The adoption of the Anti-racist Chart in football
Adoption of the Anti-racist Chart by the League of Professional Football and the application of punishments provided for by FIFA.
As LICRA pointed out in its annual report on racism in sports, acts of racist violence occur often in football. During the year 2007, Frédéric Thiriez, president of the League of Professional Football, reaffirmed his wish that every association of football supporters sign the “Chart of Ethics in Football,” and the “Chart against Racism,” that apply to such clubs since 2002 and 2004, respectively. Those that refuse to defend the principles of the fight against all violence (racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia) will be ejected from the game.
These declarations belong to a greater trend in the wider application of punishments towards football clubs whose supporters are suspected of racist or anti-Semitic insults and aggressions. Thus the Discipline Commission of the League of Professional Football (LFP) decided to take off one point from the rank of SC Bastia in the League 2 championships. This decision, which the club appealed, from now on belongs to the range of sanctions (closed matches as well) to which the authorities of French football have recourse thanks to the FIFA circular of March 28, 2006. This was the sanction chosen during the Kébé Affair, whose name refers to the Burkinafasan striker of Libourne-Saint-Seurin who was the victim of racist insults hurled by Bastian supporters on 14September 2007 during a match won by the Corsican team. Kébé had responded with a vulgar gesture that resulted in his expulsion. This decision could become jurisprudence. The directors of the League 1 championship are satisfied even though they feel that the decision may cause problems, since it implies that the club is responsible for the behavior of its supporters. They demand a better application of the punishments foreseen by FIFA (fine of 30 000 Swiss Francs, closed match, or the reduction of three points for a first offence).
Sources:
Ligue de football professionnel (LFP - League of Professional Football), Charte contre le racisme, http://www.lfp.fr/corporate/article/la-charte-contre-le-racisme.htm#
Ligue de football professionnel (LFP - League of Professional Football), Racisme: les sanctions seront immédiates, http://www.lfp.fr/corporate/article/racisme-les-sanctions-seront-immediates.htm
Ligue de football professionnel (LFP - League of Professional Football), Frédéric Thiriez souhaite que les associations de supporters signent la charte contre le racisme, http://www.lfp.fr/corporate/article/frederic-thiriez-souhaite-que-les-associations-de-supporters-signent-la-charte-contre-le-racisme.htm
