August 5 – The new season of European club competition may have only just started but already discrimination by fans has led to UEFA’s disciplinary authorities being called into action.
In the Champions League, a one-game partial ground closure has been imposed on Hungary’s Debrecen for an ‘illicit banner’, after their 2-0 win over Cliftonville and the same penalty has been dished out to Romania’s Steaua Bucharest for racist behaviour during the 2-0 win over Norway’s Strømsgodset, and to Slovenia’s Maribor.
The Europa League has hardly fared better with a one-game partial closure imposed on Georgia’s Chikhura Sachkhere for racist behaviour at the goalless draw against Bursaspor of Turkey.
It’s a worrying state of affairs despite a UEFA statement pledging, not for the first time, that the fight against racism remains “a high priority” and that the European governing body has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination on the pitch 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,” said UEFA.
“Following the entry into force of the new disciplinary regulations on 1 June 2013, the fight against racist conduct has been stepped up a level – resulting in more severe sanctions to deter any such behaviour.”
Whether it will actually have any long-term effect remains to be seen.
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