News in 2007

09th August 2007

Red Star warned over further racist abuse

UEFA last night warned Red Star Belgrade they will not tolerate a repeat of the racist abuse endured by DaMarcus Beasley and Jean-Claude Darcheville during Rangers' 1-0 win against FK Zeta in Montenegro on Tuesday night.

Rangers face the Serbian champions in the final qualifying tie for the Champions League with Beasley having already been subjected to monkey noises when he played against Red Star for PSV Eindhoven three years ago.

William Gaillard, director of communications for the governing body, revealed UEFA have already begun an investigation into the behaviour of the Zeta supporters, after the monkey noises were noted in the report submitted by the official delegate, Jean-Marie Philipe. Gaillard warned of serious consequences for Red Star if there is a repeat in Serbia.

Michel Platini, the president of UEFA, has taken a hardline stance against crowd misbehaviour, expelling Partizan Belgrade from the UEFA Cup after their fans rioted with rivals supporters from the Bosnian side, Siroki Brijeg.

"I spoke to our control and disciplinary committee and have launched an immediate investigation into the incident," said Gaillard, who is also an influential advisor to Platini. "We treat it very seriously. Michel Platini has said before there will be a zero-tolerance policy to racism and all discriminatory behaviour.

"That policy will be enforced again and again. We have already taken swift action against Partizan Belgrade, who have been expelled from the UEFA Cup."

Beasley has been encouraged by the promptness of UEFA's investigation. Rangers, though, are now unlikely to file an independent complaint. Having been sanctioned on two occasions by UEFA for crowd misbehaviour, they are not in a position of strength.

UEFA have already had to act after racist incidents involving England. Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole were subjected to monkey chants during a recent international against Croatia, while Nigel Reo-Coker endured similar taunts from Serbian fans during the European Under-21 Championship. The governing body will now clamp down on a persistent problem in the Balkans.

"It is not the first time we have had problems from countries in that part of Europe and our sympathies are with the two Rangers players," said Gaillard. "There is no place for this type of thing in football and it is terrible that these players had to suffer this."

Vlado Sisevic, the sporting director of FK Zeta, attempted to play down the racist noises heard around the stadium and attributed the chants to a militant element in Podgorica who have attached themselves to the club.

"The problem with racism is not a major incident," he said. "This is the action of a few individuals and is nothing to do with the football club.

"Not all the fans in the stadium were singing these songs or making these chants. In a crowd of 5000 you are always going to get one or two stupid guys."

None the less, the club will submit a formal apology to Rangers and Sisevic expressed his wish that the behaviour has not soured relations.

"The football club will send an email to Rangers this week and make an apology for any offence concerned by this minority," he said, "but I have to say that the clubs have a great bond.

"In the dressing room beforehand we found out that Rangers turned up with only blue socks so the football club had to give them red ones to play the game.

"We also had to give them a couple of balls for training so I do hope that the relationship between both clubs has not been wrecked by those supporters. Again, I would like to apologise to both players and Rangers Football Club for what happened."

Sisevic also expects his club to escape supplementary punishment after water bottles were thrown on to the field, and a lighter hurled in the direction of Charlie Adam, after the home side had been denied a penalty claim by the Italian referee, Paolo Dondarini.

"The UEFA delegate wasn't too concerned with the missile throwing in the stadium," he said. "The referee didn't award the penalty and supporters will react like that but this is common in football."

Time to take a stand

RANGERS were yesterday urged to take a strong stand against any potential racist abuse before they travel to face Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League third-round qualifying tie.

The Serbian side lost 2-1 to Levadia Tallinn last night but went through on away goals and now stand between the Ibrox outfit and a place in the group stages of Europe's elite club competition.

But Piara Powar, spokesman for Football Against Racism in Europe, warned another problem is looming and said: "Unfortunately, Serbia has a terrible problem with neo-nazism and racist abuse. It's no exaggeration to say they are probably the worst country in Europe for it.

"What happened to DaMarcus Beasley in Montenegro against FK Zeta is completely unacceptable, but at least UEFA have acted quickly on it.

"Rangers should make as much noise as possible before they travel to Serbia about the possible racist abuse.

"In the lead-up to the match, they should make it clear this is not acceptable and even try and hold talks with the club.

"Serbia and the former Yugoslavian states always appear to be the worst offenders . . . it's up to Rangers and their supporters to say they won't accept it."

Source: The Herald