Fifa was accused on Wednesday of being far too lenient by letting Spain off with just a fine and a warning for racist abuse by its fans.
Spanish fans made monkey noises and hurled racist taunts at England’s black players during Spain’s 1-0 victory in a friendly in Madrid last month, a day after similar incidents at an under-21 game between the same two nations.
After making a stern warning that racism will not be tolerated, Fifa issued a fine of 100 000 Swiss francs (about R492 000) and warned Spain of stronger punishment if such behaviour persists.
Critics said the punishment is seen as a yellow rather than a red card.
While the English Football Association (FA) said it ”had to accept” Fifa’s ruling, its carefully worded statement was viewed in press reports as veiled criticism.
”Following the deplorable acts of racism which occurred in Madrid last month, the FA expressed its strong views and concerns to Fifa, Uefa and the Spanish Federation in writing,” the FA said.
”At that time, the FA stated very clearly that it was ultimately Fifa’s responsibility to determine what disciplinary action should be taken.
”The FA must accept Fifa’s decision to fine the Spanish FA 100 000 Swiss francs,” the statement said.
”The FA is firmly committed to fighting racism in football at all levels of the game. We will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any racist behaviour in English football and whenever any of our teams play abroad.
”Racism is the scourge of the game and it is the responsibility of all who care about football to do everything within their power to eradicate it.”
Opportunity missed
The British government said Fifa has missed an opportunity to make a stand against racism. Soccer’s world governing body has the powers to order Spain to play its next World Cup qualifying home game in an empty stadium or even kick the Spaniards out of the competition.
”I think that it is an opportunity missed for Fifa to have stamped their authority on the incident and shown that football and sport in general is not going to tolerate racism,” said British Sports Minister Richard Caborn.
”We were looking for some symbolic action to say that we cannot allow this sort of behaviour and they have not done that.
”I hope now that in the longer term they will give authority to the fourth official to suspend matches where there is racist abuse of the type we witnessed in Madrid, and if the chanting continues, then to abandon games altogether.”
Gordon Taylor, the leading official of English soccer’s players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association, also criticised the leniency of the punishment.
”The Spanish FA have been given a yellow card, not the red that many would have expected,” Taylor said ”I think the general feeling in England will be one that the sanction is far too lenient, and I would be one of those who thinks that way.”
The British papers made scathing attacks on the Fifa fine.
The Daily Telegraph headlined that Spain had ”escaped with paltry fine” while other papers said the punishment is ”pitiful” or ”a disgrace”.
Les Ferdinand, a veteran black former England striker, also severely criticised Fifa’s ruling.
”It’s a ridiculous decision and you may as well say, ‘don’t do it again, you naughty boys’, because a fine will not deter anyone,” Ferdinand told the Daily Mail.
”We need to take drastic measures and that means making them play behind closed doors or kick them out of the competition because the fine will not do any good.
”This decision just shows Fifa are more racist than the morons who were making the monkey noises.” — Sapa-AP