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From Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter, Berlin
Spain are at the centre of another racism row after it was claimed their fans taunted the France squad as they arrived for their World Cup last-16 match in Hanover.
On the day FIFA and the German government launched a major campaign against racism in football, it emerged the French players were subjected to monkey noises when their bus arrived at the stadium.
France coach Raymond Domenech said: “When I arrived with the bus and there are fans who making monkey chants or whatever, then I just turned my head away.
“I didn’t even look at them because I did not want to grant them that privilege.”
Asked if that may have motivated the players, who went on to beat Spain 3-1, Domenech added: “If this could motivate them, then good.”
Spanish fans also whistled and booed during the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, while Domenech said by contrast he had applauded the Spanish national anthem.
Racism has been an ongoing problem with fans in Spanish club football, while national team boss Luis Aragones was fined for describing Thierry Henry as a “black s***” in a remark to Henry’s Arsenal team-mate Jose Antonio Reyes two years ago.
Following France’s victory, Henry said: “A lot of people were speculating about Aragones and I don’t want to talk about it because there is no point. But the best answer was the win.”
At a launch in Berlin today, FIFA warned they will suspend national associations who fail to impose tough new rules on racism that come into force next month.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the regulations - including docking points from clubs and countries whose fans are guilty of racism offences - were mandatory.
Blatter said: “The first responsibilities lies with the national
associations, and if they are not doing what is expected of them then FIFA’s executive committee must intervene.
“The power and the responsibility lies with FIFA and the suspension of a federation is the ultimate sanction available to the disciplinary committee.”
He added: “This is a fight against a devil which still exists, unfortunately, in our sport.”
Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front in France, said this week there should be more white players in the France team. He said the French people did not fully identify with the national team because there were too many “players of colour”.
FIFA’s Congress in Munich earlier this month ratified the tough new rules and they will be brought in from the end of the World Cup. The launch was also attended by Tokyo Sexwale, a member of the South Africa 2010 World Cup organising committee who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 15 years.
Sexwale said: “The flames of racism ignited by a minority around soccer matches cannot and must not be allowed to divide the family of football.”
It’s pretty clear nothing will be done about it, but it does infuriate me that if it was English fans then there would be a backlash
Spain are at the centre of another racism row after it was claimed their fans taunted the France squad as they arrived for their World Cup last-16 match in Hanover.
On the day FIFA and the German government launched a major campaign against racism in football, it emerged the French players were subjected to monkey noises when their bus arrived at the stadium.
France coach Raymond Domenech said: “When I arrived with the bus and there are fans who making monkey chants or whatever, then I just turned my head away.
“I didn’t even look at them because I did not want to grant them that privilege.”
Asked if that may have motivated the players, who went on to beat Spain 3-1, Domenech added: “If this could motivate them, then good.”
Spanish fans also whistled and booed during the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, while Domenech said by contrast he had applauded the Spanish national anthem.
Racism has been an ongoing problem with fans in Spanish club football, while national team boss Luis Aragones was fined for describing Thierry Henry as a “black s***” in a remark to Henry’s Arsenal team-mate Jose Antonio Reyes two years ago.
Following France’s victory, Henry said: “A lot of people were speculating about Aragones and I don’t want to talk about it because there is no point. But the best answer was the win.”
At a launch in Berlin today, FIFA warned they will suspend national associations who fail to impose tough new rules on racism that come into force next month.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the regulations - including docking points from clubs and countries whose fans are guilty of racism offences - were mandatory.
Blatter said: “The first responsibilities lies with the national
associations, and if they are not doing what is expected of them then FIFA’s executive committee must intervene.
“The power and the responsibility lies with FIFA and the suspension of a federation is the ultimate sanction available to the disciplinary committee.”
He added: “This is a fight against a devil which still exists, unfortunately, in our sport.”
Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front in France, said this week there should be more white players in the France team. He said the French people did not fully identify with the national team because there were too many “players of colour”.
FIFA’s Congress in Munich earlier this month ratified the tough new rules and they will be brought in from the end of the World Cup. The launch was also attended by Tokyo Sexwale, a member of the South Africa 2010 World Cup organising committee who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 15 years.
Sexwale said: “The flames of racism ignited by a minority around soccer matches cannot and must not be allowed to divide the family of football.”
It’s pretty clear nothing will be done about it, but it does infuriate me that if it was English fans then there would be a backlash
