Indicator history

Nevertheless, certain trends and incidents are undoubtful:

The most frequent racist phenomena recorded in Greece are verbal insults or mocking and banners against athletes and/or fans on the basis of their ethnic or racial origin, as well as verbal and physical violent attacks on specific ethnic groups of fans in relation to sport events involving foreign athletes and/or teams, especially of neighbouring countries of Albania and Turkey.

A considerable presence of far-right groups in major sports, especially football, targeting specific ethnic groups, such as the Albanians, who constitute the most numerous migrant group in Greece. This is most visible at matches where the Greek National football team participates. Over the past years there have been cases of extensive violence and killings. One of the most striking and shocking aspects is the tolerance of such violence and its generalisation - through a ‘spill-over’ effect – leading to the use of violence also by other, non-militant right-wing groups of indigenous population against migrants.

There is no doubt that football as the major sport is where numerous and serious racist incidents occur. The violent incidents and killings reported in 2004 after the match between Albania and Greece is the tip of the iceberg of a long list of verbal and physical attacks, as well as of the proliferation of xenophobic, nationalist and even Nazi banners, salutations and slogans in football stadiums.

What is striking is that, depending on the moment and opportunity, similar violent incidents may contaminate basketball. For instance, the lack of any major success of the Greek national football team or of any tensions in football, may turn the interest of organised violent groups to basketball. Indicative is the case of Basketball World Championship 2006, when migrants were beaten once Greece lost in the finals. The incident of the most recent verbal insulting of a well known Afro-Greek basketball player is yet another example.

Source: Pavlou M.(ed.) authors: Pavlou M.-Parsanoglou D. - Djordjevic O. (2009), Racism in sport in Greece: Preventing racism, xenophobia & related intolerance in sport across the European Union, RAXEN: HLHR-KEMO/i-RED