Boomhauer

Balotelli was born to Ghanian parents in Italy. He plays for the Italian National Team and Man.City.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...st-abuse-italy

Is it just me or is this kind of racial abuse most prone to Southern Euro nations and Easter Europe. Remember Lewis Hamiltion and the Spanish fans who dressed up in Blackface . In general, it seems like as one moves away from North Western Europe towards the East and South , the less tolerant people become and the MidEast is a good example of this.

lionheart

...and your point is what exactly? He would get much more abuse if he played in Serbia, Bosnia, Russia or Romania that's for sure. It's generally the case that the fewer Africans there are in a country, the more racist that country is. Where they are fully integrated and accepted in society, the less racism.

Boomhauer

I don't know about Serbia, Bosnia or Romania but Russia is a given, so is Poland.
I know some nations that have very few Black people, there tends to be much more overt racist attitudes but it doesn't make any sense that a country having the fewest would be the most racist .

Spugsy

Spain and Italy are still rife, they still do monkey noises and what do FIFA do? Fine them 20,000 euros or so, thats a disgrace - they should be warned and fined and if it happens again a points deduction, and same for champions league etc - thats the only way to go then the clubs will be forced to do something about it.

Bahtatboy

...and your point is exactly? Why make out you're disagreeing with the guy when, in fact, you're agreeing and giving opinion to expand his theory?

Spugsy

and along a similar thread, England fans booing the other teams national anthem is one of the most pathetic things ever.

Bahtatboy

But, sadly, just another part of the modern game: played, supported, managed and controlled by those with no concept of social responsibility (largely).

SugarMetal

Agreed. If football management really wanted to curb this behaviour and heavily penalise the teams of such supporters they would, which would in fact make fans think twice about throwing bananas on to a pitch and the like. Vile.

co durham boy

And what does that achieve , it's not a football problem it's a society problem.
Football clubs cannot determine who comes through the gates of the stadium , yes they can take action when it happens but then the offence has already taken place.

Legislation is in place in the UK for offences of this nature and the F.A has done a lot of hard work to make sure that this problem has been eradicated as much as possible.

I'm afraid as the OP mentioned there are other countries Associations who do not take the same line and do not see it as such a massive problem.

SugarMetal

It is society's problem, of course, but I can't help but wonder whether repeat offender fans of certain European clubs would be so quick to behave like neanderthals if they knew their team would be barred from tournaments and competitions?

weasel central

it should be an interesting change for city strikers who normally get abused for being an utterly shite, mercenary bunch of prima donnas... Tevez aside

Bahtatboy

I agree that the FA have cleaned things up, but worldwide it remains a problem.

kittycat1

You dont get this sort of behaviour in rugby! and they are real men- none of this ow ive hurt my leg nonsense you get in footie!

co durham boy

You actually get a lot of that in Rugby , as well as.....massive steroid abuse , inherent racism , match fixing , bloodgate , recreational drug use . The old school tie brigade have a lot to answer for.

It's not all roast chestnuts and pints of Spitfire..

kittycat1

Oh well- at least the men wear smaller shorts!