A red card is not enough punishment for racist behaviour on the soccer field, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
”A red card is not enough, economic sanctions is not enough.
”When there is evidence of racism or discrimination on the field of play … there is only one sanction, reduction of points or the elimination from a competition, only this will have an effect.
”All the others have no effect … reduction of points or kicking out of a competition and then there will be an example made,” Blatter said, officially opening the FifPro African Division Congress in Sandton.
Former Ghanaian football player, and the second African to play in the German Bundesliga, Anthony Baffoe told of the racism he encountered during his career.
”I grew up with racism chants, monkey chants, people throwing bananas at me … but … I was very confident, even with the language. Up to today I say I speak better German than a lot of Germans. I fought against it verbally, I was very offensive, I cracked even jokes but with sarcasm, irony.
”With football, the football itself speaks every language, it speaks every language, so use it as a message,” he advised young soccer players.
Blatter said the day the world understood there was ”one race, the human race”, racism would be eradicated. His words came as FifPro showcased its campaign against racism with the theme ”Show Racism the Red Card”.
The soccer body president said Fifa trusted Africa and South Africa with organising the World Cup in 2010 despite scepticism from various fronts.
”Fifa trusted Africa. Fifa trusted South Africa for the organisation of the World Cup … there was a lot of criticism, a lot of concerns. Can Africa do that?
”Africa can do it. South Africa will do it,” he said.
Head of the Local Organising Committee, Irvin Khoza, speaking on the sidelines of the opening event, said the racist perceptions could have been at the route of some of the doubt expressed over South Africa’s ability to host the games.
”… lets talk about the issue of crime … when the Lions came here, when the Indian Premier League came here no one raised the issue of crime.
”Yes, in terms of organisation, there are one or three areas that need to be fine-tuned but we are doing very well. It might be a question of can we trust blacks with this kind of capability of hosting the games of this magnitude. I think we have proven to all critics that yes we can do it.
”I’m happy that Fifa is satisfied with what’s happening so far,” he said.
The campaign used the ”iconic value of professional footballers” to relay the message of non-racism to young people. It was aimed at educating upcoming footballers as well as society about racism.
The organisation had produced a DVD featuring world-class footballers such as French player Thierry Henri, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs of Manchester United, Chelsea player Didier Drogba, legendary player Garth Crooks and Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso.
Blatter fielded questions from young football players from the Stars of Africa football academy. One young player quizzed Blatter on the consequences of fans displaying racist behaviour.
The Fifa president said a club or team was responsible for its fans.
Social responsibility existed in the whole football family, he said and added that according to Fifa rules, punishment started with a yellow card and could include exclusion from the tournament.
Young footballers Ayanda Nkili and Tato Manamela from Stars of Africa were inspired by the time and effort taken by their soccer heroes to root out racism. They were particularly inspired by Baffoe’s words to sportsmen.
”Eish, that was inspiring. I am motivated. Sometimes there is racism with the refs [referees] and stuff but not always,” Manamela said.
Meanwhile, Blatter reiterated his confidence in Africa and South Africa hosting the football spectacular in the country next year.
He also described the country’s hosting of the Confederations Cup as ”exceptionally good”. — Sapa