Racism in Russian Football

There has been condemnation around the world of the recent racist behaviour of CSKA Moscow Football Club and the failure of the European Governing body (UEFA) to take firm action.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/sports/soccer/uefa-orders-partial-ban-on-fans-in-cska-moscow-racism-case.html?_r=0

But aren't calls for stricter punishments for clubs and their fans over this kind of behaviour misguided?

There are undoubted issues over racism in a number of Eastern European countries - at least by the newly enlightened standards of many Western countries.  But don't for get we had these problems in the UK and the USA not too long ago - indeed they are still being tackled.

So how did we arrive at a better place more accepting place?

Through education and familiarity. It became harder and harder for British fans to abuse opposition black players when their own team's best players were of ethnic origin.

So what's required among the fans of CSKA Moscow is education, understanding and tolerance and I don't think we are going to achieve that through stricter punishment.

Does anyone really believe we can batter tolerance into anyone - let alone groups of young men?

Of course when you are angry at these people's behaviour it is natural to want them punished - but in the longer term a more measured approach is required.

It's easy to be superior but who among us knows for sure we wouldn't exhibit the same standards of behaviour if we hadn't had a Muscovite upbringing and cultural background?

They say that before you criticise someone you should walk a mile in their shoes. At least then you are a mile away. And you have their shoes.

Leaving this issue to referees to sort out at matches is, by the way, ridiculous.  The protocol is that if a player is being abused he should inform the referee, who will then locate a stadium official who is supposed to tell the stadium announcer to tell fans to stop the abuse.

1 What language is this all supposed to take place in?  The referee was Romanian, the player being targeted is from the Ivory Coast and the stadium officials are Russian

2 I have been a Premier League stadium announcer. Nobody understands what you say during the game - let alone a Romanian referee in the middle of the pitch

3 The idea that fans might stop their abuse because the stadium announcer tells them to must have been dreamt up by an official who has never been to a football match

The only way to curb this outrageous behaviour is not to be outraged - but to find a way to engage with these fans so that they can be educated and included. On the face of it you would think that football was the perfect medium through which to do this - but they don't seem to be trying hard enough.