By David Gold
April 13 – FIFPro, the worldwide footballers’ union, has said that footballers in Eastern Europe need to be better protected from the risks of violence, racism and match fixing.
The organisation will create a regional task force charged with recommending action to help tackle these issues, and is looking for support from FIFA, UEFA and Europe’s clubs and leagues.
There have been a number of incidents recently which have placed the spotlight on these problems.
In Russia, Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos (pictured) was abused racially by a Zenit St. Petersburg fan on his debut for Anzhi Makhachkala, and Montenegrin Nikola Nikezic was beaten and forced to terminate his contract with FC Kuban.
Philippe Piat, the European President of FIFPro, said: “FIFPro assumes its responsibility and calls on everyone else involved to do the same.”
In a statement, FIFPro said: “Research shows that some criminal organizations in Eastern Europe put objectionable pressure on players to co-operate in bribery scandals,”
The organisation is particularly concerned by further issues such as the suspension of two players, Vukasin Poleksic and Norbert Meszaros of Hungarian champions Debrecen.
The duo were banned for two years and 18 months respectively after being contacted by match fixers before a Champions League game in 2009, but failing to report this to UEFA.
There have also been problems with players being paid by clubs in Romania, Russia, Serbia, Cyprus and Greece, the latter of which is developing a worrying reputation for violent attacks by supporters against players at stadiums.
Piat added: “There is no doubt that FIFA and UEFA will agree with FIFPro that all their affiliated member associations should guarantee that all professional footballers in their leagues can do their job safely and also get paid for it.”
Piat also called on executive members of the world governing bodies, with former Zenit St Petersburg Presidents Vitaly Mutko and Sergei Fursenko holding key roles in FIFA and UEFA respectively.
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