FIFA must act as racism has been swept under carpet for far too long

AS former Leeds United defender Noel Blake watched Tuesday’s wholly disgraceful events unfold after the final whistle in Krusevac, his mind instantly went back to the Spring of 2008.

Suffering the racist bile of Serbian supporters and that of sections of their players and coaching staff is, sadly, not a one-off occurence for England, whose Under-21 players were subjected to intolerable racist and physical abuse at the European Championship play-off second leg in the Balkans.

That ended in a visibly-distressed Danny Rose dismissed for the ‘crime’ of reacting to racial abuse by kicking the ball away in anger following the final whistle amid sickening scenes, with the Doncaster-born former Leeds player – mocked with monkey chants during the game – calling on Serbia to be banned from international competitions.

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Quite incredibly, the Serbian FA have denied any form of racism towards the England team, going so far as to state that Rose behaved in an “inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar manner” towards their fans.

Sadly, Serbia has ‘previous’ when it comes to racially abusing England players and coaches, with England Under-19 head coach Blake on the receiving end during a UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifier at Minsk’s Borisov Stadium in May, 2008.

Then assistant coach of the Three Lions’ Under-19 side, Jamaica-born Blake, a powerhouse defender during his playing days with the likes of Leeds, Birmingham City and Stoke City, remembers the sickening abuse from his Serbian counterparts like it was yesterday and while the abuse did not reach the physical levels encountered by Stuart Pearce and Steve Wigley on Tuesday, it was abhorent.

Blake would like to think that something finally will be done to punish properly Serbia, whose fans and players also abused England pair Nedum Onuoha and Justin Hoyte at an Under-21 European Championship finals encounter in Holland in June 2007, with their charge-sheet a pretty damning one.

However, he is not holding his breath.

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Blake said: “As the game was unfolding on Tuesday, you could see the gestures being made and things thrown on the pitch. But to see staff members attack other staff members just beggars belief, really...

“I had my own experiences with Serbia in Belarus and we warned the black lads in the group such as Victor Moses, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Welbeck and Scott Sinclair about not getting involved with anything. That said, what I did not expect was to be abused by their staff sitting on the bench themselves.

“The fourth official reported it and they apologised but the damage had been done and it sticks in your gut.

“I made my report to the relevant people afterwards. But nothing was done about it.

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“I remember we were sharing the same hotel (with Serbia) and it was very uncomfortable.

“Racism is unacceptable in any way, shape or form. I have also been to that part of Europe (Serbia) and it is not a comfortable experience and that is putting it in a professional way.

“You feel an atmosphere and vibe around you.

“I remember going on a plane from Germany to Serbia to do my first scheduled report for the FA and the atmosphere when I was waiting at the gate at Munich airport was unbelievable. It was something I will never forget.

“On the flight, I felt like a million and one eyes were on me. The best way I could relieve the tension – and I do not know why I did it – was to get my scouting pad out and do some notes out on the game, so people may have seen what I was about and the tension was gradually lifted. You deal with things the best you can.”

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Urging a response from FIFA to this week’s events, he added: “They have got to do something about it, simple as that, because for too long, this sort of thing has been swept under the carpet.

“We have been saying things need to happen for goodness knows how many years because when it happens it is magnified and then, all of a sudden, it is forgotten again and still goes on.

“Until you experience it, no one will ever know what you go through.”

Rose is unequivocal that action needs to be taken – and now – against Serbia after his dismissal which followed huge provocation as scuffles broke out involving Serbian supporters, players and other officials.

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The Spurs defender, 22, on loan at Sunderland, said: “As I went off, there was monkey chanting, but the monkey chanting started long before I got sent off.

“After 60 minutes, my head wasn’t really on the game. They have to be banned. I don’t understand how else they can learn from it.”

Echoing Rose’s call for a lengthy ban to be issued is former Bradford City winger Jamie Lawrence, who suffered racism while playing with Jamaica during his international career with the Reggae Boyz.

Lawrence, 42, has been a fierce and persistent critic of the racism which he sees as still being endemic in English football as well as world football.

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While demanding FIFA take action regarding Serbia, he also wants activity closer to home and only yesterday, the biggest fans’ survey on tackling racism and discrimination was launched following a troubled year for English football which saw John Terry and Luis Suarez banned for racist abuse.

Lawrence added: “The FA are jumping on the Serbia thing, but they have not even got their own house in order yet so they cannot be judging others.

“It is every week that there’s something different (with racism) at the minute.

“Serbia need a ban; fining them doesn’t hurt them. It is like the John Terry situation; he was fined something like 10 days’ wages and (given) a four-game ban for racially abusing someone when Jonjo Shelvey got a three-game ban for making a tackle. What message is that sending out?

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“The Serbian FA have got a case to answer as they put that game in the most volatile place in Serbia to try and unrest the players. They knew what was happening.

“Then you get Sepp Blatter saying players can sort things out with a handshake.

“I’m not being funny but when you are racially abused, the last thing you want to do is shake that guy’s hand.”

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