posted by Sam Richards
This video about the prevalence of racism in the world of European soccer should get some conversation going. In comparison to the racism that exists here in the United States, the actions by these sports fans is extreme and vile — like stuff we’d have witnessed here a hundred years ago. And if these sorts of shenanigans happened in our professional sports stadiums, all manner of actions would be taken to stop them. But on that “enlightened” continent of Europe, for one reason or another they continue and are, to be sure, rather common place in many stadiums. (That said, I am certain that most fans do not support the barbarians clamoring at the turnstyles.)
As you watch the video, keep in mind a couple of things. First, while the video depicts events that are four years old, very little (if anything at all) has changed. European football organizations have taken the initiative to put a stop to the actions of fans, but they’ve not made much headway. Second, this is less about race and more about culture and the perceived threats related to immigration and the growing numbers of “dark skinned” peoples from southern countries, especially those of sub-Sarahan Africa. Europe is in the middle of an unprecedented cultural transformation stemming from widening immigration flows and (white) people are afraid they’re losing their hold on their cultures. This does not excuse their actions and thinking, but it should clarify it a bit and it must be considered in order to understand the causes and consequences of the behavior.
The video is very unnerving, to say the least, but I’m sure it will lead you to pause and reflect on just how far we have come in dealing with our own racism.
Being a sports fanatic and an inspiring sports broadcaster, this kind of harsh racism is so disheartening to me I cannot explain it in words. People who watch, follow, or play sports do it because they love the game. We feed off of competition and get excited for each season and for the possibility of winning it all; it is a great way of escaping from all of life's problems. After watching this video and reading the short comments of Prof. Richards it baffles me why these acts of hate are exposed at such an event when people go to cheer for their team. Especially in a sport such as soccer, a game that brings people together from all over the world who appreciate and admire the same beautiful game.
Is this just another reason why I should be proud of being born in the land of the free and home of the brave? But if the United States of America and Europe switched locations would we really do the right thing by stepping up and halt or put a stop to this unfortunate racial discrimination? I doubt it our actions would really be that much more significant than Europe's efforts. I definitely understand how these circumstances come to be in the stands, but when coaches and players join in on this universal problem it frustrates me immensely. When I heard the head coach of Spain use racial comments and then further backing up his actions by saying he is just trying to aggravate his players as an excuse to putting down one of the best soccer players in the world disgruntles me beyond belief. A coach is supposed to fire up his players by scaring them with failure, or taunting them with stories of success and victory. If trash talking by vulgar racism gets players hyped these days I fear for where our world is going.
As I stated earlier I doubt America would be the superhero and fly in to rescue this problem is they were in the same situation Europe find themselves in. But what can be done? Docking teams points obviously doesn't work because fans can just direct their racial hate at their own team to help them qualify for the next round. After thinking about this matter objectively I can't find a great solution. But to hinder this horrible hatred from becoming any worse and hopefully lessening it as much as possible I believe coaches and players need to publicly advocate to end this problem, and maybe strike out against fans during the game if the problem persists. For example, postponing the game or taking serious actions against the fans. Of course sitting comfortably in my lazy boy chair I can come up with these solutions that seem easy but in fact are much harder to carry away with. For the sanctity of the game and for the dignity of the players I hope this needless hate is soon controlled.
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You would think that the "old" world would be wiser than the new, but this is just simply not the case. As I read some of the responses on this topic, I notice that many of us are angry. I see anger from the African American community because these racist comments hurt them. However, I also see anger in the White community. As a member of the White community, I can only speak for myself, I often find myself angry when I see African Americans (or any other race) treated like this. Here is a lesson to us all (including those in the "old" world) and maybe we can at least find comfort momentarily in our own little community. Where did the cheer "WE ARE … PENN STATE" originate? Here is a link to a video that explains the origin. (I don't know how to put a video in my comments like Sam does, so my response requires a second click.) It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe it will for you too!
http://www.personal.psu.edu/ald120/blogs/eiche/20...
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It’s astonishing to me that crowds of people can be this evil. I thought sports fans around the world appreciated skill on the field and came together to support talented athletes. I’m a big sports fan and have always related to an enthusiastic crowd in a stadium. I never pictured fans showing unprovoked hatred toward players because of the color of their skin. Watching this video made me feel sick. We are (or so I thought) living in a world where the vast majority does not feel or parade such hatred toward a race of people different than they are. I admit I am completely shocked that blatant behavior like this goes on today, especially in a sports arena dedicated to “the beautiful game” and where there is professional security and an international governing body to control the sport. Yet nothing has prevented these racist acts.
Growing up, I sometimes heard European citizens in interviews criticize Americans and I always felt it wasn’t fair. I wonder how they would react if we showed them this video of their horrible behavior. I’m thankful I grew up in the United States and proud I’ve never been at a public gathering where a person was ridiculed because their skin was a different color.
When this video showed the coach throwing out racial insults to his players, I hoped the punishment would be significant but then heard it was a $5,000 fine. I don’t know how much money an international soccer coach makes, but I have a feeling $5,000 may be like missing a couple days of work. If a U.S. coach had done this, he or she would not only have been fined but most likely would have been fired, too, and unable to get a coaching job again. This European coach paid a minimal price and never acknowledged any wrongdoing.
Imagine if this kind of thing happened in the United States. If LaDanian Tomlinson ran in for a touchdown and, instead of cheers, we heard racial insults and cursing at him, not only would the crowd take action against the offenders, but security would put an end to it quickly.
I can’t comprehend Europe’s intolerance and disrespect. I understand they may be worried about new cultures and people encroaching on tradition and demographics, and I get that a nation may worry about the welfare of its own citizens if a floodgate opens to uncontrolled immigration, but that’s not what we see here. We see hateful ignorance based on color. I’m proud of the U.S. in comparison and grateful we had enough strong people to work through the Civil Rights Movement and that we learned something from it. I don’t understand how a country can be this threatened by different colors and cultures. If Europe doesn’t consider its racism to be barbaric and ignorant, then it is not doing a good job preserving its culture. It is only allowing thugs to bore red horns into its head.
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Wow this video disgusts me; it was 2006 when this happened! Come on now we as a people should be able to have moved on from racial situations like these. During the video the reporter had said “Europe has never had a civil rights movement to the magnitude of the US”. This may sound dumb but for some reason I thought when the civil rights movement happened here I assume that it affected the world. It was also mentioned that Europe has never had a vast amount of African Americans which is the reason something like the civil rights movement was never put in place. It is ridiculous the way the people in the crowd acted with all the banners and at one point I saw fire! It is NOT that serious once so ever. I really feel bad for the players that have been tormented, because I know if that was me I would have done more than just walked off the field.
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Ok. So this is probably the most ridiculous thing I have seen as far as racism goes. As a white male, I almost feel obligated to act the opposite of a racist. I go out of my way to show that I am an understanding, because not only do I come from an interracial family, but also because I have been brought up to accept everyone. I am of Italian heritage and I have been told the stories of discrimination that my family had to stand when they came over here in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Racism is a very hard thing for me to understand. How can anyone discriminate against someone due to their skin color? It's something that has boggled my mind since I was first old enough to know what racism is. A lot of my family has dark skin because we hail from southern Italy, but in today's world we are classified as white, so we aren't subject to racism anymore, unless you are a guido from the Jersey Shore. But why do people from equatorial areas receive this racism? Is it out of jealousy? Is it a product of ignorance? The racism question will never truly be answered, but until then we all must look to ourselves and change our own individual feelings about people of different races. You can't really change racism unless you start on a small scale with yourself. So my only true idea of how to deal with this is to deal with your own individual ideas about races. Why do you discriminate? What is your justification? If you can answer these questions with reasoning, then it's time for you to rethink your own attitude.
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This clip was very intriguing and gave me a perspective i did not have about European soccer. i have been a fan of the game since i was six years old and follow the sport closely. although i know racism exists in every part of the world, the severity in europe in a stadiums where the most beautiful sport is being showcased is far more serious than racism we see in the United States of America. People no matter fans, players, or coaches would not be tolerated in any way for any racist comments they make about the colored players. Many will be very upset and actions will be taken immediately to address the issue. This might be because the majority of the athletes in professional sports are minorities in particular black. The players have more voice and power in the media as well as members of the organization to resist these acts and accept the bigotry. In Europe small amount of the players are black and i can definitely see the issue being overlooked by FIFA. one thing i noticed in the video is that fans taunted their own team's black players and i could not understand what the purpose was. As passionate as European fans are it is foolish to act against your own team and jeopardize your clubs level of competition and outcome. Players such as Henry and Eto in the Video are world class athletes that have accomplished so much for their respective clubs, one would think that they wont be attacked in this fashion. Throwing bananas and chanting monkeys is a very aggressive and open racism techniques that these players should feel threatened. For Example Zoro tried to walked out of the game as the fans chanted racist words aimed at him and i did not think that was the best option. Instead of walking out and leaving the game and letting the racist fans win, he can use his voice in the media and also organize with other players to start a movement in bringing the issue to life and finding a solution. In the same note, few weeks ago the Togo national team's bus that has elite players such as Emanuel Adebayor was gunned down in Angola while the team was trying to participate in the African Football Cup. This incident indicates that hatred and racism doesn't just come from white people towards Blacks and other colored races. Some African are racist in their own way against other african countries. Sometimes it goes to the extent that people from the same african country kill and torture their own country men because of tribe differences. Over all racism is something that has to be taken seriously all over the world and people should not be afraid to bring the issue to a discussion. Problems are not going to get fixed by the silence of society rather by constructive arguments and debates. As FIFA commissioner stated something is wrong with society if they cannot change their perspectives after all the education given and the consequences bolded.
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What is there to say? Racism is still apparent in society? Although I was shocked after watching the video I was even more upset that the steps taken to resolve the issue is being done in the most subtle way ever and this is definitely not a matter of Subtlety . It is serious and hopefully people could stop being in denial and oblivious to how the world really is. We in the US may believe segregation is not in existence but hope this video make us realize that it is but not visible. See we humans always find a way to master an art. And yes we have mastered this fine art of hiding the truth and creating a great facade that makes everything seem okay when in all actuality, it isn't.
Listening to the story also made me wonder why this scandal or topic did not make front line news. This is my first time hearing about this and it happened in 2006. This goes back to my point of us wanting to cover things up instead of actually solving or addressing the situation.
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I really did not realize that racism was still so prevalent in the European countries to the point where it is publically displayed during soccer games. I figured that there would be some sense of shame in the fans if they just started to shout out racist slurs in the middle of a game. Also, I thought that the European countries abolished slavery before the United States of America? And, not only did they bar slavery before we did, they also integrated colored people in their military forces with equal rights before we did. I took a History of World War II class last semester and the colored infantry men at America sent over to Europe were awestruck by how much more progressive Europe was. There was not a separate bathroom for colored people and everyone could eat at the same established, no matter the skin color.
How the heck did we suddenly become more progressive than the European countries? Aren’t we the country that is filled with racist homophobes that can’t even pass a law saying that, “Yes, we allow gay marriage”? Aren’t we the “close-minded and ignorant” country that the Europeans hate? How the heck did this happen? I thought we were the backwards country and that everywhere else was fine and laughing at us.
It just does not make any sense at all. The European countries, in general, have better education systems, better literacy rates, lower poverty rates, and more health care for almost all of its citizens (most countries, not all). And yet they allow public slurs on megaphones during soccer games? During the World Cup? What the hell? What happens if the next Olympic Games are held in Madrid? Would they all suddenly chant racist things on megaphones to blacks competing for African countries? I mean, these people are already shouting racist things at their own teams, I don’t think they will have much problem yelling at other people’s teams.
Also, when Sam said that these attacks are most likely because of a perceived threat of immigration and the growing number of dark-skinned individuals emigrating from Africa: that’s horrible. They’re afraid of losing their culture? What kind of backwards logic is this? Are they afraid that just because more black people arrive in their country that they’re suddenly going to stop being “Spanish people” or “German people” or “Italian people”? A culture doesn’t disappear just because some people pop up at your doorstep…
Take American Indians for example. European immigrants arrived, killed off most of the American Indians on this continent and yet they’re still around and their culture is far from lost. Same story with the Chinese and the Asian Indians: They’re both still around and they both still have traditions and cultures that have been around longer than the British Empire had. See? Immigrants suddenly appeared and the cultures of the indigenous people are still around. And these immigrants had guns and much more advanced weaponry! What do these immigrants coming to Europe from Africa have? A passport and a visa?
Also, it was mentioned in the blog post that perhaps these racist outbursts are probably not the majority. So what? The people standing around these people shouting racist slurs aren’t doing anything. That’s just as good as condoning the act. If no one steps up to put a stop to a problem, obviously the problem will continue to exist. For example: If someone murdered another person on the street, in broad daylight, and everyone who saw ignored it and didn’t bother doing anything, then what’s going to stop the next person from offing another guy?
Seriously, though. Why hasn’t anything been done to stop this problem? Whatever FIFA or the countries are doing obviously isn’t working. They need to do something else and they need to do it soon.
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Wow, I knew that Europe is the most racist continent in the world but I never thought that this kind of racism exists anymore. I personally believe that 99 percent of the world is racist, that’s just how we are raised, making fun of others to feel better about ourselves. Whether it is bigger noses, smaller eyes, darker skin, or even different hair, it is always humorous to those who don’t acquire those futures.
Europe is the only continent that is so open about it, because they don’t have that much diversity, everyone else learned to cover their racism. Everyone at some point in their lives made fun of a different race; I don’t care where you came from, or where you were born. YOU ARE RACIST. It is simply human nature to see the difference in each other, and not the similarities.
The first thing you notice when you look at a different person is their race; we are brought up to be racist. The media plays a big part in that, and so do your parents. I hate to accuse everyone of being racist but I just want you to stop reading this response for a second and think to yourself, how many comments have you made about Asian people having small eyes, about black people having nappy hair, about Mexicans being lazy. Seriously people stop being such hypocrites, just because you say racist comments behind people’s back doesn’t make you better than those who call a dark soccer player a monkey with a megaphone.
This whole world cup thing about banding games is very unlikely to happen, riots will drown the streets of many countries if that ever occur, this Is the first time I hear about racism occurring in soccer games, and I am sure the same goes for most people. The media keep things like that contained because they want all the fans and support they can get, whether they are black, white or purple, because as we all know , it always comes down to money, it’s all about money.
Racism will always exist, heck; it even exists between the same races. It’s a natural act for human to discriminate against one another, it’s just who we are, you can try to deny it but at least don’t be a hypocrite and say that we are better than Europe because we don’t do this and that, because in reality , we are probably worth. Racism has increased in PENN STATE in the past five years, so before you respond telling me that you are a saint and has never discriminated against anyone, take a second and wonder how many racist comments and thoughts you have made TODAY.
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This video absolutely disgusted me. It is so different to see how the top players in European soccer are treated just because of the color of their skin. This is a stark difference when compared to the superstar athletes in the United States. They are revered as almost godlike and can do no wrong regardless of the color of their skin. I’m not sure if this is due to the fact that sports are such a big deal in the United States, but I know soccer is comparable in popularity to professional football in the US. FIFA should be taking more of a stance on this issue and prohibiting people from bringing in banners that have statements of hate on them at the very least. Think about it, NFL teams get huge fines when fans so something like throw snowballs or trash on the field. Maybe FIFA should make similar rules and hopefully these hateful actions will stop.
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Unbelievable is the thought that comes to mind after viewing the video. I personally would not have guessed that soccer, the truly universal sport, would possess such a high amount of racism. While Sam made the point of Europe not having the Civil Rights Movement the United States has had, I would not have expected this of them. I would have thought the Holocaust of all things would have shown Europeans the evils of racism. Granted this video is geared more towards dark skinned soccer players, but the Holocaust destroyed any and all people who did not fit into Adolf Hitler’s idea of a perfect human being: blond hair and blue eyes. Europe was a front row witness to the horrors of Adolf Hitler, but Europe has not seemed to have learned anything.
Racism today should be unacceptable. I understand people are brought up learning certain values, morals, and ideas, but educated people should be able to form their own ideas. Then again the racist fans, coaches, and players portrayed in the video may have been uneducated. Some might say the racist behavior is only displayed with team spirit in mind. They might say that it is the same thing as trying to rattle batters during a baseball game. The behavior displayed surpasses any acceptable form of team spirit or unity. I do not understand how racist people can judge someone purely on the color of their skin, facial features, or any aspect of a person apart from their character. It just does not make sense to me.
Furthermore, I cannot understand how the soccer leagues have gone on ignoring this behavior for so long. If the fans, players, and coaches do not have anyone setting an example or guidelines of what behavior is acceptable, they will not stop. While the soccer leagues have imposed guidelines upon coaches and players, there is still nothing to stop the fans. For the sake of a good match and the integrity of the game, I would have thought something would have been done with the upcoming World Cup being held in a South African country. South Africa has gone through so much turmoil between the races and I do not believe they need any factor fueling more hatred. The racism displayed during the soccer matches is surly displayed outside of the matches.
Soccer leagues across the globe should make proactive attempts at reducing racism. Team unity and spirit is important, but racist behavior should be discouraged. Any racist paraphernalia should be confiscated at the gates of the stadiums or during the game. Those who make racist comments or gestures should be thrown out of the stadium or fined. These guidelines and more should put into place universally. Racism in all forms needs to be stopped if not discouraged.
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This is incredible. I've always been under the impression that this sort of widespread behavior- mass displays of blatant racism– were basically stopped altogether, globally, or at the very least, in developed countries and continents, such as Europe.
Dr. Richards, you were right– that video was unnerving. I certainly feel that I am far less ignorant now of how prevalent and how big of a problem racism continues to be, globally, in this day and age. It's appalling– and to think that I thought we had it bad here in the United States! Ha!
Upon watching this video, I began to wonder, WHY do people find this sort of behavior tolerable at all today? In a world where people seem to always be preaching about the importance of diversity, world peace, and the cooperation of people across cultures, how anyone can see these displays of hate as okay, in any way, BLOWS MY MIND.
I guess, until now, it never occurred to me that racism occurs in countries other than the United States. Perhaps part of the reason was due to the fact that I have spent at least three-quarters of every year of my formal education so far- through grammar school and secondary school- learning about America's infamous relationship with hate against its minority populations. I learned about America's famous struggle with slavery and the emancipation of the said slaves, racial segregation, and, finally, its civil rights movement. To this day, I am still bombarded by statistics about minorities, disadvantaged people, prejudice, etcetera, etcetera. However, the only things I've heard about racism in, say, Europe, are about the persecution of the Jews by Nazis in the twentieth century and between neighboring European countries throughout history. Basically, I learned about American racism for twelve years or so, and about European racism for a chapter or two every other year or so. As a result, I have developed a skewed idea of where in the world racism is most prevalent and/or blatant.
Maybe another reason for my misconception could also be because it has also never occurred to me that other countries have high volumes of mixed races living in their population. Either way, this video has definitely showed me that I was very, very wrong.
I am now aware of exactly how many people of different races have crossed borders and diffused into other cultures, and exactly how much resistance a culture is capable of putting up. It’s a frightening thought that this is how people will react in order to keep progress or change at bay. Speaking of change, I still understand that America has a long way to go before we can safely say that equality has been reached among all of its racial groups, but this video is a testament to the amount of progress that we’ve made thus far. Right on. ☺
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Being a huge Soccer fan, I am well aware of the situation going on in Europe and the first thing that game to mind after watching this video was the idea of money. Soccer is without a doubt the most played and the most watched sport in the entire world. Every four years the entire planet has its eyes set on the coveted World Cup, and every family that can, watches or listens to every game played. Now, although I am extremely against the racism occurring in stadiums around Europe, this idea of money is crucial to understanding why it has not stopped. Europe has quickly become the place to go for talented Soccer players because of how much they invest in their teams. Every year, European clubs scout around for the greatest players from around the world to play for their team and dish out massive amounts of money to sign players. But where does this money come from? The fans. European fans have become very passionate about the game and are a huge source of revenue for European clubs thus if the FIFA were to regulate who could go to the stadiums, it would be extremely time consuming and the European League would lose a massive amount of revenue.
It does seem to be ironic and sad though, that although the fans love to see their clubs win, they cannot accept their players just because of the color of their skin. Many of the players on European teams come from places like South America or Africa and were it not for these players, their teams would most likely not win any games and these fans would have nothing to cheer for (if I could even say cheer, since a lot of fans simply degrade them). As Dr. Richards pointed out though, this video did actually get me thinking about racism in our country and I realized that unfortunately, it is going to take a lot of time before everyone in Europe adopts the same ideals regarding racism as the US. It took us centuries to get to where we are in terms of racism and apparently Europe still has some work to do. I can’t go as far as saying that Europe as a continent is racist because I’ve actually been to places like Italy and France and the people were far from racist but because these things still happen in stadiums, it is clear that not everyone is on the same page. Unfortunately, we can’t simply change everyone’s opinions so the only thing we could do is hope people learn to think differently and actually accept people, regardless of race.
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When I studied abroad in France last year, I went to a soccer game and I couldn't believe what I saw there, and it was exactly what was highlighted in this video. Even Penn State fans have nothing on European fans. The level of intensity they have is nothing short of amazing, but they way they choose to use that intense love and pride of their team is nothing short of terrible. As recently as last year, I have seen so much animosity towards players of different regions, skin colors, and backgrounds. I think that it's really interesting that in Europe, racism isn't really something that's a big deal, or something that many people view as a problem. That's not saying that every European is racist or even that they condone the things fans in the crowds are doing, but people have such a different mindset over there. I guess in a way, racism might not be as big of an issue as it is in the US because they didn't really go through the Civil Rights Movement. People, and the aristocrats, just kind of grew out of slavery and colonialism, and they never addressed the huge problems that go along with those political actions. People in the United States are hyper sensitive about racism, and I think that's why, to a large degree, we tend to be "politically correct" and skirt around the issue. Even though people here still understand racism is an issue, it's not on the front burner anymore. I don't think that people living in Europe and coming from European backgrounds have had that cultural sensitivity, and that's why those images and actions are so shocking to us, as Americans. But anyways, I digress. The main issue here, in my opinion, is the insensitivity and violence in the crowds that affects individuals in an international sport.
In the international community, we're all supposed to put aside our differences, forget who fought against who in what world war, and just play against each other as competitive humans. But it's impossible to be unbiased, and I think that bias is portrayed in the crowds. Like I said before, it's outrageous to us as Americans that that kind of racism exists today. Because let's face it, even here we have those ridiculous, rowdy fans (ahem maybe some Red Sox/Yankees fans?) who can be cruel and violent towards members of their 'rival' teams and even their fans. But to so brutally call one person out just because of the color of their skin? And its not just one person who makes these remarks, it can be an entire stadium. Sports are supposed to bring people of different backgrounds together as a way to enjoy and share something in common. But a big part of that is respect. And European fans portrayed in that video have a shocking lack of respect for other people and players.
The video is shocking, yes. There is an extreme level of hatred portrayed, and I completely agree with other comments in commending the players who have stood up, stopped the game, or simply said "this has to change". Because I agree, this has to change. I support whole heartedly the FIFA president's threat to essentially shut down the game of soccer until the situation gets better. But it's going to take a lot more than a threat like that to actually change people's mindsets and actions. Violence, whether physical or verbal, should simply not be tolerated. In my opinion, FIFA needs to do more than threaten their fans, they need to educate them. In this year, this decade, in our global society, there just is no place for racism and ignorance. I think this is a problem that probably needs to be solved, but in all likelihood, fans will keep shouting disrespectful and hurtful remarks. I can only hope that as individuals, they someday understand the pain and hurt they have caused others, and they are inspired to alter their behavior.
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I remember seeing this video about four years ago when it aired on ESPN. I remember watching it then and not thinking much of it because of my maturity level and my zero interest in soccer. But watching it again now, after maturing a lot and following soccer for the past couple years, it hits home pretty hard. The first thing that I can't comprehend is how people can treat other people like this just because of their race and skin color. I understand heckling the opposing team's players during the games to get into their heads and throw them off their game plans, it's done in every sport all over the world. Having home field/court/ice advantage is known by the sports world to be a benefit because you have the support and cheers of your fans in the background during the whole game. But what I don't understand is how people can treat other people like this. I do agree with heckling the other team, like i previously stated, but when it turns into throwing objects like bananas and peanuts at them and using racial derogatory terms throughout the whole game then it has to be stopped. Another thing I can't comprehend my mind around is that these players are the elite players in the league. If it wasn't for some of these players, some of the European teams would be nowhere near as successful as they are. And it's ridiculous how the home team fans disgrace their own players because of their color. Like i said, after following international soccer for the past couple years, i have realized how elite these players really are and how much they carry their teams, and for the home team fans to disgrace them like that makes absolutely no sense to me.
Even though I agree that these acts are horrific and need to be stopped immediately, I can see where the Europeans are coming from even if it isn't acceptable. First, the Europeans have been dominating soccer since it existed. Soccer, or futbol, has always been known as a European sport and never really caught on in the United States except for the past couple years. Now all these players from other parts of the world are coming over and taking over the game and completely dominating it. I see where this would frustrate the Europeans because it's like other people are coming over and just taking over THEIR sport, but that does not justify their horrific racial actions. Also, Europe has always been a white dominated country. Look back into history at the Holocaust and other horrific events that took place in Europe. Even today it is still a very white populated continent, and now people are not only coming over from other countries with different racial backgrounds but they are coming over and dominating the European sport. Overall I do see where the Europeans are coming from and how this would upset them tremendously, but no matter what that does not justify the events that take place at soccer games and they need to be ceased immediately.
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I knew that the fans of European “football” were incredibly intense, however I didn’t know how racist some of them are. I’m sure this video doesn’t apply to all of the fans that attend the soccer games, but it is still far too many people. I’m surprised by the fact that this level of racism exists in Europe, but I’m not necessarily surprised that it occurs in the soccer stadiums. It caught me off guard mostly because I’ve never been exposed to that sort of display in that atmosphere. I have no doubt that athletes are subject to criticism and being put down all over the world, including here in the United States, but athletes of that caliber should receive much more praise than negative feedback.
I think it is terrible that the players of the game are subject to these actions from the fans of the game, especially since they’re some of the best players in the world without doubt. It’s great though, that Nike teamed up with the players to put out that ad in which they reached out to the fans to stand up against racism, since to that point that authorities had done nothing. That is another thing that I think is a bit out of hand, that the authorities did nothing to stop what was going on. I would also think that the other players would come together in support of each other like some did, but others like the striker on the Roman team that sent racist symbols back to the crowd is ridiculous to me. I would think that people on the field and off would be glad to have players of such caliber to elevate the game.
The actions FIFA has taken, with the team penalization for racist acts, is a very good step in the right direction, however if it doesn’t apply to the fans then there is still a large portion of the problem still at hand. It’s definitely a plus though that they are taking steps in dealing with what is going on, by deducting points from teams that partake in racist acts. It is a daunting task to figure something out to be able to monitor fans during the games and to have enough security there to handle to large crowds that take part in these actions. Let alone come up with a way to enforce penalties on teams whose fans are being racist during the games. I know all of these things took place 4 years ago, but there is another World Cup coming up and hopefully this time around they can make some headway in stopping this atrocious behavior so that the players can focus less on the off field challenges they face and more on the game they’re paid to play.
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I remember seeing this video about four years ago when it aired on ESPN. I remember watching it then and not thinking much of it because of my maturity level and my zero interest in soccer. But watching it again now, after maturing a lot and following soccer for the past couple years, it hits home pretty hard. The first thing that I can't comprehend is how people can treat other people like this just because of their race and skin color. I understand heckling the opposing team's players during the games to get into their heads and throw them off their game plans, it's done in every sport all over the world. Having home field/court/ice advantage is known by the sports world to be a benefit because you have the support and cheers of your fans in the background during the whole game. But what I don't understand is how people can treat other people like this. I do agree with heckling the other team, like i previously stated, but when it turns into throwing objects like bananas and peanuts at them and using racial derogatory terms throughout the whole game then it has to be stopped. Another thing I can't comprehend my mind around is that these players are the elite players in the league. If it wasn't for some of these players, some of the European teams would be nowhere near as successful as they are. And it's ridiculous how the home team fans disgrace their own players because of their color. Like i said, after following international soccer for the past couple years, i have realized how elite these players really are and how much they carry their teams, and for the home team fans to disgrace them like that makes absolutely no sense to me.
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Wow this video has truly made me appreciate how far the United States has come in regard to race relations. In America we are constantly talking about race and all the inequality that exists but I’m proud of the fact the actions I witnessed in the video would not be accepted by most people in the U.S. Although there is inequality in our culture, I think it would be taboo to go to a NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB game and hear fans screaming or displaying such racist things. Even to have a coach videotaped saying any kind of racial slur would be denounced and I’m sure it would result in a lot more than just a $ 5,000 fine.
It amazes me how the men in the video such as, Carlos Kameni or Thierry Henry are considered some of the best soccer players in the league but they are treated like dirt. The fact that is has taken so long for anyone to step in and enforce any regulations basically makes me feel that these Black players were seen possessions and not humans. They were good enough to play, win games, and get money for the team but they weren’t important enough to get the respect they deserved. At this point I think this situation has gotten so bad in Europe that it would be extremely difficult to make any significant change in the behavior.
I ‘m honestly amazed at how long these players were able to maintain their composure during this extreme discrimination. I don’t think I would be able to focus on a game with all of those distractions around me. They endure so much and it took them a while to even get to a point where they don’t want to play anymore. It may not even be that bad if it were just the fans from the opposing team but it’s their own fans that are launching racial slurs at their African American players. What makes this situation so horrible is that there isn’t a large number of African Americans in these European countries , so it is very difficult for them to come together to create some kind of social change movement.
A main factor in why race relations in the U.S. have come so far is because African Americans in the country were able to create a social movement and gain social awareness of the issue. I’m so proud that the U.S is more accepting of other races but it saddens me that it will probably take a long time for in kind of change to happen in Europe. I hope that one day Europe will be able to experience social change movement and make some serious changes in regards to race.
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This video and post is really an amazing wake up call. You would think that people outside of the United States have progressed in terms of racism, but it seems this is not true. The clip spells it out plainly that there have not been any anti-racism movements in Europe solely due to the lack of various races. Its almost sad when you think that there still exists a fair amount of racism in our country, when in fact it is even worse in Europe.
What is also interesting is the fact that although these players are superstar athletes in the most beloved sport in Europe, they are still subject to so much hate. I can not say that this is entirely true, but I feel like a lot of the progression found in the diminishing racism in the US stems from the respect and praise of many black athletes. They are heroes and role models to many white Americans, and I feel like this has aided to combat a lot of the racism black Americans used to be subject to. I am surprised it is not the same across the pond.
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I had no clue that racism was still so big in Europe. I knew that soccer fans are were really extreme fans. But i don't get what waving a nazi flag has anything to do with cheering and supporting your team. Im a huge sports fan. I watch all sports and sportscenter is practically my life. And i seriously had no clue that this issue of racism was so prevalent in soccer. Im glad that this type of activity doesn't happen in our american sports because it would really turn me off to sports. And i must say that this does turn me off to watching and following soccer. Because those europeans are so crazy! Im still going to watch the world cup. And i hope none of this occurs during this worldwide broadcasted tournament. Because then the world will become aware that europeans are still racist. I strongly believe that these stadiums should get more security to ensure that these types of things do not happen. Because its very unnecessary and it should definitely not be tolerated. They should also make sure that they view any signs that fans may bring into the stadium. Just to make sure that there isn't anything that could offend any other fans in the stadium. i also think that air horns should not be allowed in the stadium. Because they distract the players on the field and is annoying to hear when your trying to watch and enjoy the game. Soccer is probably my least favorite sport. But i still watch it once in a while. And knowing that this occurs during games makes me want to watch it less. Because i feel like the fans don't have any respect for the game. They need to find a way to ban these people from entering the stadium again. Because they encourage other people who have there same beliefs to do the same when they attend games. I also think that the spanish coach that called the black player a monkey was disrespectful. I thought he should have gotten a harsher punishment for what he did. They never mention on the games on tv watch the fans are chanting and now i know why. Because the fans are degrading the black players. They don't judge them by there talent like they should. Instead they judge them by there appearance. I hope that somehow they can bring a stop to this. If this ever happened here in the United States this problem would have been addressed already. And i'm very surprised that the europeans have not tried to address this problem yet. They should really consider to fix this soon. Because the number of black players playing soccer could probably begin to decrease. I know i wouldnt want to take this abuse if i was a player. So im sure that they dont appreciate it either.
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This really reminds me of American football because of the Washington Redskins. I mean we completely seem to forget our past. The Native American way of being was completely destroyed by European dominance. They destroyed them because they didn't "cultivate the land" but in fact, the way they used the land was more proper than the way the Europeans believed they should have. It's sickening after this murderous act that we make teams called the "Redskins". This reminds me of how the Europeans created these racial slurs. I don't understand why sports teams believe that it is okay to use racial terms as their mascots. I think it is sickening and I wouldnt want a team to be called something based off of my race or religion.
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One part of this video that really interested me was my own reaction to Samuel Eto’os treatment in the league. I’ve played FIFA (a top 10 video game for Playstation 3 and one of the more popular sports games) and find him to be one of my favorite players. When I was playing though, not once did I think of him as being black or look at him any differently than anyone else on the field, I just played the game. It’s amazing to see the alternate reaction that these fans display towards someone as they have not yet as a culture looked at him as an equal. They’re refuse to be satisfied to have such a talent on their team as his own fans chastise him for reasons not concerning futbol.
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This is truly unbelievable. It is a shame to see how other countries have not been able to look past people of different color. Although the black population in Europe is low compared to that of the United States, there should no excuse for displaying such behavior. A lot of countries look up to America as a model for freedom and opportunity yet show no progression in regards to diversity. Although racism still occurs in the United States, for example, opposed to President Barack Obama, their measures are not as extreme as those in Europe. This act gives Europe a bad name. Would an American of color really want to go to Europe for a vacation after watching a hoard of fans racially taunt players? Probably not.
This year, the World Cup will be held in South Africa, which only a few years ago was apartheid, a system of racism enacted by the government. This will truly be a test to see if European fans will be able to conduct themselves in appropriate manner toward African-American player. The idea of shutting down the stadium for racial acts needs to be strictly enforced. If fans are really that passionate about the sport, they would be able control their behavior to enjoy the experience of watching the game.
It seems that the president of FIFA was all talk. It has been four years since his remarks and little has changed. Many Europeans do not view this as an issue. Some may just say that it is only a problem within a few number of people and that they don’t represent Europe as a whole. But seriously, how could they just let that go? People need to open their eyes and see that this type of abuse has led people to fight each other for years and years. Do they not understand the emotion that fills the minds of the abused? They need to place themselves in the shoes of the racially abused. They need to know what it feels like to be singled out for being of a different race. A man should be respected for their skills and significance in society, not tormented by words sharper than a dagger.
I have dealt with racism a good number of times as a teenager. I would walk down the streets of Philadelphia and have a random douche bag yell the word “CHIIIIIINK!” as he is driving by. I would also have some people ask me to cook them some “fly lice” (fried rice). Can you believe that shit? I’m not even Chinese, I am Indonesian for pete’s sake! I actually have very large eyes for an Asian. But hey, at least it’s not as bad as it is in Europe. Something really needs to done there. Thanks to this video, I won’t be going to Europe anytime soon.
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Wow. As a soccer player and fan, and as an American, I am stunned from this video. I'll be honest, my parents and I really idolize European soccer and their fans. Over there, so much heart and devotion is put into the sport. Soccer is the most popular sport there, and runs peoples lives like football or basketball teams generally do here. We always admire how passionate the fans there are, and how talented the players are. And then we look at American league (I am a Galaxy fan though), and are disappointed. However, I am NOT disappointed in the way we treat our players. This is wrong. Not only is it wrong to taunt and demean people in general, but also players of your own team? Those talented people who are a part of the wins and losses that your life revolves around? It's not right, and makes me definitely rethink my admiration of European soccer. EVERYONE deserves respect.
I do admire the amazing players who put up with this. Henry is such an awesome player, and I really admire him for stepping up to do something about the racism that exists in European soccer. I hope that there are more commercials and information out about stopping the racism, because people NEED to be informed. I can't even imagine if something like that were to occur here at a football or basketball or soccer game. Yes, there is a lot of bashing on opposing teams, but it's not heard of to verbally abuse players because of their race. Nobody deserves that.
I think the man had a good point about what it is such a big deal to be taunted about your race, when compared to being called fat. People have DIED because of this issue, and because of others' discrimination. This is abusing someone's culture, who they are, but based on what the look like. While they are out there playing the game they love, and that everyone in the stadium loves as well.
I find my admiration for European soccer diminishing on some part; yes, I love the teams, the talent, the passion, and the devotion. But European fans and soccer need to take a lesson from America in treating people equally with respect. Although sometimes it may seem like we have a way to go with racial issues here, stories like this show me how grateful I am that we have come so far already.
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Wow, I cannot believe this is real. Soccer is the biggest, most played sport in the world hence the name “WORLD Cup.” How can people do this? I thought we were past this ignorant stage. From my own experience I do feel like Europeans exert that they are better than anyone else. I have no idea why but I’m sure it’s not everyone so I’m sorry if I offend anyone.
According to this video even the Spanish people are acting in this manner. I have both Spanish and Indigenous ancestors and I am offended by these incidents. I’m Spanish but I’m not “white” looking, I’m a Mestizo, does this make me orange like was said in the video? I still speak Spanish, not Castellano, but it’s still Spanish and if we can understand each other we must both be human.
Ronaldo and Beckham are completely different shades of skin color but does that determine their talent for the game? NO! Their skills and love for the game can determine that and only that. Both of these men are phenomenal players. One of the best teams in the world is Brazil whose players are practically all black. This has not stopped them from winning the World Cup Games.
These incidents just make Europeans look like ignoramuses. It seems to me that the once most “civilized and developed” region of the world is falling behind. Not for technology or economically but in terms of education and diversification. I think a bunch of black, brown, orange, yellow, purple, green, red, and turquoise people should immediately immigrate to Europe and see how they handle this. There are so many different colors of people in the world, I do not think that in a thousand years there will be any white people left, everyone is going to mix!
Something should be done about this. Fans should be escorted out if they display such behavior and be fined a great amount. If these acts are repetitive by the same people, they just should not be allowed entrance to these games. Sports events are meant to be enjoyed by people. If these ignoramuses are present the game will not be enjoyable for anyone.
I am a soccer player as well and I love the sport. I love watching the World Cup Games but I’ve never seen any form of racism in any of the games I’ve watched. I played soccer in high school with Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian people. My high school is very diverse and everyone seems to get along just fine but there will always exist the sense of superiority in a person, whether it is for their skin tone or for the material things they own. However these racism taunts are unacceptable.
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It is no surprise to me that racism like this is occurring in Europe against people of color playing sports. There is not a large African/Black population in Europe and no real civil rights movement. This is the first that I have ever heard of Black players being discriminated against in Europe. I do not know how they FIFA plans to stop it from happening it is near impossible. There is no way to truly penalize people for what the do in the stands besides giving points to the other team. You are talking about a stadium full of rowdy, drunk, and unruly fans that can and will use violence at any given moment. It's not like here in the United States were security can escort you from the stadium and people are glad to see you leave, these people who are shouting these racist chants and throwing bananas out on field seem to have support from the crowd.
I feel really bad for the players, because I played sports all my life, and have been called a nigger a bitch and every other foul name in the book by parents and players alike. The only words of encouragement that coaches could possibly offer you is to ignore it, and stay in the game. It's hard to not to retaliate and take action. These guys that are being called names are the best in world at what they do, and they have dedicated their life to the game and still get no respect for the strides they have made in their careers. FIFA should give the Black players extra security and the players need to give support the their players of color. Coaches also need to be reprimanded and fired for advocating racism. It just brings down the morale of the team and gives a bad reputation to the sport of soccer. It is a shame that the world still cannot overcome racism even in the 21st century.
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To most people this might be surprising that stiff like this still happens and that people are still so openly racist, but for me this isn't surprising at all. Being African American and growing up in America, I can't say that I have been subjected to any racism recently but I am taught to be aware that it is out there. With that being said no I don't think that all white people are racist or just dislike blacks but I am aware that racism is alive and well. Although the fans and coaches acting this way doesn't surprise me what does is the fact that the soccer league actually accepts these actions and doesn't try harder to stop fans like this or at least stop them from doing such racist things.
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By watching this video it becomes clear just how far our own country has come to combat racism. I feel like if that happened in the U.S it would not be tolerated. It's hard to imagine that people can be so narrow minded and evil in this world still after all that we have conquered in the fight for equality, but I guess that we forget that other countries did not go through the same course of action as America. Some people just can't get it through their thick skull that NO one is lesser than them in any form of the word.
All that these players are trying to do is play the game that they love so much and entertain their fans. If they have to hear these comments the whole time how do their fans expect them to play as good as they are capable of? Don't these people see that they are not only hurting the players they are attacking but the sport as a whole? When information like this gets back to other fans of soccer it starts to shed bad light on the sport and the fans that follow it.
I would understand completely if they walked off the field, who wants to be called names the whole time they play? Words have such a profound effect on us and they can stay with us for a lifetime. When someone repeats something to a person again and again they start to believe its true and Europe cannot let this happen to its players. It was smart that the players being attacked did the commercial because this shows the fans (and the racists) that they are not willing to sit idly by while their character and self is demoralized. They are trying to make the whole sport happier and safer for all players involved. I hope it would work but so many have certain mentalities ingrained in their minds that it takes a lot to break the cycle of racism.
Its good the FIFA is trying to do something about it but they are not penalizing the fans which is mostly the ones taunting the players. The president of FIFA said that if he got wind of any racist remarks at the games that he would close the World Cup. But who does this hurt, the racist fans, or the players themselves? It seems like they are targeting the wrong people because by closing the cup the team is the ones who will suffer the most.
Hopefully Europe learns from these mistakes and in the future can have sporting events where the love of the game and the players is the main attraction, not the hate.
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I don't even know if I can find four hundred and fifty words to say about that video. Appalling does not even begin to describe my feelings toward it. It is completely normal and natural to argue with others, even to disagree and dislike some individuals, however, the utter hatred these fans have displayed for these players absolutely blows my mind.
Why do some people feel this way? Why is there such hatred in the world? I often wonder if we are born with these strong feelings; and if we are, why is that so? If we were created by a "perfect" god in his "perfect" image, wouldn't it make sense for us to be happy and loving? Why does skin color matter so much? I understand that once the Europeans traveled to Africa they were made aware of different races and ethnicities, but what made them feel superior to these new, darker skinned people? What if Africans had sailed north and enslaved the whites of Europe? Whites would no longer be the skin color of choice, but considered as weak, fragile, and worthless.
Sometimes I'm led to believe that people with that kind of hatred in their hearts really in fact don't even have one.
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I had some friends who were originally from Europe including several different countries. They told me how large soccer was in comparison to football and how the fans get rowdy if not more than American football stadiums have. What he didn't inform me was about the far right wing groups that attend these different events. After watching the movie it is disturbing to say that I did not think that there was much racism in Europe but it was clarified that there has been no kind of civil rights movement in the European cultures unlike America. I thought that the players responded naturally to that kind of insult when tossing bananas on the field or the one coach comparing talking down to a player to say that he would "give it to the black" I thought it was a little unnerving but I found that the president of FIFA did have a good objective on how to view and control the crowd so that the World Cup would be brought back up to a respectable status with the inclusion of highly diverse fans. I think penalizing the fans was a good idea as well as the team and coaches with them, The cutting of of world cup teams from one area based on their fans seemed a little harsh because you can't blame the players for their fans but I see that the fans should have the best interests of the teams they love so that would ultimately even out the problem of hooligans in the stadiums.
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Soccer may be the most popular sport in the world and some may title it “The Beautiful Game”, but the fans of these teams especially in Europe, lack a respect for the game that nearly all American sports have. In American sports there is little or none fan to athlete interaction. There is of course jeering and taunting, and possibly even a few off colored racist remarks, but those few do not go unnoticed. Racism is in no way accepted by American sports teams, and therefore even small instances are taken seriously when it comes to discipline. Baseball, basketball, and football are the major sports in the United States, and although people shout and make fun of the players race does not usually come into play. In European soccer leagues many non-white players are ridiculed and taunted because of the color of their skin. Even the best players in the world are taunted because of skin color. The United States, when compared to other countries is not as racist as it may seem to be, but it is more diverse. Since people in the United States have been exposed to such a diverse group of people different from them, they are more aware that there is no dominant or all mighty race. In Europe, if you do not have the same color skin as everyone else you are not normal and abnormal things are “bad”. People in the United States do not cast out people of another color. This is a very serious problem that severely needs to be addressed. Thierry Henry is one of the best soccer players in the world, and since his skin color is different than most in Europe, he is heckled and taunted and jeered. He is not the only player that is suffering from these situations, there are many and many more. Thierry is taking steps to remove this racism from soccer around the world. If more and more prominent sports stars promote equality of race around the world then conditions will improve. Thierry cannot be the only person willing to put himself out there for the cause. There needs to be white, black, brown, red, yellow, people of all different races and colors in a joined effort against racism. There have been some rules put in place by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) which fines players and coaches for making racist comments. This is a small step to make soccer a safer and more respected sport. I know that the United States is not always the best place to look when it comes to advice regarding racism, but in this case it is.
I am not saying that sports should get rid of taunting opposing teams players, but I am saying that race should have nothing to do with that taunt.
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Being a somewhat avid soccer fan, at least for an American (go Chelsea!), I have seen this clip on SportsCenter before and I am not surprised by the amount of racism in the world of soccer. Soccer fans in the UK, Spain, Italy, and elsewhere cannot be compared to your typical sports fan in the United States. These people, many working class, live and die by their soccer teams. Each team even has gangs that deliberately fight one another to defend the honor of their team. People have died during riots in the stands, fans have been stabbed, et cetera. I have read several comments comparing drunk American fans to European soccer fans, and that is comparing two entirely different animals.
Now, this is not to say that I condone the extreme stance that a small minority of soccer fans in Europe take in regards to their teams. I needed to point out that the culture of soccer is far different and far more extreme than the culture of any sport in the United States, but one could only know by closely following the sport.
There are many factors that contribute to the amount of racism found in soccer. First, it being far and away the primary sport of both Europe and the world, soccer is everything to its fans. Second, there has in the past few decades been an influx of players from racially diverse backgrounds. This has been difficult on many of the working class whites who have limited economic opportunities. It reaches even beyond soccer. There have been many countries making news when riots break out in their streets over racial tensions.
The worst part of the situation is the players and respectful fans get the worst of it all. The fans who come to watch the game, cheer on their team, chant with the rest of the fans, and then leave to go home, have a pint, whatever, have to be associated with the minority who make them all look bad. The players also do not deserve to be treated in such a terrible way. Oguchi Onyewu, a centerback for the United States national team and Italian Serie A team Milan, has been punched in the face by a fan before because of the color of his skin. Especially for the non-white American players, I can imagine it would be extremely difficult, given the relative conservatism of American sports fans when compared to European soccer fans, for them to focus while playing in Europe with all the associated drama.
Unfortunately, this has been a problem for quite some time. I sincerely wish it was not but the European soccer governing bodies have a lot of work to do to stem the amount of racism associated with the sport. They may not believe this is possible or they simply may not care.
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It is pretty sad that these type of things are still going on in the world today. Its pretty pathetic. I can only imagine how those players feel. They say sticks and stones may brake my bones but words will never hurt me but sometimes words can be very hurtful. The fact that the government or any authority didn't try to do anything about this situation just shows how ruthless those people are. After the civil rights movement here in the state you would think that people will get the hang of it and try and brush racism off.
I would have never been able to play under such circumstances. With people screaming out all types of slurs and derogatory words. There's only so much a person can take. They complain about Americans but this just shows how behind some places are when it comes to accepting other peoples cultures. I recently saw my cousin who lives in Europe and he was telling me how racist some Europeans are and they are so open about it. He told me that the way he grew up he didn't see black, white, Dominican, Arab, or any other race. It was basically white or you where part of the few minorities.
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I had some friends who were originally from Europe including several different countries. They told me how large soccer was in comparison to football and how the fans get rowdy if not more than American football stadiums have. What he didn't inform me was about the far right wing groups that attend these different events. After watching the movie it is disturbing to say that I did not think that there was much racism in Europe but it was clarified that there has been no kind of civil rights movement in the European cultures unlike America. I thought that the players responded naturally to that kind of insult when tossing bananas on the field or the one coach comparing talking down to a player to say that he would "give it to the black" I thought it was a little unnerving but I found that the president of FIFA did have a good objective on how to view and control the crowd so that the World Cup would be brought back up to a respectable status with the inclusion of highly diverse fans. I think penalizing the fans was a good idea as well as the team and coaches with them, The cutting of of world cup teams from one area based on their fans seemed a little harsh because you can't blame the players for their fans but I see that the fans should have the best interests of the teams they love so that would ultimately even out the problem of hooligans in the stadiums.
Singling out players of different cultural backgrounds seems unfair to those of the sport I guess that the fans would not be so crazy even if their own home team has that of a different color on their team that they would learn to embrace him, even if he is a good or better player than most would want or hope for. But sadly that option for them is no, I do not really understand why the fans would react in such a way to become so crazy. I thought that the rules were stricter that some banners could not be taken in, such as those long ones that were offensive against the blacks, it seems like there would be some sort of security to claim or take things that would be too disruptive or that could be used in the wrong manner. It seems like if they improved some sort of security such as have things visible and nothing too large to be brought in would limit these kind of incidents but there is no excuse why some people would call a player on their team anything discriminatory. That is just bad thinking.
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This video was absolutely appalling to say the least. I was completely blown away at the fact that people still behaved in such a thoughtless and bigoted manner. That, of course, is what I think after 22 years of life in the United States. I can still remember, though, when I was only a 4th grader at Greenberg Elementary School, a public grade school in Philadelphia. Going to Greenberg was a wonderful experience, it was rich with culture due to the several ethnicities that populated the school. The distinct memory I have from 4th grade involved an Indian peer. For the most part we were friends, but on this day we got in a fight during recess. We were pushing and insulting each other, pretty harmless at the time. After a while we were broken up and to make sure I got the last word in about the situation, I said to him, “Go back to your own country!” He simply responded, “This is my country.” At that time in the United States, political correctness was not as widespread and forceful as it is now, but I still think about that moment as if it happened yesterday. Through my next few years, I experienced a wealth of different cultures, forged many friendships with those who were different from me, and was simply educated to the ways of the world.
To watch this video after all that I’ve experienced and learned in my life was disturbing and saddening. In the United States, it is very typical for fans of one team to despise the players of an opposing team. In the US, though, this contempt rarely escalates to anything too serious. I simply cannot understand how “fans” of a sport can victimize other human beings even when these people are on the team they are rooting for. I am a white male, and I completely recognize and realize that. I have a black roommate who has an Indian girlfriend. I can honestly say that I do not see them as a black person and an Indian person, I simply see them as people. The fact that these people cannot see past the color of someone’s skin and use that as fuel to harass and taunt them simply shows me that they are poorly educated. I am not trying to act as if I am the most cultured fellow in the world, because I’m not, but you do not have to be cultured to realize that all people are living, breathing, emotional beings. Everyone laughs, everyone cries, everyone feels. The fact that grown men and women cannot understand that sickens me. My only hope is that FIFA sticks to their guns and has a zero tolerance policy when it comes time for the World Cup.
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This video was shocking to me. Apparently I am oblivious to the happenings of the world because I did not know any of these racist ordeals even happened. I have heard of fans of one team fighting the fans of another, but that is just team rivalry. I never knew people were so concerned with the color of the team's skin or where a team member came from. The video does make a point that there aren't many black Europeans, so the fight against racism isn't as prevalent as it is in America. These racist events are tolerated in Europe because there isn't enough people against racism over there as there is here. It isn't right but it does make sense.
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Growing up as an Asian American in Pennsylvania, I never truly felt that out of place. Then after I moved back to Asia because of my parents’ jobs, I felt out of place. People treated me differently because I hadn’t grown up in Taiwan, didn’t dress the same way, or speak the way they did. Was this racism? No. I looked a little different but I was essentially their people. Living in Asia slowly brought me to many different areas of revelation.
Firstly, I realized how people view people from other nations. It is not that people hate different people, but that they are afraid. They are afraid to learn new customs, afraid to approach the differences, and afraid to face people who they don’t see everyday. I just wanted to be treated the same. Every time I went out to shop, eat, or visit a new place, people would ask me where I was from and I would be labeled as an “ABC.” ABC is American born Chinese, and I just accepted this title. However, thinking back on this, I believe that this was a form of racism, not based on race, but culturally.
I often wondered why I was labeled and seen as an outsider when I was obviously Asian. I started spending time outside my American school life and tried to make friends with the locals. I tried to understand their way of thinking and what I could do to fit in better. I spent more time learning how to speak their language well and one day it just hit me: racism is nothing more than a term made to hurt people.
There really is no such thing as racism. However, people are always afraid of things they are not used to and essentially push those things away at first. Racism is the product of people being too selfish to open their eyes and experiences the different things in the world. Is this not why the world is so amazing and multifaceted in the first place? We spend so much time trying to make new products to make more money to spend on other products and travel to new places. Unfortunately, we often never open our hearts to understanding different people that exist right next to us. Only at times of need do we help people of other nations, but I believe there is a way to help those around us from different nations every day. If you just smile and let the people around you feel welcome, I’m sure they will appreciate it.
People will always push away things that they are unfamiliar with. They will always stick to people like them because they can relate. I’m not saying finding people you can relate to is a bad thing, but giving other people a shot is what makes our world a better place. In other words, racism is a selfish product and we are all people. Everyone should give it a rest.
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I was shocked when I watched the ESPN segment about racism and soccer in Europe. I had no idea that European soccer fans treated players in this way. Sam is right, it really does show the strides that America has made in becoming multi-cultural and accepting all races. While we may not live in a country where everyone loves each other and all races get along, at least we don’t live in one where fans throw bananas at African soccer players. It shows that there is still deep racism in those countries. Here you have these soccer players, often global superstars, being treated like scum. For fans to come into the player’s home stadium and treat him this way is appalling. Can you imagine if Steelers fans went to Lincoln Financial and harassed an Eagles player like Donovan McNabb this way? It’s almost unthinkable in the America we live in. While fans here may make the occasional catcall or witty remark about a player, very rarely do their taunts contain so much hate like those of the European fans. You have to wonder why nothing has ever been done to cause these people to be more accepting of other races. Even though this issue is brought to people’s attention because of its relation to soccer, it still runs much deeper and beyond sports.
In the 20th century, with the increase in worldwide connection and globalization, how can “advanced” countries in Europe still treat people from other countries this way? The United States used to be the same way, until the Civil Rights movement shed light on the issue of racism and discrimination. Have countries like Italy and Spain, where these games took place, not had the same movement? Perhaps the reason for this is that the population disparity may be much greater between white and black people in these countries than it is in the United States. Therefore, these minorities may never have gotten the chance to gain a voice and push for fair treatment. Maybe there are such historical views towards other races that these people like the soccer fans don’t know any other way and think it is all right to behave like this towards other people.
It is somewhat comforting to know that, even though there are still people who have racist views in our country, we are above the behavior seen from the soccer fans in this video. It shows that we are taking steps in the right direction toward the wishes of minority leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who hoped one day there would be racial equality. On the flip side, it is disappointing that there are still countries like Italy and Spain, considered some of the most developed and wealthy in the world, where citizens treat not only soccer players, but minorities in general with this kind of harassment and hate.
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This video was very sad. But it was evening more revealing and completely eye-opening. I will admit to how ignorant I was of this racism going on in the world. I personally don't even know or could possibly imagine how to be handling that situation. I give them so much credit for focusing on the game but the joy they get out of it overcomes that hate. But there's always going to be a breaking point and I don't blame these players for leaving the game. They have to be just so hurt and have to get away from all the negative noise.
I'm so happy with Seth's view on future FIFA games and the consequences of unethical behavior. He's so right when he says, "If in this World Cup, with all the educational work we are doing now and we still have that, then something is wrong in our society and I don't know where we have to go." Amazing. I couldn't have said it better myself, with or without the accent.
The ultimate penalty? Loss of 3 points to the team that players are from who exhibit racism? What will that solve? Nothing. Like he said in the video, people don't know what's going to happen. There could be fans purposely trying to ruin the enjoyment of the sport. I think the penalty should be greater and more drastic. I think that if any racism is seen at these games, the games should be ended immediately. End of story. In my opinion, I think that will definitely help ignorant people open their eyes because they'll have to if they would like to continue experiencing the joy of going to a World Cup soccer game. Also, I obviously believe that huge fines should be placed under certain team's associations who exhibit racist behavior. I mean, COME ON! The World Cup is one of the very few things that bring's our whole planet together. Why do people consistently push for negative objectives?
I also thing it's just going to have to come will time. And I know that's obvious in a way but it's true. How people were raised is also a huge part of it as well because when you're growing up and you've got racist parents you get it embedded in your mind that it's "okay" to act racist. Everything always take SOME time, but after seeing that video I feel that Europe is completely headed in the wrong direction if the racism continues to be handled with a lackluster effort.
Andy Warhol said it best: "I think that everyone should like everyone." It's ambitious, yes extremely ambitious, but I just enjoy the thought because it would lead to such fewer problems, i know it! Okay, I don't really know but i have a good feeling? ha ha
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I think that it is shocking to see how much of an impact racism had in European soccer. I couldn't help but think that the racism i just saw was at a sports event. All over the world you see fathers taking their children to watch their favorite team play, but to be honest i would never go to a game with an environment like that let alone expose my children to it. Being a HUGE soccer fan i can say that now FIFA has taken control of the situation and has placed very strong penalties which has almost wiped out racism in sports. Whats is shocking to me is although the racism has stopped on the field, it does not mean that it has stopped in the country or in the area where the team fans came from.
In the clip i heard one of the presenters saying something like " what is taboo in the US, simply isnt in europe", I do not agree. The whole stadium was not filled with racist people and there are more fans who were there to watch the game and not chant racist things . Just because those people are stupid racists, it does not mean that a bigger percentage are against racism and are condemning them at the stadiums or at home.
My favorite soccer player in the world is Thierry Henry. He is black and plays for France and i find it pretty crazy that he had to make an anti racism campaign because the officials were not able to control it themselves.
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First off i would definitely have to say that this video was appalling! Although it may have been four years ago.. like Sam Richards not much has changed! I must say that i am shocked that this is even going on. Yet it shines light as to how uninformed i was as to the situation in europe. This has got to be completely the most disgusted i have felt in a very long time. The racial slurs of the fans has me a bit confused as to how they can degrade their own team players. Because of the color of their skin? Are you freaking kidding me!? just the mere thought of the comments and slurs that may be said during these games has me really shaken. Here in america we see racism in a totally different way. I feel that we have a sense of boundary that obviously Europeans do not have! They are definitely more vocal as to how they feel! yes it is true many people can argue freedom of speech, yet their not in america! Not even us Americans speak that freely now in 2010!
What has me a bit uneasy has to be what Sam Richards posted on the blog, that this is their response to the (white) people afraid of losing their culture? EXCUSE ME!? Afraid of what!? This has to be the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. becuase you are afraid of losing your culture, although you are the majority of the population because of a few darker skinned people your afraid that they are going to take your culuture? PLEASE… that makes no sense. and it saddens me to know that people even across the world still have this view of what someone should be known as becuase of the color of their skin?
these racial slurs, with monkeys and show him your better than he is? What is this!? A coach getting a player pumped up by putting the players own teammate down with that!? this goes to show you that although we as americans are making progress not everyone else is!
i truly feel sad for those players who have to endure this type of discrimination. I couldnt even imagine the anger and frustration i would feel if i were to be in that situation. these actions can NOT be justified. although we all know that even racism exists in our own country the level that it is portrayed in this video is frustrating and sickening!!! It relieves me to know that these players also are taking a stand on this situation. and for those who say that they shouldnt be in that situation and should leave! NO! that is their job their passion! NOONE should have to stop doing something they love because of the color of their skin! Put yourself in those shoes and have someone tell you to back down becuase you are not the right "color of skin" to pull off whatever it is you are attempting to do!
We can only hope that this level of racism dies out! Yet that may be asking to much.. i do hope that there will be continuous action against this repulsive action from the fans!
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I feel that this is complete bull shit honestly. People need to realize that everyone and anyone is capable of playing a sport or being a teacher or being a person of ANYTHING they want to be. It is ridiculous to know that the world is still so against different races doing the same thing that "white" people can do. What is the difference? We all have the things on the inside the only thing that is different is what we "see." All people need to do is put our situation here on this world to a crayon in a box of crayons. No one is the exact same but they all fit perfectly together in the box. There are no rules to what colors can be next to other colors. They all just fit in there and do nothing. I know that they are just objects and have no sense of mind or feelings or whatever but at the same time, we ourselves are just objects on this world. People need to just live their lives and not worry about other people.
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I also think that it’s kind of ridiculous that FiFA will only penalize players or coaches who engage in racist activities, but not the fans? The fans are the ones who are mostly engaging in racist acts so why doesn’t it apply to them? I think that the best way to try to begin to fix this problem is through education at an early age. I find it extremely important to introduce school programs that discuss tolerance and acceptance of different races discussing so that these problems will hopefully show less in later generations.
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What’s so sad to me is that acclaimed soccer players such as Thierry Henry are being insulted instead of praised for their talent. I couldn’t believe when Luis Aragones was insulting Henry to aggravate his players. I don’t think fining him is enough. He doesn’t deserve to be the coach of the national Spanish team. Someone who is the coach of a national soccer and who has to deal with all groups of people should be tolerant. I can’t believe that he’s still insisting that there is no problem. I’m sorry but if he wants to “bother” his players he needs to find another way to do that.
I also think that it’s kind of ridiculous that FiFA will only penalize players or coaches who engage in racist activities, but not the fans? The fans are the ones who are mostly engaging in racist acts so why doesn’t it apply to them? I think that the best way to try to begin to fix this problem is through education at an early age. I find it extremely important to introduce school programs that discuss tolerance and acceptance of different races discussing so that these problems will hopefully show less in later generations.
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It amazes me that there is still this kind of racism in the 21st century. Watching the video I wondered what would happen if these kinds of clearly racist displays occured in the U.S. First off if there was someone yelling racial slurs and giving the nazi salute against a player of the opposing team, the last people they would need to worry about was stadium security. Rather, I think that in a U.S. stadium fans of the other team would be so disturbed and angry toward anyone talking bad about their team let alone calling out an individual player for the color of their skin that there would be serious reprecussions for such an act. Think for a second if an ohio state fan came to beaver stadium and instead of only cheering for ohio state (which is enough to probably get a beer poured on you) this person began degrading Penn State players not just for being Nittany Lions, but for being black. What would happen? I have a feeling that this buckeye would be rebuked not just verbally but physically as well and immediately tossed out of the stadium, and the same would go for a Penn State fan in any other school. This doesnt happen in Europe, however, and that is part of the problem.
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The other thing that struck me was not just that the fans are involved but that coaches and some players actually get away with obvious racism. There have been instances in the U.S. where a coach or player or GM engaged in racist comments. One striking example of this is Howard Cosell. He became famous for broadcasting boxing matches in the 60's and 70's and later for broadcasting monday night football. He had a close personal relationship with Muhammed Ali who was the best boxer of all time and also happened to be black. Cosell had never been associated with racism and was actually one of the most respected broadcasters in professional sports.
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In 1983 he was broadcasting a monday night football game and referred to a wide reciever as a monkey when he said "look at that little monkey dance" as the reciever did a spin move to evade a tackler. This player was a black man. Cosell was forced to retire the next year and his career as a broadcaster was basically over. Not to soften this seemingly racist comment, but Cosell had used the same terminology several times throughout his career to describe white players making similar plays on the field.
The reaction to Cosell's comments show how sensative the U.S. public is to race, and that was in 1983!!
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As I read this article and watch this video I was utterly disgusted, shocked, appalled, and in a loss for words because I can not understand how people in the world are still so bigoted and small minded and not excepting of other races. The world is very large place, people need to realize that not one race owns, controls, or dictates it. How can people around the world be so openly racist? I suppose I do not understand it because I am an American. My culture is so extremely politically correct because it has gone through the civil rights movement. I suppose I should be thankfully we have had to overcome this juvenile behavior. However, Europe has gone through some form of civil rights initiative/ movement with the holocaust. Not only Jews were persecuted but anyone who did not look like the Arian Race. And the fact that a soccer player returned the fascist gesture back into the stands just shows how far Europe has not come, and how much they have not learned from their mistakes and such a horrible genocide.
Learning about Carlos Semeti who is a goalie to one of the strongest soccer or football team in the world. People in his own stadium scream racist chants at him and throw bananas in signify that he is an animal. I find this actually appalling. This man is the keeper of the team the reason why the other team does not win and you are not praising him but degrading and disgracing him.
Marc Zoro from the Sicilian team has been negatively and racistly chanted at, at every game. People have taunted him and at one of him games he had enough. I am glad he had that he stood up for himself. I just wonder if it had an effect. Like when a bully in school is taunting someone, people tell the kid who is being bullied to just ignore it and the bully will not be fueled and will lose interest. I wonder if this is the same because the people in the stands are getting motivation from the other fans around them. I don’t understand how people cannot see that their actions are wrong! For Pete’s sake, the opposing team was pleading with him to stay on the field. If I was Marc I do not think I would have been able to control my rage if I walked into my stadium and saw a banned directed at me with the words “peanuts and bananas are the pay for you infamy.”
The leaders of Europe, the ones who are suppose to be role models for our children are breading this racist culture. It is hard to believe that the coach of the Spanish national team Luis Aragones said, “Give it to the black! Show that black piece of shit that you are better than he is.” He should have been fined way more than $5,000. He should have had his coaching contract pulled and discontinued.
As I watched the video and could not believe that these incredible athletes, probably the best in the league, have gone through this sort of ordeal. How do they expect these players to just keep playing through these chants? They cannot change themselves nor should they change themselves for these people, these animal in the stands. I cannot fathom how many other black or “not white” people have gone through the same sort of situation as these men have. I am so glad to hear that someone has stepped forth and has done something. Sepp Blatter decided to act and I hope that this will be the first step among hundred/ millions more towards an equal and non-racist world in Europe.
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Wow. I really had no idea that things were this way. For some reason I naively thought racism was the worst in America and the Europeans were the accepting ones… this is absolutely insane! It's unfortunate that players–or anyone for that matter– have to put up with such brutal discrimination and hatred, its hard to imagine what I would do in the situation. If someone threw things on a field I played on as I was trying to concentrate on my game, calling me names and threatening me I don't know that I would have the courage to continue playing. The players who do and have started anti-racism campaigns are admiringly brave for their actions. Sports are too complicated and already have too many variables to consider… this "beautiful game" does not also need to deal with people bring their hatred to the stands.
As someone who has grown up in a small town… I sometimes do not know how to behave in a very diverse environment, but I would never imagine spouting hate for someone because their physical features or the colors of their skin. I guess I always thought after Germany over threw the Nazi party after WWII all of Europe was peaceful when it came to race. When we study about Europe in classes we never come across any suggestion they hate each other because of race… I suppose it is easy to consider because there are not many black Europeans and they have no experienced a Civil Rights Movement that people belonging to hate groups do not understand the huge negative impact they are making. It sounds like things are far from changing in Europe among the racial hatred lines, and that is scary considering how long it too us do follow through with our Civil Rights Movement… and things still aren't perfect here. Hopefully the FIFA administration can take bigger strides against such slanderous acts before the World Cup this summer… maybe it being held elsewhere will help tip the scales…
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I guess racism does look pretty mild on this side of the Atlantic. The displays of racism in European soccer are atrocious and it is hard to imagine so many people filling a stadium to watch a sport they love and lashing out against the players of the team they root for. However, it’s not hard to understand where this racism might come from. Because the United States is such a developed country, people forget that other nations are not as advanced in many aspects, many of them following our past progressions.
There has been no civil rights movement in Europe, and as Dr. Richards said, the actions by European sports fans is like something we would have witnessed here 100 years ago. 63 years ago Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers and was one of the first black baseball players. Were all fans were welcoming of Robinson and this black integration into baseball? He surely met racism and probably faced taunting on the field. Robinson was a great player and went on to win MVP of the National League. The fact that a player is one of the best may make them more susceptible to racist comments.
In the United States, our racism stemmed from the fact that we viewed African slaves as sub-human and did not want to allow them to integrate for a long time. European racism seems to be stemming from the immigration of darker people and the fact that white folks don’t like the integration of cultures.
More similarities to the past of the United States and the current beliefs in Europe can be made when trying to interpret the statements made by Spanish National coach Luis Aragones. He referred to star player Thierry Henry as a black piece of shit and used that statement to encourage one of his players to work harder. Aragones seemed to insinuate that the other player was already a superior human and he just need to work harder to prove it. What is truly bothersome is that Aragones didn’t think he did anything wrong and that making racist remarks was an acceptable way to “bother the football player.” The fact that the Spanish Federation’s sanction was to fine Aragones $5000 can be viewed as evidence supporting the tolerance Europe has for these kinds of actions.
There is sure to be more displays of racism and violence at the upcoming world cup in the already dangerous country of South Africa. The UK is evening manufacturing stab-proof vests for fans. Europe has vastly different cultures and although their displays of racism can be understood, they are not justified. I like to think that many other nations are simply behind the United States when it comes to tolerance and race relations, much like other economies and technological development. On a positive outtake, this can be a good example of how far the United States has come regarding racism and hopefully other nations will continue to progress as we have.
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