1st division foreign football players subjected to racist verbal attacks

Alert DateApril 15, 2007 Country: Greece Address: Kalamaria General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Sport Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Public Discourse

Related Case Studies

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Albanian, Congolese
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 2
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Alban Bushi, a Superliga Albanian football player (Kalamaria) was allegedly subjected to racist verbal attacks during the games he played in. According to media reports, his wife and relatives were mistreated or beaten when cheering the goals he made. During one match he reacted by spitting at an opponent player and by showing insulting gestures towards the bench of the Athens team Panathinaikos. He was fined to a sum of 40.160 € and three matches off, while the public prosecutor Mr.Kanellopoulos ordered an inquiry in order to assess whether he was residing in Greece illegally. The allegations on racist verbal attacks and beatings were never investigated.

Later that year (02.12.2007), during a football match at the Peristeri/Athens stadium, Lua Lua, an Olympiakos (Piraeus football club) was verbally threatened by fans of the local team.

Source:

Eleftherotipia, 19.04.2007 & 27.04.2007

Kathimerini, 20.04.2007, http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_571287_20/04/2007_224049

Kathimerini, 09.12.2007, http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_civ_373306_09/12/2007_251615