By Andrew Warshaw
June 27 – UEFA will decide tomorrow what action to take against Spain and Russia after yet more charges of racism were meted out at the European Championship finals.
Partly because of anti-discrimination monitors being officially placed at every game in an unprecedented crackdown, instances of racism have been spotted with greater frequency than usual, casting a shadow over an otherwise excellent tournament.
Earlier this week UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and – once again – the Russian Football Union (RFU) for alleged racist behaviour and chanting by their respective fans.
Paradoxically, the build-up to the finals was dominated by fears of racism among Polish and Ukraine fans but with the exception of one or two instances in the joint host nations, it has been supporters of other teams that have marred the biggest sporting event in Eastern Europe since the collapse of communism.
The latest UEFA statement read: “UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for the improper conduct of their supporters (racist behaviour, racist chanting) at the UEFA Euro 2012 Group C match against Italy in Gdansk on Sunday 10 June.
“Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened against the Russian Football Union for the improper conduct of their supporters (racist behaviour, racist chanting) at the Group A match against the Czech Republic in Wroclaw on Friday 8 June.”
Russia have already been fined after being charged by UEFA over its fans’ conduct at all three of its group stage matches in Poland.
UEFA also imposed a suspended six-point deduction on Russia for their 2016 European Championship qualifying campaign after fans attacked stadium stewards in Wroclaw following the Czech match on June 8.
The deduction will be only enforced if fans repeat the hooliganism.
The Russian FA has appealed that sanction but on Monday, Russian FA President Sergei Fursenko announced his resignation, a further blow to the 2018 World Cup hosts who have an embarrassing time on and off the field as a result of events in Poland and Ukraine.
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