Racism in Football

Having not posted on this blog for a while, I was watching the CSKA Moscow v Man City game and searching for a new topic when sky announce that Yaya Toure is the subject of monkey chants from the home supporters. This sent my mind into a spasm of depression and rage at a whole manner of different parties.

Firstly this latest incident comes from a set of fans that support CSKA Moscow, a Russian team whose first choice strikers are pictured below. I typed the word "laughable" to describe that fact, but it isn't laughable at all. To be honest, I genuinely am lost for words.

Seydou Doumbia & Ahmed Musa - CSKA Moscow players

This comes in a country that is notorious for racism. Below are just three incidents that I've thought of off the top of my head. There are likely to be many more that barely even make the headlines.

1) Roberto Carlos - In an away match for Anzhi Machachkala at Krylia Sovetov , Roberto Carlos received a pass from the goalkeeper and was about to pass it when a banana was thrown on to the pitch. He walked off the pitch immediately, indicating that this was the 2nd time this kind of incident had happened. 


2) Chris Samba - In a similar incident, Chris Samba had a banana thrown at him playing away at Zenit St Petersburg.

3) Zenit Fans Letter - When Zenit first announced the signing of Hulk, the Zenit fans wrote an open letter to the club, in which it said, "We're not racists but we see the absence of black players at Zenit as an important tradition,". (See here for full story - http://ind.pn/UDbOmD)

As you probably know, Russia have been elected to hold the 2018 FIFA World Cup (At England's expense I might add!). This can be added to the already mammoth list of baffling decisions and stupid choices that FIFA make. As much as I would like to, I won't be talking about that decision here. Instead, I will slaughter UEFA's policy for punishment for this kind of offence.

It is likely that CSKA Moscow will be fined a few thousand pounds for this, the media will call it an outrage, nothing more will be done and we'll have another racism issue in Russia in about 2 months time. What should happen is that CSKA Moscow should be fined heavily, and they should be kicked out banned from the UEFA competitions for a couple of years. I am willing to bet all that I own that Spurs will be fined more than CSKA for the flair incident earlier this week. UEFA are just as bad as the fans for failing to address the issues in European football.

As if to insult us all, during half-time in the Man Utd game later on, a 'No To Racism' advert, endorsed by the worlds best footballers is shown. I wanted to punch the screen. 

UEFA, you're a joke. Russia, you're a joke. Racism, no joke

Not quite all European football...

Read about todays abuse at the expense of Yaya Toure here - http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/23/manchester-city-yaya-toure-racist-chanting