Racism in Football Peaks in Europe
Football is facing yet another racism scandal, with discussions of just what to do about it growing ever more intense. The latest incidence of fans racially abusing players came on Sunday during the Serie A match between Juventus and Cagliari. After Juventus forward Moise Kean scored a goal in the first half, the home fans in Cagliari began directing racist abuse toward him. Kean, who is black, celebrated by spreading his arms wide to indicate just how ridiculous the fans’ abuse was. That didn't sit too well with his coach and teammate, however, who both accompanied him in the post-game comments with the suggestion that Kean's act of celebration was inciting. Their comments went over poorly in the sporting world, where the general attitude is that blaming the victim is unbecoming.
European Football Fans Should Face Penalties for Racism
Reports of racism flowering in Europe have dribbled in over the last few months. Italy has always had trouble with fans abusing players of African descent, and the beautiful game there has often been anything but when it comes to racial harmony. This latest eruption, however, isn't just an Italian problem; it's now a pan-European issue. Just recently, for example, during a Euro 2025 Qualifier against Montenegro, some of the England national soccer team players were jeered at. Calls for officials to finally deal with the football/racism fusion have never been this loud.
Recourse for Racism in Football
FIFA and the European governing body set up a Let’s Kick Racism Out in 1993. It was a response to the high levels of racism in football. While it was a valiant effort, it came up with no punitive recourse for punters who abuse players on the pitch. Barclays Premier League coaches have spoken out in condemnation of such actions in football and are willing to stop playing if fans start abusing players. There have been suggestions that teams should play behind closed doors and, if need be, matches should be stopped completely. The latter would definitely be difficult to enact, as results of the match would be left hanging. In turn, how would soccer bets be reconciled?