Kevin-Prince Boateng And The Issue Of Racism in Football

Today, Kevin-Prince Boateng, along with other AC Milan teammates, were subject to racist chants during a friendly from a minority group of people in the stands. He walked off the pitch, along with his AC Milan teammates, and the match was suspended.

First, I'll say this. I think it was right for Boateng to walk off the pitch and it was even better that the rest of his AC Milan teammates to walk with him. It shows great solidarity, and it shows that AC Milan doesn't tolerate racism. But there is the other side of all this. By walking off the pitch, they are also telling the minority of racist fans that they have the power to affect the outcome of a match, whether the match is suspended, or if the match goes on.

Racism cannot be stopped completely. That is impossible. But racism in football can be reduced to the point where if someone or a group of people engage in racist chanting, the punishment for it towards them and the club they support will be so severe that it deters them and other people from engaging in racist chanting. For that to happen, FIFA, UEFA, and the other continental footballing bodies need to make the hard-line stance that racism is unacceptable.

But will they do that?

It has already shown the FIFA and UEFA are more willing to punish people for conflicting with sponsors' interests than with actually taking a stance with racism, (Nicklas Bendtner, anyone?) and I think I know why this is the case. Sponsors make money for FIFA and UEFA. Racism doesn't make money for FIFA and UEFA. If you mess with the sponsors, expect big fines to come your way, because sponsorship is a big money stream for FIFA and UEFA.

So then how can we make FIFA and UEFA stand up and make a hard-line stance that racism is unacceptable?

There needs to be awareness from supporters and pressure on FIFA and the continental footballing bodies. I don't think it is enough for just supporters to pressure the footballing bodies. Entities like football clubs need to also pressure the footballing bodies and punish those who engage in racist chanting. AC Milan have made their stance today, and it is time for other supporters, players, and clubs to build on it. Despite the recent racial incidents, racism has always been a lingering issue in football. It's time for all of us to put overwhelming pressure on the footballing bodies, and to make this issue obsolete once and for all.