By Andrew Warshaw
December 24 – British Sports minister Hugh Robertson (pictured) says football must get a firmer grip on the worrying recurrences of racism – whether on the pitch or in the stands.
And he believes the four-match ban handed out to former England captain John Terry was insufficient.
“I think most of us would be worried by the recurrence of the issues around racism in football,” Robertson told BBC Radio Sportsweek programme.
“I’ve seen quite a few black players who’ve asked to come and see me to talk through the problems. They very clearly feel there aren’t enough black coaches, there aren’t enough black managers, there’s a glass ceiling on top them.
“Just look at the FA council, and ask yourself how many ex-black players and how many women there are on that body, it’s not a great advertisement.”
Asked if the Football Association, who suspended Terry for four games whilst Liverpool’s Luis Suarez received eight for a totally separate offense, should have come down harder on the Chelsea defender, Robertson replied: “Yes, I think in retrospect the answer to that is yes.
“They are in a difficult position because they have to follow the law and there are legal challenges on all sides but I don’t think anybody looking back on this year would think it’s been a particularly happy chapter.”
Racism issues across Europe in countries like Serbia and Russia continue to plague the game and Robertson is known to have personally contacted Uefa president Michel Platini to express his views after the explosive under-21 clash between Serbia and England in October.
“I think there’s widespread feeling in the game that the penalties dished out to Serbia were not tough enough either,” said Robertson.
“It’s one of those things racism that you’ve really got to keep on top of it the whole time.”
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