Clubs unite in anti-racism drive

[Aeternitas]

CLUBS UNITE IN ANTI-RACISM DRIVE

The three Primera Liga clubs from the city of Madrid have signed an agreement to try and combat the growth of racism in Spanish football.

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Getafe have signed an agreement with Madrid's regional government in which they have agreed to hold several acts between now and November 16, which is the international day for racial tolerance.

One of the acts will be a 24-hour marathon in which any team can take part with the condition that at least one of their players is an immigrant.

The city of Madrid has seen a growth in racial problems both in football grounds and in various neighbourhoods in recent months.

England's black players faced monkey chants from thousands of Spain fans in their friendly against Spain in the Santiago Bernabeu last November 17.

Real Madrid also received a hefty fine from UEFA after racial insults were aimed at Bayer Leverkusen players in a Champions League game - and only this week Spain's Anti-Violence commission asked for the club to be fined a further 3,000 euros - after members of their notorious Ultra Sur supporters group displayed a huge banner which accused South Americans of "invading us and killing us".

That was in response to a stabbing in the south of Madrid last week, which has provoked several outbreaks of racial violence in the streets of the city's Villaverde district.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have been fined 600 euros on three separate occasions after sections of their fans aimed racial abuse at visiting players, while Getafe have also been fined twice for similar incidents.

"Madrid is an example of acceptance and integration for immigrants and sport should be an example for the whole world to see that Madrid is tolerant, even more so now before the choice of the venue for the 2012 Olympic Games," said Esperanza Aguirre.

Madrid president Florentino Perez, whose club sets aside a special area for the Ultra Sur, also supported the initiative.

"Sport in general and football in particular should serve to unite people and cultures," he said.


Source

[NatVox]

Just an image washing after this year's events. Notice that the mockery to the English players was made by thousands, not by an identifiable group. They need those thousands of supporters.

[Aeternitas]

I think trying to stop "racism" (if one may call it so) in football would be just like trying to stop slurs and cursing in general. Those just seem to come out naturally.

[Gesta Bellica]

Just on friday night my favourite team has lost a match vs a team fielding 2 bingo-bongos
In the end of the match one of the two monkeys went under the home supporters section of the stadium and kissed his skin and mocked them while the other started a quarrel with a home team player..
Results:
- The home supporters submerged the guy with something like 15.000 monkey chants and a big rumble started in the middle of the field with 10-12 players involved.

For the public opinion the stadium and the city (!!) are full of racists and should face heavy sanctions
i wonder what they would have said if everyone involved was italian