New drive to kick racism out of soccer

A new campaign to crack down on racism in football is to be launched today.

The Football Association wants to encourage victims of racism to report incidents via a free telephone line. It has teamed up with the Metropolitan Police to launch the new Report Racism initiative.

Targeted at all levels of the game, but particularly at grassroots football, the campaign will be promoted initially around Millwall FC in Southwark and Lewisham, south London.

The campaign will be backed by thousands of information cards and posters giving details of the free telephone line.

Detective Chief Superintendent Adrian Maybanks, from the Met’s Diversity Directorate, said: “I recognise the impact that racist comments can have on people’s lives.

“It is unacceptable for any players at any level of sport to have to suffer this kind of abuse.”

The campaign is to be launched at Millwall FC today.