R.E.S.P.E.C.T

The issue is no longer racism, the issue is respect. It is naive to believe that other forms of slurring do not happen during matches. Comments may not always be racist but can be potentially offensive. However, accusing another player, or in this case official, of racism appears to be the “in” thing, a way of gaining an advantage over an opponent in a bid to unsettle the opposing player and team by inciting public hatred for the abuser.

This peer pressure tactic is employed throughout life, helping to maintain order and conformity, but really it is a technique used for children.

But then again, children are exactly what most footballers are. Rio Ferdinand refused to wear the “Kick It Out” t-shirt against Stoke feeling that the campaign is not doing enough to stop racism in football yet what more can they actually do?
If Chelsea sack John Terry, someone else would snap up the player, Joey Barton and Adrian Mutu have seen enough clubs to prove that.

However, Rio is now apparently more than happy with the changes that have not been implemented over the past week, as he warmed up donning the “Kick It Out” t-shirt before the game at Chelsea. A wise decision considering he himself encouraged a racist tweet sent to him about Ashley Cole.

"Looks like Ashley Cole's going to be their choc ice," it read. "Then again he's always been a sell out. Shame on him."

Ferdinand responded: "I hear you fella! Choc ice is classic! hahahahahahha!!" Double standards some may say from a player who is making a stand against racism.

There is no place for racism in football but is there a place for threatening referees when they make a decision or for branding all fans as hooligans after one already banned fan assaults your keeper and others sing offensive songs.

The last point does seem to illustrate just how ad hoc and fruitless the battle to gain respect on a football pitch has become. Aaron Crawley has already been banned numerous times from football matches yet if he can still go to games, why can’t other banned supporters sneak in also?

The solution is not to make a rash statement where there is going to be no follow-up, like Dave Jones and Rio Ferdinand. An effective strategy needs to be implemented that targets individuals, both players and supporters.

Maybe clubs need to pay for microchips to be implemented inside a banned supporter’s leg, or provide eye recognition for all fans? These may sound like expensive solutions but surely with so much money in football they can be achieved if desired.

Perhaps, one potential option would be to place a ban on players appearing on televised matches or in front of a paying crowd if they bring the sport into disrepute. If Chelsea could not gain TV revenue or gate receipts due to naming him Terry in the squad they would no doubt be quick to release the player, and most clubs would not value Terry’s assets highly enough to lose most of their revenue.

Realistically though, if every offensive comment that was made on a football pitch was highlighted, there would be no space in our newspapers for other issues of the day. We have known about these problems in football for years, everyone remembers Zidane’s headbutt in the World Cup final in 2006 after Materazzi made racial slurs towards the French player. Nothing was done then. Something needs to be done now.