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'Reprehensible' UEFA head urges teams to stamp out racism
LONDON (Reuters) -- UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner wrote on Friday to every national soccer association in Europe and the continent's top clubs, urging them to stamp out racist behavior at matches. Aigner said European soccer's ruling body recognized there had been "repeated cases of racist and xenophobic behavior at football matches." "This particularly reprehensible attitude must be deplored," he said. "As we approach the final UEFA competition matches of the year I would appeal to all those involved in football matches - organizers, spectators and players - to give particular attention to this problem," he said. Aigner said that while UEFA recognized racism was a problem for the whole of society, it was given a public focus when exhibited at football matches. "We cannot tolerate our sport's reputation and integrity being harmed by a minority," he said. Lazio has been the center of recent attention because of incidents during their Champions League game with Arsenal in October in which Arsenal's black players were subjected to racist taunts. Yugoslav international defender Sinisa Mihajlovic was suspended for two matches by UEFA after he admitted calling Arsenal's French midfielder Patrick Viera a "black shit." The club was also fined 70,000 Swiss francs (US$40,420) because objects were thrown at players. UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said on Friday the fine and suspension showed how seriously UEFA took racism. However, Lee said UEFA monitored all matches for security and the behavior of fans in their competitions, and none were being singled out. UEFA officials met English Football Association executive director David Davies on Thursday to discuss the Arsenal-Lazio match, Lee said. Davies said he also discussed verbal attacks on Liverpool striker Emile Heskey who was subjected to abuse during an under-21 match with Yugoslavia in March and during a senior friendly against Italy in Turin in November. "I am satisfied that the leadership of the UEFA is taking these matters very seriously," Davies said. "They are monitoring matches in Europe very closely and this meeting is recognition of a need to be more proactive in this area."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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