A united front against racism

By Mark Chaplin

The campaign to rid football of the evil of racism continues, with UEFA at the vanguard of the movement. The UEFA Guide to Good Practice, a publication which has been widely distributed, is aimed at helping the football community tackle this disturbing phenomenon.

Concerted drive
The comprehensive and informative guide has been put together by European football's governing body and the pan-European Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network, who have been working together in a concerted drive to get rid of the racists from football.

Widespread distribution
The publication has been circulated to all of Europe's national associations, leagues and clubs, as well as to UEFA's referees, match delegates and venue directors. It is one of the practical results that emerged from the Unite Against Racism conference staged by UEFA, FARE and the English Football Association at Stamford Bridge, London in March 2003.

Significant record
"It stands as a significant record of the achievements of many in campaigning to tackle racism," said UEFA and FARE of the guide. "Our ultimate hope is that by sharing examples of 'good practice', such practice will spread and that new approaches and initiatives will be generated, adding to the growing momentum of the campaign against racism."

Anti-racist initiatives
A key aim of the guide is to gather examples of the anti-racism initiatives being carried out within and outside of football - by fans, clubs, players, migrant and ethic minority organisations - not only as a reaction against racist incidents, but also to educate people and build respect.

European action
The guide is varied and interesting in content. The term 'racism' is defined in detail, and examples of racist behaviour in football are highlighted. Coverage is devoted to charters produced and published throughout Europe, including the ten-point action plan issued by UEFA and FARE as a forerunner to the guide.

Guiding principles
In a set of principles of good practice included in the guide, UEFA and FARE recommend the adoption of national action plans, with regular monitoring of results, as well as the use of public-friendly branding for national campaigns, and the setting-up of partnerships between fans, players, police, stewards and NGOs.

Fan culture
The anti-racism message should also be instilled through fan culture, with the emphasis on showing respect for the cultures and traditions of fans everywhere. High-profile players should be used to help underline anti-racist messages, and ethnic minorities and migrants should be encouraged to participate in football at all levels without fear of discrimination or abuse.

Reaching the young
Anti-racist messages, UEFA and FARE insist, must reach young people through schools, youth clubs and children's publications, and football's campaign should be joined to wider campaigns against racism and xenophobia, both in other sports and in society in general. The principles conclude with a general call for action to be taken against perpetrators of racist acts at every level of the game - "so that those involved know it will not be tolerated".

Significant step
Leading campaigners in the fight to kick racism out of football have described UEFA's newly-published Guide to Good Practice as an important move forward in the ongoing drive to eliminate racism from the sport. Piara Powar, director of Kick It Out, a leading member of the FARE network, said: "The guide is amongst the most comprehensive European documents outlining anti-racist action in any area of activity. It is welcomed as a significant step in the fight against racism in European football."

Click here to read the Guide to Good Practice