2012
Sport: Is hate speech ground for sanctions to sport clubs and applied/applicable in practice?
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Austria
There are several legislative provisions guaranteeing protection against hate speech in general, which could cover some aspects of hate speech in sports. There are very few regulations by sport federations or clubs that explicitly prohibit racist and ethnic discrimination.
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Bulgaria
Yes, in football.
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Cyprus
No.
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Denmark
Yes.
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Finland
Yes.
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France
Yes
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Germany
Yes. However, while legally binding regulations are rare, there are various non-binding declarations that condemn racism in sport.
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Greece
Yes, but it has never been applied.
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Hungary
Yes.
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Ireland
Hate speech is legislated for in Irish law in the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. This act applies to everyone and is not particular to sports events. Individual instances of hate speech are dealt with by the relevant sporting association.
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Italy
Yes.
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Poland
Yes.
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Portugal
Yes, hate speech is ground for sanctions to sport clubs. Whoever, if some of these incidents led to applications of fines, the number of sanctions is extremely scarce.
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Romania
Discriminatory incidents are sanctioned through law as well as through specific sport regulations, there are incidents which have been sanctioned in practice, yet no quantitative data is publicly available.
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Slovenia
Formally, most sports associations' statutes in Slovenia don't refer explicitly to hate speech as the grounds for imposing sanctions, but contain more general rules. However, in practice santions have been imposed for racist chanting.
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Spain
Yes.
Law against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport. (2007). -
Sweden
Yes. Hate speech is a ground for sanctions to sport clubs and applied in practice.