Busquets racism - UEFA lack courage

UEFA, the European footballing body could have made a statement of intent: racism on and off the football field will not be tolerated at any European ground. But instead the organisation well known for taking a weak line on this issue did worse than that. With video footage that clearly shows the Barcelona player Sergio Busquets cupping his hand to hide his remarks before calling an opposition Black player Marcelo a ‘Mono, mono’, which is Spanish for monkey.

There are few media outlets in Spain or Latin America that seriously deny that these insulting words were not spoken by Busquets, however UEFA in its infinite wisdom declared that the claim of racial abuse be dismissed "due to a lack of strong and convincing evidence".

With racism at football matches on the rise in Spain, Italy, Germany and particularly in East European countries Black people really have to consider whether or not it is worth risking their well being going to a football match. Furthermore, there are few Black supporters who will be busting a gut to watch the 2018 World cup football tournament in Russia, unless problems or rampant racism are effectively dealt with.

In their deliberations UEFA could have taken a strong leadership position.

Sadly this episode shows the persistent ugly side of the ‘beautiful game’.

Simon Woolley