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| October 11, 2002 | Friday | Sha'aban 4, 1423 |
UEFA urges clubs to stamp out racism
NYON (Switzerland), Oct 10: European football’s governing body UEFA Thursday called on clubs throughout the continent to make a public stand against racism.
UEFA sent a 10-point “plan of action” to clubs and national associations following a spate of incidents of racist abuse during recent Champions League and UEFA Cup matches.
The move came as a disciplinary body meeting opened here. UEFA said in a statement that the plan “represents sensible steps that can be taken.”
The 10 points include the publications by individual clubs of a statement “saying the club will not tolerate racism, spelling out the action it will take against those engaged in racist chanting.”
The statement would be published in all match programmes and displayed at football grounds.
Other points include public address announcements condemning racist chants, action against the sale of racist literature inside and around grounds, and the removal of all racist graffiti “as a matter of urgency.”
The plan also called for contact between clubs on the issue, a common strategy between police and the clubs, as well as campaigns in the local community to eliminate racial abuse and discrimination.
“UEFA’s policy of total opposition to all forms of racism and xenophobia has been known for some time and we continue to urge all member associations, leagues and clubs to develop their own initiatives to raise awareness and oppose racism at a national and local level,” UEFA president Lennart Johansson and chief executive Gerhard Aigner said in a letter to clubs.—AFP
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