Lately, Europe started watching for the displays of racism during soccer matches very closely. This is a task of FARE (an organization aimed at fighting racism and Nazism in European soccer). Thanks to this organization, the UEFA Disciplinary Committee ordered to close one of the stands at the Arena Khimki stadium during the next match of the CSKA Moscow soccer club because of racist exclamations of Russian fans during a game with Manchester City.
Last week, during a match between a local soccer club Shinnik Yaroslavl and Moscow club Spartak for the Russian Cup, Spartak fans displayed a Nazi German flag. The Day wrote about this in its article “From racist chants to a Nazi flag. How will FIFA react to inappropriate actions of the Russian football fans in Yaroslavl?” on November 5, 2013 (issue No. 68).
The Day addressed the FARE executive director Piara POWAR with a request to comment on this incident and inform whether FIFA will punish Russia for the demonstration of Nazi symbols. Since Powar noted in an article for The Guardian, the boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia could become a very strong reply to racist offenses by the CSKA fans. We received the FARE’s answer and we are publishing it today.
“We have been alerted about this incident during a Russian Cup match. Apart from the NSDAP flag with a swastika, Spartak fans also displayed other neo-Nazi symbols like an SS Totenkopf emblem and White Power symbols. We have noted the incident and included it in our monthly incident list published on our website.
“It is a clear sign of the scope of the problem with racism and far-right propaganda in the Russian stadiums. The match was played under the jurisdiction of the Russian FA, so only they have the legal right to launch disciplinary proceedings in this case. We hope this incident will be dealt with very seriously and together with the recent CSKA Moscow sanction for racist behavior of their fans will give the Russian FA impetus to develop a clear strategy to tackle the problem.”
What does this exactly mean? For we know that UEFA has unjustly punished Ukraine for an UPA flag at the Lviv stadium.
“One thing we should make clear from the beginning: the incidents reported by Fare Observers after the Ukraine-San Marino game in September included clear racist chants and gestures and neo-Nazi banners, particularly: monkey chanting and gestures, Nazi salutes, a neo-Nazi banner ‘Good Night Left Side’ featuring a razor blade and brass knuckles, a Waffen SS ‘Galizien’ banner, a T-shirt with neo-Nazi code ‘88’ which stands for ‘Heil Hitler.’
“Evidence from the FARE report appeared at one of the TV channels in Ukraine and is quoted here http://ua.tribuna.com/tribuna/blogs/letmespeak/8230.html
“It is a real pity that speculation in some of the Ukrainian media has shifted the public debate away from the racist nature of the incidents reported during the Ukraine vs. San Marino match and ways of countering these shameful developments to the debate around the content of our educational materials.
“You should also know that disciplinary sanction for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers match was imposed by FIFA, in whose jurisdiction the match was played. Not UEFA.
“Coming back to yesterday’s incident – it should be qualified as a serious breach of disciplinary regulations and is a quite shocking display of neo-Nazi symbols inside the stadium in its nature. The Russian FA will investigate this case and, we are sure, show their determination to stamp these shameful acts out of football.”
What do you think of the role of the Russian government and politicians as far as racism and the growing popularity of fascism in Russia is concerned?
“We should understand that racism does not come from football.
“Football is a reflection of society and, consequently, the social problems of society make their way into football. We have witnessed increasing inter-ethnic tensions in Russia and riots in 2010 and recent Biryulevo escalation of violence where football fans were actively involved.
“This means the problem of far-right violence and propaganda has to be addressed by all parts of Russian society – including the government, politicians and wider public. There has to be a determination to fight the problem at the highest levels. The Russian FA, in its turn, should follow the UEFA zero tolerance to racism approach and introduce a coherent strategy and stricter measures to deal with the problem in football and we have offered our assistance in developing such a strategy.
“The upcoming World Cup in Russia could be a good chance to put the issues of racism and tolerance in the spotlight of the whole society as it was the case in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. A consolidated effort by all actors in Russian society can bring positive change given there is necessary will to deal with the problem. Otherwise far-right groups present in many countries across Europe may turn the celebration of diversity which the World Cup should be into a platform for the propaganda of hatred.”
What do you think UEFA should do in response to the abovementioned incidents in Russia in order to stop the spread of the rising fascism in Russia?
“In May this year both FIFA and UEFA adopted stricter sanctions and clear procedures for dealing with racism and discrimination. UEFA has a 3-step disciplinary procedure for dealing with racist incidents and a protocol in place for referees and match officials to react immediately if the incidents happen during the match and are brought to their attention.
“UEFA’s rules allow a partial stadium closure to be enforced at the club’s next European match for a first offence, and for a second or more serious incident a club must play in a completely empty stadium and be fined €50,000. If racism persists, the club can be made to forfeit a match, have points deducted or be thrown out of the competition.
“Both FIFA and UEFA have encouraged national associations to follow their example and introduce similar measures and procedures into their respective disciplinary codes. Unfortunately not all the FAs have already introduced such procedures.
“In this case, as I indicated earlier it is in the Russian FA legal competence to launch disciplinary proceedings for domestic matches. We hope this incident and other serious incidents in the Russian domestic matches will be dealt with appropriately, and we will follow these cases closely.”
