The recent racist comments by ex-Italy and AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi and abusive racist behaviour of a group of Chelsea fans are both appalling and reprehensible.
According to Sachi "Italy now has no dignity or pride, because we have too many foreigners playing in the Primavere [the under-20 league],"(La Gazzetta dello Sport). The essence of his objection with Italian youth football is that "in our youth sectors there are too many blacks."
Sacchi has attempted to shrug off any racist label claiming he had signed Netherlands international Frank Riijkaard during his coaching period at Milan. Former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling also claimed he was not a racist after remarking to a female friend V. Stiviano, "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people", and, "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want", but "the little I ask you is ... not to bring them to my games".
Chelsea fans translated the evilness of racial prejudice and bias into action in two separated situations. On Tuesday night (February 17th) they prevented a black man from entering a train in Paris while subjecting him to racial slurs. On Wednesday, some of the club fans were heard chanting racist comments at a London train station.
The Paris commuter Souleymane S, expressed shocked that the colour of his skin prevented him from using the train. According to him "I was a little bit hurt physically but in terms of morale I was hurt a lot. It has really affected my life. I can't go back into the M�tro: it makes me really afraid. I don't think you should be denied the right to take the M�tro because you're black. That's what they wanted" (The Guardian, UK).
Racism is manifested in chants which may include fans making monkey noises directed at black players, name calling, anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) and showing of patriotism (Swastika).
Although racism is common in European leagues, there are evidence of racism outside of Europe such as Brazil, Argentina, Africa, Israel, Mexico, USA, and Australia. In some countries basis of the racism may ethnic differences. For instance, right- wing Israeli supporters hurl anti-Arab sentiments toward Arab players in the Israeli league.
As much as there are no manifested cases of racism in sport in the contemporary T&T, racism should be of concern. It should be of concern because T&T footballers ply their trade in some of the leagues where racism is a growing problem. Our players fit the description (being black according to Sacchi) too be labelled and targeted by some na�ve minded prejudicial minority of football supporters.
Additionally, players from other Caribbean countries, Brazil and even Canada are plying their trade in T&T and as such all players should be guided by an appropriate code of conduct.
The1993 the Campaign for Racial Equality (CRE) and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) launch the Let's Kick Racism Out of Football campaign is a good 10 point guide for our local clubs:
1. Issue a statement saying that the club will not tolerate racism, and will take action against supporters who engage in racist abuse, racist chanting or intimidation.
2. Make public announcements condemning any racist chanting at matches, and warning supporters that the club will not hesitate to take action.
3. Make it a condition for season ticket holders that they do not take part in racist abuse, racist chanting or any other offensive behaviour.
4. Prevent the sale or distribution of racist literature in and around the ground on match-days.
5. Take disciplinary action against players who make racially abusive remarks at players, officials or supporters before, during or after matches.
6. Contact other clubs to make sure they understand the club's policy on racism.
7. Make sure stewards and the police understand the problem and the club's policy, and have a common strategy for removing or dealing with supporters who are abusive and breaking the law on football offences.
8. Remove all racist graffiti from the ground as a matter of urgency.
9. Adopt an equal opportunities policy to cover employment and service provision.
10. Work with other groups and agencies - such as the police, the local authority, the PFA, the supporters, schools, etc. - to develop initiatives to raise awareness of the campaign and eliminate racist abuse and discrimination. (Marsh, P et al., 1996, Football violence and hooliganism in Europe).
Fortunately at the moment, racism does not manifest itself in sport in terms of public outcry from administrators, players and or spectators. Open racial aspersions are limited to politics and that 'fortunately' takes place every five years. Be as it may every effort must be put in place to ensure that racism is never allowed to find a foundation in T&T sport. The respective the Ministry of Sport and sporting bodies in this case the TTFA must lead the way in publicly denouncing such distasteful acts whenever they emerge.