By Andrew Warshaw
May 6 – FIFA’s crack new anti-racism body was meeting for the first time today with a view to setting up concrete proposals for stronger sanctions.
As Task Force members gathered at FIFA headquarters, Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley urged them to come up with an effective package to put forward to the FIFA Congress in Mauritius later this month.
“The tribalism and the way people seek to express their frustrations in football is quite unique,” Lord Ouseley told the BBC.
“What we’ve had in the past have been financial penalties, which don’t seem to have been sufficiently punitive so I think it’s quite important that if we are to have more severe sanctions we would want to see if that would work.
“It’s certainly an alternative that has to be tried because what we’ve had so far has not worked to prevent these incidents from occurring.”
Task Force chairman Jeffrey Webb (pictured), CONCACAF President and a FIFA vice-president, has already promised tough measures which could include giving referees increased authority to lead teams off the pitch if players are racially abused. The team whose fans caused the walk-off would then forfeit the match.
“Referees have a responsibility for the wellbeing of players on the pitch and that includes not being abused,” said Lord Ouseley.
Another option of deducting points is also expected to be discussed in Zurich. Outgoing English Football Association chairman David Bernstein, one of several high-profile members, was unable to attend Monday’s meeting because of the relatively short notice with which it was called. The FA has sent a senior representative in his place.
Last month, the UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino revealed plans for a minimum 10-game ban for any player found guilty of racist abuse and the possible closure of stadiums.
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