By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – This week’s Champions League and Europa League games will showcase activities organised by UEFA and its partner Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) to transmit the message that racism has no place in football.
European football’s governing body will use the fixtures to contribute to the fight against all forms of discrimination in football stadiums throughout the continent – and could not be more timely.
The campaign comes at a time where racism is at the forefront of the game following the John Terry affair and the alleged abuse of the England under-21 players in Serbia.
“UEFA is committed to tackling discrimination in football and we encourage football fans to join us in our efforts to value respect for players, officials, opponents and fellow supporters of all nationalities, religious backgrounds, sexual orientation and ethnic origins,” said UEFA boss Michel Platini.
“For over 10 years we have worked alongside the FARE network and will continue to strive towards unity in football.”
Some 40 matches across Europe will be included in a series of activities witnessed by thousands of fans in the stadiums and millions more watching on television.
A 30-second respect spot will be played on stadiums’ giant screens and special announcements made on public address systems will encourage fans to join the call to unite and transmit the same message.
Every team will be accompanied onto the pitch by children wearing “Unite Against Racism” t-shirts and club captains will be asked to wear a “Unite Against Racism” branded armband.
Executive director of FARE, Piara Powar, said: “The FARE Action Weeks have become one of the largest social message activities in sport, with involvement from the smallest community groups to some of the biggest clubs in Europe through the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
Significantly, Terry will be among those wearing an anti-racism armband when he lines up against Shakhtar Donetsk in tonight’s game – his first game since deciding not to appeal against his domestic four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.
UEFA’s initiative comes hot on the heels of a controversial weekend in Britain when several players refused to wear Kick It Out t-shirts during their pre-match warm-ups.
Ferdinand and his brother Rio, the Manchester United defender, were among those who delivered a snub because they are unhappy with what they consider a lack of progress on anti-racism.
The chairman of Kick It Out, Lord Ouseley, fears the initiative has been overshadowed by individual cases.
“The issue of the t-shirt has become the story,” he told BBC Radio.
“We need to be talking about what are their legitimate grievances.
“You have to move forward in a way to bring closure to the nastiness that is around.
“The players that have grievances need to bring those to the table.”
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