[FARE] FARE calls for leadership from the Spanish Football Federation in fighting racism in the game

[Leon Mann]

FARE calls for leadership from the Spanish Football Federation
 in fighting racism in the game


Representatives from the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network,
and FIFPro, the worldwide representative organisation for all professional
players, have attended a press conference organised by Spanish anti- racism
campaigners, CECRA, to issue statements calling for action against racism in
football from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The press conference, which took place before the Spain v Ivory Coast game
in Valladolid on Wednesday, was called following a succession of problems
within Spanish football, the latest being during the Real Zaragoza vs.
Barcelona game last Saturday (25th February) where Barcelona forward Samuel
Eto¹o was subjected to mass monkey chanting and had peanuts thrown at him by
sections of the Zaragoza supporters.

All three organisations expressed that should the RFEF fail to recognise
that racism is a serious problem in Spanish Football then more black players
would continue to be abused and eventually black players would not want to
play in the Spanish Leagues.

CECRA called on the Spanish Players Union, AFE, to request that its members
delay the start of games this weekend by five minutes, as a protest against
racism in football and in an act of solidarity with Eto'o.

Howard Holmes, from English FARE partner Football Unites, Racism Divides,
attended the press conference and commented,

³The terrible abuse of Samuel Eto¹o last Saturday ­ and his reaction to it ­
may finally have woken some people up to the seriousness of the situation.
Before the Spain v Ivory Coast game the teams lined behind a banner reading
ŒEveryone Together Against Racism in Football¹ and during half time the
whole of the perimeter advertising was given to an anti- racism message
provided by CECRA. The newspaper ŒMarca¹ has also started a campaign against
racism.

³But to make real progress the Spanish Football Federation must recognise
the seriousness of the issue and realise how the problem is damaging their
game. Leadership is vital in the fight against racism and, once the present
furore has passed, the situation in Spanish Football will continue to
deteriorate unless the governing bodies face up to their responsibilities.²
  

For more information please call Leon Mann on 0044 207 684 4884 or 0044 7736
009 116 


Notes
* Howard Holmes, from FURD, Football Unites, Racism Divides represented the
FARE network; Bobby Barnes, represented FIFpro; and Carlos Ferreyra Nuñez
represented CECRA, and organised the press conference.
* For further information on the FARE network please see ­ www.FAREnet.org
* For further information on FIFPro please see ­ www.FIFPro.org
* For further information on CECRA please see -  www.noracismo.org