The racism issue that continues to darken the edges of an otherwise fantastic, high-scoring European Championship tournament may be moving into a new phase given Saturday’s announcement of a formal charge.
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, has formally charged Croatia of racism, opening a case against that country’s association after reports of fans making monkey chants toward Italian forward Mario Balotelli, who is black.
UEFA’s charges stem from Croatian supporters’ actions Thursday in Poznan, Poland; the incidents in question include “racist chants” and “racist symbols.” There were also fireworks thrown onto the field, briefly delaying the game at one point.
The displays of far-right flags and the monkey chants are the most serious accusations.
FARE executive director Piara Powar, who has unfortunately been heard from quite often during this tournament, told The Associated Press: “It was fairly consistent throughout the game. It was at its most intense as he was substituted and left the field.”
ProSoccerTalk is doing its best to keep you up to date on what’s going on in Poland and Ukraine. Check out the site’s Euro 2012 page and look at the site’s previews, predictions, and coverage of all the events defining UEFA’s championship.
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- billobrienschindimple - Jun 16, 2012 at 1:48 PM
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Love the red and white checkerboard. I have Croatian blood flowing through my veins. I cannot stand the connection to far right groups and the obvious racism exhibited by the fans.
I hope UEFA continues to punish those who feel there is a place for racism in the game. Even if it means the loss of points or a place in future events.
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- drewsylvania - Jun 16, 2012 at 2:22 PM
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Just getting into EuroCup–is Balotelli normally that intense/angry, or are the chants affecting him?
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- Steve Davis - Jun 16, 2012 at 6:55 PM
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Yeah … what BBSD said. Balotelli marches to his own drum beat, to say the least. Who really knows WHAT goes on in that head of his. But he does brood and pout a lot, to answer your question.
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- billobrienschindimple - Jun 16, 2012 at 3:53 PM
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You never know what you’ll get with Balotelli. For every moment of brilliance there are 2 moments of head scratching behavior or shocking meltdowns, on or off the pitch.
Not so sure the chants affected him. He did state pre-tourney that he would walk off the pitch if he was subject to racism. He didn’t seem pleased to be coming off.
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- chiniquy - Jun 17, 2012 at 2:08 PM
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Monkey chants!!! How infantile. The only way to stamp out this type of imbecilic behaviour is to find people whom these mental dwarfs respect and idolise and have them strongly reject racism and these types of childish behaviour. Racists’ behaviour in the Caucasian ‘race’ is deeply ingrained from centuries of brain-dummying influences from a religion that taught their followers, that the Lord-Creator of the Heavens and Earth had a Caucasian son which leads to the conclusion that The Creator must also be a Caucasian (a carryover from Greek and Roman mythological gods into Christianity). Anyone who accepted that foolish belief would then treat other ‘racial’ groups as inferiors and not worthy to be respected as are the members of the Caucasian ‘race.’ Intelligent personalities from the Caucasian ‘race’ must stand up and bring to an end this centuries old ignorance. The victims should not be the only ones speaking out against racism.
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