Despite awareness campaigns and severe punishments, major European leagues continue to experience racist incidents
Despite promoting numerous awareness and mobilization actions, the main European leagues still record racist demonstrations. In England, for example, the NGO Kick it Out reports a 32% increase in cases comparing the 2023 and 2022 seasons.
The most effective change on the continent was brought about by a Brazilian. After the attacker’s continuous protests Vini Jrvictim of 21 cases of discrimination with the real MadridSpain sentenced three fans to prison in May. It was the first criminal conviction in the country’s history for racism in football.
England
Even with effective measures, the English league, the most popular in the world, still suffers from racism. According to the NGO “Kick it Out”, which fights against discrimination, in 2023 and 2024 there were 1,332 complaints of racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia, an increase of 32% compared to the previous season. Racism is the most common form of discrimination.
The “No Room for Racism” program, operational since 2021, monitors online abuse. In February this year, Brentford striker Ivan Toney was the target of racist abuse – those responsible were identified and punished. Clubs are responsible for fans’ behavior and fines range from 20,000 to 300,000 pounds (R$123,500 to R$1.8 million).
In February, Joel Barwise, a football fan Everton, he was banned from football for three years and will have to pay a fine of 500 pounds (almost R$4,000) for insulting football fans Liverpool and racist crimes directed at Mohamed Salahon October 21, 2023, by Premier League.
“I like the mutual help there, between the players’ unions, the league and the English federation. Even if the cases have not decreased, there is a great mobilization”, says the director of the Discrimination Observatory racial in football, Marcelo Carvalho. “Recently athletes boycotted social media due to racist insults. And they had the support of the clubs.”
Spain
LaLiga submits complaints to the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance of the Ministry of Sports and to the Public Prosecutor of each province. The commission, in turn, proposes administrative sanctions. Serious infringements can be brought before the ordinary court.
The performance of Vinicius Junior, who calls himself “the executioner of racists”, is a watershed moment. After suffering 21 cases of racist insults, Spain had the first criminal conviction in its history for racism in football. In May, just over a year after the incidents at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, three fans were sentenced to eight months in prison.
Clubs and players have spoken openly about the issue. Currently, the Spanish league and clubs promote awareness campaigns for fans. One of these is “LaLiga vs Racism”, with reporting channels in the stands. Some stadiums have audio recordings to identify racist insults and acts among fans.
Germany
Sanctions include the deduction of points from the home team (or those convicted of racism), suspensions, fines, matches behind closed doors and relegations. But racist acts occur in other tournaments, parallel to the German championship (Bundesliga). In 2020, Schalke 04 was fined 50,000 euros (R$236,000 at the time) for racist chants by some of its fans towards Hertha Berlin player Jordan Torunarigha in the German Cup.
The German criminal code has specific sections on hate speech. Furthermore, the German Football Association (DFB) provides mandatory diversity training for clubs and imposes sporting sanctions. Extreme cases can be referred to criminal justice.
Italy
Clubs are responsible for the behavior of fans and obliged to take preventive measures. For a first offence, the minimum penalty is one match behind closed doors.
If the player commits a discriminatory act he will be suspended for at least 10 games and fined between 10,000 and 20,000 euros. Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office inspectors investigate incidents of racism.
The report from the National Observatory on Sports Events of the Ministry of the Interior, with data from the 2022/23 season, recorded 126 incidents of racial discrimination. It was the first time that the Italian government analyzed this topic.
Brazil
According to Brazilian legislation, racism is a crime punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 5 years and a fine. Since February last year, the CBF has instituted sporting sanctions for racism in Brazilian competitions. Currently there is a fine of up to R$500,000, loss of command on the pitch, playing behind closed doors or withdrawal of points.
“It is important to underline that, in cases of racism or racial slur, the conduct transcends the sporting sphere and represents a violation of human rights, justifying more severe responses by the legislation,” says criminal lawyer Welington Arruda.
The Fans’ Statute (Law no. 10.671/2003) provides specific sanctions for discriminatory behavior in stadiums, such as the ban on attending sporting events for up to 3 years, in addition to criminal sanctions.
Source: Terra
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