What needs to be done to end racism on the field?

The racist insults by River Plate players against the Grêmio dancers and athletes at the Ladies Cup in Sao Paulo renew a sad issue still unresolved in football

You racist insults of players from River Plate against a ball boy and Grêmio’s opponents at the Canindé stadium, in Sao Paulo, on the 21st, renew a sad question, still unresolved in football: what can be done to put an end to racism on the pitch?

Among the measures suggested by the bodies and experts consulted by the Estadao More severe penalties are foreseen in both sporting and criminal matters.

In the first, the loss of points and the sending of matches to clubs, the suspension and closure of stadiums would serve as an example, with direct repercussions on the careers of athletes and the lives of fans.

In the criminal sphere, high fines and imprisonment of violators can reduce cases of discrimination. Racism is a crime provided for by the legislation of several countries, as a violation of fundamental human rights. Criminal law can demonstrate that racism in sport is no different from racism in any other environment.

The ideal, according to experts, is the complementary application of the two areas, since they have different objectives and scope. This can help create a safer and more respectful environment in sport.

To prevent new cases, scholars recommend educational programs starting from the grassroots level and positive policies involving clubs, federations and sponsors.

The topic is urgent. The annual report of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Racial Discrimination Observatory on the topic shows that the number of racist incidents in Brazilian football increased by 38.77% compared to the previous year. In 2023, 136 cases were recorded, compared to 98 in 2022.

In this context, the first measures adopted after last week’s episode represent progress, according to Professor Marcel Tonini, researcher at the Brazilian Football Reference Center at the Football Museum.

“We have had sporting and judicial punishments. But we must move forward,” says the professor. “It’s easy to punish sportingly in a competition that has ‘little’ value or impact. Would this happen to the River Plate men’s Libertadores? I doubt it,” he says.

Four athletes from the Argentine team were arrested after racist insults against the Grêmio players and the ball boy during the Canindé match of the Brasil Ladies Cup tournament. On Friday 27th, the Court of Sao Paulo granted provisional freedom to the athletes, who must remain in Brazil and appear in court monthly.

The defense of the four athletes specified that “this is not the time to examine the validity of the accusations, however, equally the arrest previously ordered could not continue, given the absence of supporting reasons”.

From a sporting point of view, the organizing committee of the Brazil Ladies Cup has excluded the Argentine team from the current tournament and for two other editions.

Racism is a crime punishable by two to five years in prison

Under Brazilian law, racism is a non-bailable and imprescriptible crime. Anyone who commits this crime is punished with imprisonment from two to five years, in addition to a fine. This penalty also applies to racist insults. And football, as a mirror and reflection of society, must not allow any type of prejudice or segregation.

Racial crimes are different from insults, taunts and insults, as criminal lawyer and IDP master of law Welington Arruda explains. “A racist crime occurs when the conduct includes prejudice or discrimination linked to race, colour, ethnicity, religion or origin. These acts have a discriminatory character that goes beyond the individual sphere, reaching fundamental values ​​of society , such as dignity and equality,” he explains.

“Although reprehensible, insults generally do not involve racial prejudice or any form of discrimination. They can be classified as simple insults, with lighter penalties, such as imprisonment of 1 to 6 months or a fine,” it adds.

The director of the Observatory on Racial Discrimination in Football, Marcelo Medeiros Carvalho, adopts a similar argument. “The reports are made so that people realize the seriousness of the act, so that racism is not tolerated. Racism is a crime, period. And whoever committed it must be punished.”

Currently, the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice provides for a fine for fans who commit a crime of racism in sports facilities, ranging from R$100 to R$100 thousand. The sanction can be extended with the likelihood of the criminal fan’s team losing control of the pitch. The challenge is to monitor and keep banned fans away from the stadiums.

Carvalho also includes football clubs in the chain of responsibility. “We must overcome the debate on who to punish, the fan or the club. We must punish the fan, when he is identified, but we must empower the club to participate in raising awareness, education and mobilizing actions against racism,” he believes.

Sanctioning the club’s system of losing points in championships would be a way to hold accountable all those involved in discrimination.

Other measures suggested by the experts include the suspension of the game in the event of a racist demonstration, even if it comes from a single fan, and the installation of multiple cameras to monitor and identify discriminatory acts in the stands, such as the Assistant Referee Video System ( VAR)

Before defining punitive measures, Tonini focuses on prevention. Here we are essentially talking about education. “There is a lack of education of athletes, starting from the youth categories, not only regarding racism, but also regarding other forms of discrimination. Clubs, federations and leagues are responsible for this prevention, but this is not done in the country It makes no sense to punish only the fan.”

Source: Terra

Rose

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