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The idea of deducting points from countries or clubs whose fans are found guilty of racist abuse has the backing of nearly two thirds of football supporters, according to a new survey.<\/p>\n
In the study of 27,000 fans from 38 countries \u2014 conducted by anti-racism group Kick It Out and live-score app Forza Football \u2014 60% of respondents said they would support points deductions, while 54% of supporters said they had witnessed racist abuse while watching a game.<\/p>\n
Docking points from a team could include instances such as Chelsea\u2019s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain in 2015, where traveling fans of the English Premier League club physically stopped a man from getting on the Paris metro, suggested the survey\u2019s organizers.<\/p>\n
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\nIn the past, football teams have had points deducted for a range of transgressions, including insolvency, financial problems, fielding ineligible players and match-fixing, but not racism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governing bodies, including The FA, UEFA and FIFA, must do more to promote methods of reporting racism and they must listen to supporters\u2019 demands,\u201d said Lord Ouseley, chairman Kick It Out.<\/p>\n
\u201cClubs or countries whose supporters are racially abusive should face harsher sanctions, including points deductions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The survey found that only 28% of fans know how to appropriately report racist incidents. That figure is as low as 13% in Arabic countries.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson from The FA, English football\u2019s governing body, told CNN that \u201cwe encourage all fans and participants who believe that they have been the subject of, or witness to, discriminatory abuse to report this through the appropriate channels: The FA, our County FA network or via our partners at Kick It Out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, FIFA announced a \u201cdedicated anti-discrimination monitoring system\u201d that enabled referees to stop, suspend or abandon a match if racist or discriminatory chanting took place.<\/p>\n
This came after the Russian Football Union was fined $28,000 for racist chanting by fans during a friendly against France in March.<\/p>\n
Fans wore black face paint and carried bananas in a parade in Sochi, Russia, before the Confederations Cup in 2017.<\/p>\n
In recent months the German Football Federation has come under scrutiny after star player Mesut \u00d6zil, who has Turkish heritage, announced his retirement from international football for what he called a \u201cfeeling of racism and disrespect.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the survey, 77% of German football fans said they feel comfortable with a player of different ethnic or racial background representing their national or club team. Amongst Europe\u2019s top five leagues, this figure is lowest amongst Italian fans (71%).<\/p>\n
In 2017, Ghanaian footballer Sulley Muntari said he received racial abuse every game playing in Italy\u2019s Serie A.<\/p>\n
Playing for Pescara at the time, Muntari walked off the pitch after hearing abuse and later told CNN Sport that he\u2019d support a player boycott in protest against racism.<\/p>\n
European governing body UEFA instructs that a player or team found guilty of racist conduct must be suspended for at least 10 matches. Referees are instructed to stop, suspend, or even abandon a match if racist incidents occur.<\/p>\n
In a statement to CNN, UEFA said that \u201cthe fight to eliminate racism, discrimination and intolerance from football is a major priority for our organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cUEFA condemns such deplorable behavior and has always shown zero tolerance for any form of racism and discrimination.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe campaign against discrimination, not just in and around football, but in European society as a whole, is a key belief of UEFA\u2019s social responsibility program.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIFA did not immediately respond to CNN\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs our research reveals, too many supporters, both in the UK and across the world, are unsure of how to report discrimination,\u201d Lord Ouseley told CNN. \u201cLeaders in football must use their platform to do more to raise awareness of the reporting methods available to fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cPaltry fines for clubs or national associations have a very limited impact on repeat offenders, so governing bodies need to be bolder in their approach to tackling racist abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cEducation is vital to help people understand the impact of racist behavior, but at the same time stadium bans, more severe fines, and points deductions all have to be on the table. Our research shows that supporters across the globe would be receptive to that too.\u201d<\/p>\n
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