Parents have important role in combating racism

FORMER Ireland soccer star Curtis Fleming has urged parents who watch football with their children to help combat racism by instilling a respect for difference in them.

Speaking at the FAI launch of FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) Week, Mr Fleming said children’s attitudes are heavily influenced by images they see in the media and by the views and actions of their parents and heroes.

“With football, media, parents and sporting heroes all converging, it can be responsible for forming the attitudes and mindsets of our young population.

“It is because of this that football is a vital tool in growing cultural awareness and respect for diversity,” he said.

“This means everyone should be careful about the language they use when alluding to certain players and challenging a child’s views if they mimic discriminatory chants or slogans.”

Mr Fleming said he had experienced some racism growing up in Dublin.

“My mother is Irish and my dad is from Jamaica, so I did experience some racism growing up in Dublin in the 1970s,” he said.

“Football was a great outlet for me and, over the course of my career, I always received support from my teammates and management. As a footballer, you can be in a dressing room with maybe 15 different nationalities – people with different skin colours and different religious backgrounds – and it doesn’t matter in the least because everyone’s focused on one goal – going out there and playing a good game. You don’t think about differences; you just think about what you have in common.”

Mr Fleming said it was the duty of fans and footballers alike to promote the message that discrimination of any sort – whether based on religious background, nationality or skin colour – is simply not acceptable, on or off the pitch.

“Footballers playing with the top clubs are hero-worshipped by young kids, so they can be hugely influential in challenging negative behaviour and promoting respect for cultural diversity. But it’s equally important that when children go to matches – even if it’s only a kick-around in their local park – that they don’t hear adults around them using racist language or taunting opposition players because of cultural differences. Respect for diversity needs to be encouraged at all levels of the game.”

Des Tomlinson, national coordinator for Intercultural Football at the FAI said more than 140 clubs, schools and community groups were involved in FARE Week 2009.

“At international and professional club level, racism is less of an issue, but it still persists at a more local level. In parts of Europe, we are also witnessing a rise in racism,” he said.

“Irish fans can play an important role in ensuring that racist behaviour does not take hold here,” he added.

*www.farenet.org