News in 2006

11th March 2006

Cut sound or colour from racist football matches, TV firms urged

A cross-party group of European politicians will use the launch of a joint campaign against racism in football with Uefa next week to urge broadcasters to cut the sound or switch to black and white if a serious racist incident happens during a football match.

The idea, which MEPs want to see in action at this summer's World Cup in Germany, is the brainchild of Labour MEP Claude Moraes. It is the highlight of a declaration backed by 423 MEPs, the largest number to sign such a motion, which will be unveiled in strasbourg next week.

The European Parliament does not have the power to oblige television channels to alter transmissions, but Mr Moraes said that two years of private discussions with Uefa bosses, networks, as well as German authorities and police have left him convinced that MEPs were "pushing at an open door".

The European Parliament does not have the power to oblige television channels to alter transmissions, but Mr Moraes said that two years of private discussions with Uefa bosses, networks, as well as German authorities and police have left him convinced that MEPs were "pushing at an open door".

Concerns

Mr Moraes, who is president of the parliament's "anti-racism and diversity inter-group", said German police had told him of concerns about racist abuse from fans and extreme Right-wing groups, especially from EU states in eastern and central Europe, but also from Spain and Italy.

British fans were this week warned by the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, that they faced jail terms if they performed Nazi salutes, or chanted Sieg Heil, in Germany - even if done in jest.

In Holland, sales of orange replica Nazi helmets aimed at fans attending the World Cup have trebled since they were banned from Dutch stadiums by the authorities.

Florian van Laar's firm sells around 5,000 to 7,000 orange helmets a week and has added helmets in the national colours of Australia, England, Germany, France and Italy to its range. "This is simply meant as a joke," he said.

Response

The idea of television companies cutting the colour from racist matches came from Italy, where far-Right groups have infiltrated clubs such as Lazio in Rome, hanging a swastika and portraits of Mussolini from the terraces. Lazio's captain, Paolo di Canio, has been suspended twice for giving a fascist salute.

After a week of unusually bad racist incidents, the Italian state broadcaster, RAI, began showing matches in black and white, with a caption on the screen explaining why, Mr Moraes said.

"We're not asking for some EU media onslaught, we're asking individual broadcasters to take action," he said. "I know football journalists and broadcasters care about it. We are pushing at an open door."

Uefa sources said the idea of switching to black and white transmission was "quite creative", but said the governing body did not support cutting the sound to matches.