UEFA favors a 10-match ban along with stadium ban for racist abuses

[RaceHorse]

European soccer governing body UEFA has taken an extreme step and defined new measures to tackle racism on the field both by players as well by spectators. Recently, crowd found to be more active in abusing players rather players; hence such a measure became necessary to force clubs to control their home crowd. According to new guidelines proposed by governing body, every racial case that is proved against a player can ban him for as many as ten matches, however, if spectators are found to be guilty of racially chanting players of any team, the whole stadium can be partially banned for organizing further matches. Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino discussed about new initiatives taken by governing body in Soccerex event in Manchester, he said, "It's still a scourge on the game. We have to have sanctions. What we are proposing is that if a player or official is found guilty then they will be suspended for 10 matches. If supporters are found guilty then there will be a partial closure of the stadium. This means the section where offence took place will be closed. If there is a second offence by the club's supporters there will be full closure with a minimum 50,000 euros (£42,700) fine."

Actually, there has been long awaiting demand to define new forms of controlling measures after AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off the field along with his team when stadium crowd kept throwing racial chanting on his team. Later, it was widely criticized; however, many also supported him in the wake of prevailing conditions on the field. Besides this incident, there have been other cases on individual levels where some big players in the business got either a ban or monetary fine on proving guilty of racial abuses. Moreover, FIFA has also indicated on several occasions that it is not going to tolerate any case related to racial chanting.

Some of the biggies found guilty include John Terry, who found guilty of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand back on 23 October 2011. He got four matches ban along with a £220,000 fine. Uruguay striker Suarez was similarly banned for eight matches along with a £40000 fine after he clashed with Manchester United's Patrice Evra back in October 2011.

On these recommendations, Uefa executive committee will vote in London in May, and if it is passed by the majority of members there, these measures will be applicable on all UEFA matches from July.