Henry battles the bigots

By Kevin Ashby & Mark Chaplin

Arsenal FC and France striker Thierry Henry is a high-profile example of a world star who has given open support to the campaign to banish racism from football.

Help from the stars
While UEFA, its charity partner FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) and other bodies are heavily involved in the campaign, they know that the help of the world's top players can give considerable weight to the efforts being made.

'Stand Up, Speak Up'
Henry has been the prime mover behind the Stand Up, Speak Up anti-racism campaign, and has been joined by other stars in spreading the anti-racist message. "Sometimes people think that footballers cannot make decisions or have ideas, but this is mine and has nothing to do with marketing," he told uefa.com. "I have suffered from racism. I thought I would get some help from some famous players, as football players can be more powerful than politicians and the authorities."

Henry's remedy
Henry has his own remedy for silencing racists. "I've never lost it in the past," he explained. "I try to raise my game although not everyone can do that. If I did lose it I would leave my team with ten players and would let myself down too. That's not a solution, scoring goals is. You see the fines which are handed out [for racist abuse] - it's like catching a burglar and just saying 'don't do it again'. You think he won't do it again?

Ban the troublemakers
"In England it's amazing how things have changed. Before, people were scared and women and kids didn't go to matches because of violence. Now if someone does something bad, you see security moving in and people are banned for life. If you see someone banned, then that's the incentive for you to stop. That can be the solution, ban people for life and it won't go on further.

Stamp out racism
"If you expressed your opinion on a poster in the street, and the police see it, you will get arrested," Henry concluded. "Why should you be able to do it in a stadium - which is a place where people go to enjoy a game? It's not a place for political or racial banners. Fans can say things against Arsenal or whatever, but racial messages should not be passed on. Such things are taken down in the street, and police must at least do that in stadiums."

Passionate
With Henry as passionate about fighting racism as scoring goals, the stakes have been raised in the attempt to rid football of those who do much to tarnish it.