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VICTIMS: Racial abuse in football

THE BLACK, Asian and Minority Ethnic Football Forum (BFF), which launched in April 2019, has released a report that found over three quarters of respondents had witnessed or experienced racism or discrimination in football in the last 12 months.

The report found that in many cases at a grassroots level, the abuse is targeted at children and young people, as respondents told the forum that they felt vulnerable and indefensible on the football pitch, and believed that it is a feeling that should not be taken lightly.

The report #ItsNotFair, Grassroots Experiences of Racism, is being launched at the start of the grassroots season, and captures a snapshot of views and lived experiences of racism and discrimination.

SANCTIONS

As part of the recommendations from the report, the forum is calling for greater BAME representation at board level, open processes to monitor clubs and players who commit racial abuse including working with the police to charge spectators, and for the local FA to develop new tougher sanctions to clubs and players that are found guilty of racial abuse including a recommendation that clubs have their chartered standard kitemark reviewed.

VOCAL: Ivan Liburd

Ivan Liburd, Chair of the BFF, said: "We are missing something fundamental on the issue of safeguarding young people from adult abuse in football. More needs to be done when an adult verbally and racially abuses a child from the sidelines of the pitch, or even attempts to physically harm them.

"And it's not just grassroots, the system is failing BAME communities at all levels. If we turn to the professional game, employees (players) are being continually racially abused at work, with little or no guarantee that it will not happen again or for the rest of their employment as a player. Is this what our young players have to look forward to?"

To shed an even greater light on the issues, the forum is holding its first event on Monday 21 October, 5.00pm to 9pm, being held at the King Power Stadium during the Fare Network Football People Action Weeks; and will give players, coaches, managers, parents and the public an opportunity to have further discussions on the important issue of racism in football.

The event, entitled At the Grass Root of Racism, will see attendees from the semi professional and professional game, the Local and national campaign groups and more. The forum is also urging non-BAME clubs and members to attend the event and to be part of the conversations.

Ahmed Maravia, Vice Chair of the BFF, commented: “We as a forum are representative of many clubs within the Leicestershire area and it is important that we sit down with authorities and share our experiences. This is partly why the forum was set up, to create a platform to be heard and our event is a good place to start."

To read the #ItsNotFair report and recommendations, visit http://www.bamefootballforum.com/?p=160

To find out more about the event or to book a place, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/at-the-grass-root-of-racism-tickets-67003...