By Mark Baber
October 7 – UEFA have fined Partizan Belgrade €40,000 and imposed a partial stadium closure for their next Europa League home game in response to the display of a banner reading “Only Jews and Pussies” by fans at their 18 September game against Tottenham Hotspur, a north London club with a strong Jewish tradition.
The banner had clearly been designed for the game in the style of the extremely popular (in Serbia and the UK) comedy series “Only Fools and Horses.” Only 150 of the Spurs supporters had made the trip to Belgrade but, unsurprisingly, they took offence to the banner and after the game it was branded as unacceptable by Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.
UEFA ordered an investigation and Partizan Belgrade issued an apology for their fan’s conduct, slamming the “malicious act of certain individuals who made all the efforts from our players and our club to prove we deserve our spot in football Europe worthless.”
Partizan stated that it “resolutely disavows with anti-Semitic banner displayed yesterday. Message displayed on that banner is completely opposite to preferences and opinions of almost all citizens of Serbia and Partizan fans. It’s absolutely absurd to link club that was founded after the WWII on anti-fascist principles and after the battle of people of Europe with anti-Semitism and similar dark and anti-civilization impulses.”
As its name suggests, Partizan was founded by anti-Fascist partisans after the end of WWII and the club are clearly concerned lest it attracts the kind of extreme right-wing groups common to many European clubs and to rivals FK Rad in Belgrade in particular.
The club fully condemned “perpetrators of this mindless act, not only of anti-Semitic nature, but one that represents hatred of Partizan and Serbia as well. We believe this vicious action will not spoil our sporting friendship with Tottenham FC and football aficionados in Great Britain. In cooperation with competent authorities, Partizan FC will do everything to locate, trial and ban those perpetrators from sporting fields.”
After investigating the matter, UEFA has ordered a section of their ground which would usually hold 1,200 fans, be closed for the upcoming game against Besiktas and that a fine of €40,000 must be paid, saying, “The fight against racism is a high priority for Uefa. The European governing body has a zero-tolerance policy towards racism and discrimination on the field and in the stands. All forms of racist behaviour are considered serious offences against the disciplinary regulations and are punished with the most severe sanctions.”
“Following the entry into force of new disciplinary regulations in June 2013, the fight against racist conduct has been stepped up a level – resulting in stricter penalties to deter any such behaviour.”
With so many clubs in Europe having undoubtedly become breeding grounds for neo-Nazi radicals, UEFA clearly has an important role to play in stamping down hard on unacceptable behaviour. On the other hand UEFA should not fall prey to the prejudices of those who would like to tar all fans of certain clubs and in certain countries (usually not their own) with the same brush. With so many photos of those holding the offensive banner having been taken, one hopes those individuals responsible will be held to account for their behaviour.