PFA issue warning over racism

British team players' chief Gordon Taylor has warned the game cannot let its guard slip in the battle against racism.

Taylor last week said he felt England should have walked off the field after some of their players suffered racial abuse during their friendly against Spain in Madrid.

The racism issue was again highlighted yesterday when Birmingham substitute Dwight Yorke confronted a fan at Blackburn after allegedly being taunted whilst warming up.

A fan was later ejected from the Ewood Park ground and the matter is now being investigated by the police and the Football Association.

Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association, said: “There is no room for complacency whatsoever. We have had to address our own issues and generally we have been successful.

“Our efforts to tackle racism are a good example to the rest of the world but we would be naïve to think we have eradicated it completely.

“It is a concern that there could be a copycat element to what happened in Spain in this but there are steps in place to deal with it and I believe Blackburn have dealt with this very quickly and efficiently.

“We have made a lot of progress over the past decade to the extent that the whole country was horrified by what happened in Spain. It is an outdated attitude but I was gratified by the general abhorrence shown after it. We have moved on from that.”

Yorke’s actions in confronting the fan concerned were backed by the English game’s anti-racism campaign, Kick It Out.

Campaign director Piara Powar has no problem with the way Yorke reacted as no player should have to tolerate racist abuse.

Powar told Sky Sports News: “Dwight Yorke is affected by it and sometimes I feel players will always feel it necessary to get involved. We have to understand the impact of racial abuse of this kind has on the individuals involved.

“I cannot think of anything worse for someone from a minority background. We would encourage all players, spectators and everyone around the game to report racism whenever it occurs rather than turning a blind eye to it.”

European football’s governing body UEFA do not have direct jurisdiction over this particular matter but are confident the FA will take strong action.

UEFA director of communications William Gaillard said: “We do not interfere with their territory but in England the FA are excellent at dealing with these things. I am sure they will deal with it efficiently.

“We are always concerned about racism. It is one of the priorities for the FA, for us, for FIFA. Over the last two and a half years we have issued 40 sanctions in games.

“It always rears its ugly head but in England the work done by the FA, the league, clubs and fans has been outstanding and proves the battle can be won.”

Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas, one of the England players targeted at the Bernabeu Stadium, has called for strong action to tackle the problem.

He said: “It is definitely still there as well but when you come abroad it is at a lot higher level and a lot higher level of ignorance.

“It is difficult to kick 5,000 people out of the stands and not let them back in. The only thing we can do is keep making a stand and make sure people recognise it is wrong.

“In England racism is at a very low level. If you were to hear it, it is the odd comment when you go to get the ball after it has gone out of play. Maybe one or two people will shout out the odd thing but what happened in Madrid was pretty disgraceful.”