FAI makes ‘robust response’ to charge of racism

THE FAI were obliged to counter a charge of racism from UEFA after Rangers’ player Shota Arveladze was booed in last month’s European Championship qualifying tie against Georgia in Lansdowne Road.

An FAI spokesman yesterday confirmed they had made “a robust response” to the charge and affirmed their support for the anti-racist campaign waged by the world governing bodies of football.

“We emphasised to UEFA that the FAI is very strong on the issue of racism” said the spokesman.

“And we pointed out that it was just a very small minority who had engaged in that activity. We take the issue very seriously and showed UEFA how pro-active we are in that regard.”

The demand from UEFA that the FAI answer the charge was a huge embarrassment to the FAI and will come as a severe blow to genuine Irish football fans and members of the supporters’ club.

The fans exemplary behaviour earned several international awards for fair play but this latest episode has tarnished that image.

The letter from UEFA followed the ridiculous behaviour of the minority who concentrated on Arveladze solely because he plays for Rangers.

Regrettably, it was not an isolated incident for other Rangers’ players were also booed at Lansdowne Road.

Tore Andre Flo was booed when he played for Norway in April as was Peter Lovenkrands with Denmark in March 2002.

The UEFA action was taken on foot of a complaint from a supporter who was at the match. I was unable to

establish whether the complaint had come from an Irish or a Georgian fan.

The UEFA observer at the game, I believe, did not include any reference to the booing in his report.

The FAI response to the charge was delivered quickly and was with UEFA within 48 hours of the complaint.

In their defence, the FAI were able to point to an anti-racism notice they included alongside the team-sheet in the centre page of the match programme.

The FAI is actively looking at possible ways of stamping out racist behaviour and it is likely they will look for the active support of the genuine fans at future matches.

Their embarrassment was heightened during the match against Denmark when a request over the PA system for fans to quit booing Lovenkrands sparked more booing.

There was an element of good-nature about it when fans started to boo the Irish players as well as if to level the playing field, but it was an action open to conflicting interpretations.

There was a sequel to the incidents at the recent match against Georgia. Arveladze took ill on the team coach returning to the hotel after the game and spent the night in a Dublin hospital.

His illness had nothing to do with the booing incidents.

The FAI medical team remained in close contact with the player and when he returned to his hotel the following day, FAI chief executive Fran Rooney made a call to his room.

Arveladze was not there but returned the call and on receiving Rooney’s apology for the fans’ behaviour stressed that it had not upset him.

Indeed, the Georgia FA later sent an official letter to the president of the FAI Milo Corcoran, paying tribute to the FAI for the way in which they had looked after Arveladze and the level of co-operation the entire party had received on their visit to Ireland.