February 2006, Samuel Eto'o was greeted with monkeys screeching for the second time during his FC Barcelona game in Saragossa . In the preseason Eto'o countered a monkey pantomime , this time after the referee had forced an announcement in the stadium, which caused the opposite, namely even louder screeching: "No juego más" (I do not continue playing). After being persuaded, Eto'o stayed on the pitch. Saragossa had to pay a fine of 600 euros.
  • On March 25, 2006, for the was FC Sachsen Leipzig playing Adebowale Ogungbure who saw regularly derogatory audience reactions exposed after the final whistle of running on the pitch supporters of Halle FC spat upon, beaten and strangled while out of the grandstand "nigger “Echoed. Halle was fined 600 euros, but only for setting off fireworks .
  • In the DFB Cup game Hansa Rostock II against Schalke 04 on September 9, 2006, after Gerald Asamoah's goal to make it 0: 2, racist chants were heard, which the DFB punished with a 20,000 euro fine and a ghost game in accordance with the tightened statutes .
  • Anti-Semitic attacks against TuS Makkabi Berlin II and the resulting abandonment of the game triggered an avalanche of reports in October 2006. The opposing team from VSG Altglienicke II is said to have put forward as appeasement that Turkish teams would be treated similarly. Two months earlier, twins of Turkish origin Hamit and Halil Altıntop , both playing for FC Schalke 04 at the time, had confirmed in an interview that was widely used that insulting opponents was the order of the day.
  • The English Premier League footballer Luis Suárez from Uruguay was banned from Patrice Evra for eight games in 2011 for making racist statements on the field .
  • In February 2012, John Terry had to give up his position as captain of the England national team on charges of racism against him. In addition, he was banned for four games and there was a lawsuit in which Terry was acquitted.
  • Kevin-Prince Boateng left the field prematurely as a player of AC Milan in 2013 in a friendly against Italian fourth division club Pro Patria after he and his teammates were racially insulted by opposing fans. The team showed solidarity and the game had to be stopped. The UN invited Boateng to report on the subject of "Racism and Sport" on March 21, 2013 in Geneva . He compared racism with malaria , which has to be tackled by its causes, the mosquito ponds , and not later limited by means of vaccinations.
  • In May 2013, referee Gianluca Rocchi interrupted a game between AC Milan and AS Roma because of racist chants against Milan player Mario Balotelli .
  • Kévin Constant (also AC Milan) also left the pitch in 2013 after racist chants at a preparatory tournament. The game continued, the referee instead let Mario Piccinocchi on the field as a substitute.
  • Dani Alves countered the racists in 2014: He took the banana thrown at him and ate it. Alves showed a sense of humor: “I don't know who threw the banana, but I want to thank him. He gave me energy for two more corners that resulted in a goal. " Gary Lineker praised Alves:" Great reaction from Alves. Treat the racist fools with disregard, ”Lineker tweeted.
  • After the Ghanaian - English player Emmanuel Frimpong, who played for FK Ufa , was insulted from the curve of the Spartak Moscow fans on July 17, 2015 and replied from the field with an outstretched middle finger , he received the red card . Instead of taking steps against the provocateurs or at least showing understanding for the spontaneous reaction - which Frimpong regretted immediately after the game - both his club and the Russian association RFS accused the player of being responsible for the situation and then exaggerating it. Foreign players who joined him were obviously (but not officially) sanctioned. A Russian journalist said that officially the motto is that Russia and its stadiums are free from racism.
  • During the qualifying game for the European Championship 2020 between Bulgaria and England in Sofia (final score 0: 6), racist comments from Bulgarian fans against dark-skinned English players were made on October 14, 2019. The game was interrupted twice but continued after consultation with English coach Gareth Southgate . After public pressure due to the incidents, the Bulgarian association president Boris Michailow and the coach Krassimir Balakow resigned.

See also

literature

  • Werner Thole, Nicole Pfaff, Hans-Georg Flickinger (eds.): Football as a social field - studies on social movements, youth and fan cultures . Wiesbaden, Springer, 2019.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Ronny Blaschke: "Like the monkeys in the zoo" . A conversation about racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination on soccer fields in Berlin and Brandenburg. In: Berliner Zeitung . No. 280 , November 30, 2006, Sport, p. 20 ( archive.org ).
  2. ↑ Gunter Pilz: Right-Wing Extremism, Racism and Discrimination in the Football Environment - Challenges for Prevention . Ed .: Kos fan projects. 2010, p. 16 ( kos-fanprojekte.de [PDF; 111 kB ]).
  3. ↑ a b c d e Florian Schubert: Devaluation as social demarcation in the football stadium . In: Werner Thole, Nicolle Pfaff, Hans-Georg Flickinger (eds.): Football as a social field: studies on social movements, youth and fan cultures . Springer, Wiesbaden 2019, p. 108 ff .
  4. ↑ a b Michael Kraske: When the truth came out . From the stands they shout: nigger, bimbo. And once worse happened to Adebowale Ogungbure. In: Der Tagesspiegel . May 19, 2006, The Third Page, p. 3 ( tagesspiegel.de ).
  5. ↑ a b Gesa Köbberling: Racism in fan cultures . In: Werner Thole, Nicolle Pfaff, Hans-Georg Flickinger (eds.): Football as a social field . Springer, Wiesbaden 2019, p. 127 .
  6. ↑ Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com): Racism in the stadium remains a problem | DW | 11/09/2018. Retrieved October 9, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Gunter Pilz: Right-Wing Extremism, Racism and Discrimination in the Football Environment - Challenges for Prevention . Ed .: Kos fan projects. 2010, p. 17 ( kos-fanprojekte.de [PDF; 111 kB ]).
  8. ↑ Alice Blum: Football fans as political actors . In: Werner Thole, Nicolle Pfaff, Hans-Georg Flickinger (eds.): Football as a social field: studies on social movements, youth and fan cultures . Springer, Wiesbaden 2019, p. 116 f .
  9. ↑ Birgit Schönau: Goals for the Duce . The football club Lazio Rome has developed into a stronghold of the right-wing extremists: fans, players and club management whip each other up. In: The time . No. 8 , February 17, 2005, Leben, p. 61 ( zeit.de ).
  10. ↑ Thilo Adam, DER SPIEGEL: When the path to a coaching job is blocked because you're black - DER SPIEGEL - sport. Retrieved June 11, 2020 .
  11. ^ PA Media: Raheem Sterling demands English football gives black managers a chance . In: The Guardian . June 8, 2020, ISSN  0261-3077 ( theguardian.com [accessed June 11, 2020]).
  12. ^ A b Gunter Pilz: Racism, xenophobia and right-wing extremism in viewer behavior . In: Heinrich Böll Foundation (ed.): Football & Integration . 2006, p. 22 ( boell.de [PDF; 938 kB ]).
  13. ↑ Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com): Racism in the stadium remains a problem | DW | 11/09/2018. Retrieved October 9, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Gunter Pilz: Right-Wing Extremism, Racism and Discrimination in the Football Environment - Challenges for Prevention . Ed .: Kos fan projects. 2010, p. 18 ( kos-fanprojekte.de [PDF; 111 kB ]).
  15. ↑ A sign against discrimination . On dfb.de, accessed on June 30, 2018
    Honor Regulations (PDF, approx. 52 kB), p. 4. On dfb.de, accessed on June 30, 2018.
  16. ↑ Declaration of the European Parliament on the fight against racism in football . At europarl.europa.eu, accessed on June 29, 2018.
  17. ^ Press conference with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. fifa.com, May 19, 2006, accessed June 30, 2018 .
  18. ^ Mark Chaplin: UEFA platform for anti-racism campaign . On October 18, 2013 from uefa.org, accessed on June 29, 2018.
    IX. Resolution: European Football united against racism (PDF, approx. 404 kB), p. 3. From uefa.org, accessed on June 29, 2018.
  19. ↑ Football international games: England's national team wants to leave the field in the event of racist incidents . In: Spiegel Online . October 9, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 9, 2019]).
  20. ↑ Daniel Pontzen: druff festivals . Steffen Kubald used to fight for his club, as chairman he now has to free Lok Leipzig from right-wing violent criminals if the club wants to survive. In: Der Spiegel . No. 12/2007 , March 19, 2007, Sport, p. 146 ( spiegel.de [PDF; 193 kB ]).
  21. ^ Rob Hughes: Soccer: Racist Spanish fans push Eto'o to edge . February 26, 2006 from nytimes.com; Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  22. ↑ Phil Ball: "I don't play any more" . Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o has finally sparked a debate over racism in Spain when he threatened to leave the pitch for vicious abuse. In: Der Tagesspiegel . March 5, 2006, p. ? ( blogspot.com ).
  23. ↑ Lars Spannagel: Ogungbure strikes and is banned . On November 16, 2006 from tagesspiegel.de, accessed on June 29, 2018.
  24. ↑ Mathias Klappenbach, Lars Spannagel: Hetze on the sidelines . Racists and anti-Semites have long spread unmolested in football - now there are to be harsher punishments. In: Der Tagesspiegel . October 5, 2006, p. ? ( online ).
  25. ↑ Lars Spannagel: Association wants to take action against agitation . After anti-Semitic rabble in football. In: Der Tagesspiegel . October 6, 2006, p. 24 ( online ).
  26. ↑ Tsp: " Fucking Turk is still the most harmless". The Altintop brothers on racism in football . In: Der Tagesspiegel . August 3, 2006, p. 19 ( online - based on an interview with Die Zeit , issue 32/2006.).
  27. ↑ Stuart James: FA makes powerful statement with Luis Suárez's suspension . In: The Guardian . December 20, 2011, ISSN  0261-3077 ( theguardian.com [accessed October 9, 2019]).
  28. ↑ Terry not guilty of racist abuse . In: BBC News . July 13, 2012 ( bbc.com [accessed June 24, 2020]).
  29. ↑ Anja Schramm: Ambassador Boateng - "Racism is like malaria". In: welt.de. March 21, 2013, accessed June 29, 2014 .
  30. ↑ Birgit Schönau: Racism against Balotelli: football game interrupted. Retrieved February 9, 2020 .
  31. ↑ DER SPIEGEL: New racism incident: Milan professional Constant leaves space - DER SPIEGEL - Sport. Retrieved February 9, 2020 .
  32. ↑ Thomas Hummel: FC Barcelona - Dani Alves eats a banana on the field. Retrieved February 9, 2020 .
  33. ^ Süddeutsche Zeitung: Dani Alves: Bite in Banana was a PR campaign. Retrieved February 9, 2020 .
  34. ^ Friedrich Schmidt: The racist manifesto . Monkey calls and burning flags: Blacks and Caucasians are mocked in Russian football. Those responsible criticize the victims. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . No. 170 , July 25, 2015, Sport, p. 31 ( faz.net ).
  35. ↑ Racism in the European Championship qualifier between England and Bulgaria: "One of the most terrible evenings I've seen in football" . In: Spiegel Online . October 15, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 19, 2019]).
  36. ^ After incidents of racism: Balakov resigns in Bulgaria. October 18, 2019, accessed October 19, 2019 .