'Zero tolerance' on racism
Saturday 23 June 2007
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UEFA has continued to pledge a policy of zero tolerance against racism and intolerance on and off the field.
Assuming responsibilities
UEFA President Michel Platini and General Secretary David Taylor joined forces in condemning racism after the UEFA Executive Committee met in Heerenveen on Friday and Saturday, and promised that the European governing body would assume its responsibilities in the face of the phenomenon. "We have supporters who we do not want to see in the stadium," said Mr Platini. "I have stated my position quite clearly. We will be very tough and there will a policy of zero tolerance. You can count on us."
Show of unity
A show of unity against racism will take place on the pitch before the start of tonight's UEFA European Under-21 Championship final between the Netherlands and Serbia at the Euroborg in Groningen. Prior to kick-off the Dutch and Serbian players will wear "Unite Against Racism" T-shirts in the warm-up and both captains and their coaches, Foppe de Haan and Miroslav Djukić, will be joined by Mr Platini, Royal Netherlands Football Association president Mathieu Sprengers, Football Association of Serbia president Zvezdan Terzić, secretary-general of players' union FIFPro Theo van Seggelen and U21 tournament ambassador Frank de Boer for a photo call. "UEFA strongly deplores [racism], and many steps are being taken to ensure it has no part in football," Mr Taylor said.
White Paper diplomacy
On another issue UEFA is to step up its diplomatic efforts together with other sports bodies to achieve a successful outcome to the European Union's White Paper on sport, a draft of which was met with "deep disappointment" by UEFA and its sister organisations last week. UEFA joined the governing bodies of basketball, handball, volleyball and ice hockey to ask for a clear political orientation in favour of sport, leading to a well-defined legal policy and framework for all sport activities in Europe.
Sport's specificity
"It was the unanimous opinion of the team sports, reiterated by the International Olympic Committee, that as it stands the draft that we have seen does not meet our requirements," said UEFA's communications and public affairs director William Gaillard. "We have been promised something on the side of legal certainty, certainly it is not there. There is very little meat on the bone as far as sport's specificity is concerned. We will be talking to [European] Commission officials over the next few weeks. We will make every effort possible, together with the team sports and the International Olympic Committee, to make sure there is an improvement to the final draft of that paper."
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