Soccer is the world’s sport. There’s no doubt about it. Every nation on Earth has people who treat the sport like a religion, and that it is. However, the soccer pitch has not always been the most welcoming place on earth. Racism and anti-Semitism have marred soccer’s history since the late 1800s.
The first known incident of racism in soccer came in 1887. Preston North End FC, an English side, were led by Arthur Wharton, a black goalkeeper. When it came time for a match in the English Cup, an article in Britain’s Athletic Journal stated, “If Wharton keeps the goal for the North End in their English Cup Tie, the odds will be greatly diminished.”
During the 1940s, Germany was under the control of the Nazis. FC Bayern Munich, a German club and current Bundesliga title holders, were a fast-developing club under the control of a Jewish president and manager. At the time of the Holocaust, the two were forced to flee the country, and the club’s value declined. Many citizens of Munich were drawn to neighboring club, 1860 Munich, leaving few supporters for “the Jew Club” Bayern.
In recent years, racism has, astoundingly, increased. Players such as Nicolas Anelka and Josip Šimunić have been suspended for using Nazi “quenelle” gestures in goal celebrations. Fans have thrown bananas at black players, calling them “monkeys.” Seko Fofana, a black player on Manchester City FC’s development squad, was recently ejected from a preseason game against Croatian side HNS Rijeka after confronting a player who racially abused him. Fofana’s team abandoned the match in response.
Most recently, racism was seen from Chelsea FC fans on Feb. 17. As Chelsea fans boarded a train in Paris following their side’s 1-1 draw with Paris-Saint Germain FC, fans boarding a crowded train pushed a black passenger out of the car claiming there was no room. Even more sickening, what followed was a medley of chants about World War II, along with shouts of “We’re racist, and we like it.”
Luckily enough, a bystander at the Paris metro station caught the whole incident on video. What looks at first like passengers telling a black man there is no room on the train turns into violently pushing the man off the car. Chelsea fans defended their action by saying they were trying to explain how there wasn’t room enough for the man. But honestly, how can you defend violence and chanting about their love of racism? Plain and simple, you cannot.
If the abbreviated history you’ve just read was not clear, racism in soccer needs to stop. It has gone on long enough. And yet, despite cooling tempers in our society, discriminatory behaviors continue with even more fervor. Our job, our responsibility as fans, is to take a stand. I’m not saying to stop cheering for your club and poking fun at other players, but when it goes too far, there is a clear problem.
So what is being done about all this? London Daily Mirror reporter and Chelsea fan Andy Lines wrote Wednesday that he wants those involved to be banned not just from the club, but the sport of soccer itself. Apparently, so does the club. Chelsea released a statement Thursday saying it would look into the incident and ban any members or season-ticket-holders involved.
However, just because Chelsea is coming out with statements to ban these rotten fans, it doesn’t mean they’re innocent. The club has allowed neo-Nazi fan organizations like the Headhunters and Combat 84 to gather at their stadium and chant discriminatory remarks during the game. Members of these two organizations have even been jailed for assaults on patrons and employees at many local pubs. Clearly, this has gone on too far, Chelsea.
Plain and simple, racism has to end immediately. If not, then what is soccer but a hostile, threatening environment? It is a shame that something labeled the world’s sport, something that belongs to all the world, is marred by something as awful as racism. There is no room for such nastiness in the sport of soccer.
How can racism be put to an end?
It’s rather simple. There should be no tolerance for such an act. Any fan caught chanting racist slurs or acting violently in a discriminatory way must be banned from the sport altogether. Harsh? Absolutely not. It’s rather lenient. I could have suggested prison as well, but ejection from soccer is severe enough. People like the racist Chelsea fans must be removed and eliminated from the game in order to purify it.
For players who are racist, I suggest a minimum of 10 games suspension for the first act and expulsion from the league for the second offense. These players make their livelihood playing soccer, so immediate removal from the sport is a little much. However, repeat offenders must be eliminated from the sport.
If more severe punishments for racism in soccer are handed down and offenders are removed from the sport, soccer will be purified. But for now, racism in soccer needs to stop.
Daniel Shulman is a sophomore at Boston University majoring in Journalism through the College of Communication. A native of Stoughton, Dan is a sports fanatic who loves everything Boston sports related. He is currently a Sports Hawk at the Boston Globe in the High School sports department. He is also a statistician for both Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Men’s Ice Hockey. Aside from writing, Dan has an interest in music, movies and cooking.
