31.03.2013

Incidents reported to FARE during March 2013

The following list of incidents of racism, xenophobia, extreme nationalism or homophobia have been reported to FARE during the last month. This is not a comprehensive list and only reflects a fraction of the incidents that occurred.

2 March 2013 – Croatia: GNK Dinamo Zagreb – NK Slaven Belupo
During the match a fan group of the home team, the BBB (Bad Blue Boys) chanted “Mamić, you gypsy, get out of the holy shrine”, in the 47th and 58th minutes directed at Zdravko Mamić, the President of Dinamo.

2 March 2013 – Croatia: HNK Cibalia – HNK Hajduk
This Croatian first division match was marked by nationalist and racist incidents. The Cibalia supporters displayed a banner which read “For Croatian Vukovar no Cyrillic”, refering to the Cyrillic alphabet, and another in the 23rd minute saying “7 April, everyone to Zagreb, for our Vukovar, for our Croatia”.

Both banners expressed opposition to an attempt by the Croatian government to introduce signs in Cyrillic in the city of Vukovar. The Ultras also sang several nationalist songs, including “Oj Hrvatska mati” (Oh, Mother Croatia) and Zovi samo zovi (Call, just call), which were followed by nationalist and racist chants, such as: “Serbs from the trees”, “Gypsies, gypsies” and “Kill, kill the Serbs.”

03 March 2013 – England: Yeovil Town v Tranmere Rovers
The English FA have confirmed they are investigating claims of an incident of racism in Tranmere's League One game at Yeovil.
It is claimed Yeovil defender Jamie McAllister made abusive comments to Rovers winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie, from Sierra Leone, as he left the field after being substituted in the second half.

7 March 2013 – UEFA Europa League - Romania: Steaua Bucharest - Chelsea FC
The match between Steaua and Chelsea was marked by a number of discriminatory incidents. Inside and outside the stadium there were demonstrations of far right political statements through Nazi salutes and the display of red, white and black banners referring to the Third Reich and a large flag with a Celtic cross (widely used by the ‘White Power’ movement). During the match Chelsea's Israeli player Benayoun, was singled out for whistling by Steaua Bucharest supporters every time he touched the ball.

8 March 2013 – Italy: Genoa - AC Milan
AC Milan player Mario Balotelli was racially abused by the Genoa fans during the match. Genoa were fined 30,000€ for the incidents by the Italian League.

9 March 2013 – Austria: Reid - Sturm Graz
Richard Sukuta-Pasu from Austrian club Sturm Graz was racially abused. The fans of Reid chanted monkey noises to the player.

9 March 2013 – Greece: Iraklis Psachnon - Apollon Smirnis FC
Lawrence Sokota Doe, international for Equatorial Guinea and a player of Apollon Smirnis FC, was taunted with monkey chants while warming-up next to the pitch during the match. When he entered the pitch in the 74th minute to complain to the referee about the racist abuse, the game was not stopped but he was shown a yellow card.

9 March 2013 – Poland: Polonia Warsaw - Wisla Krakow (Ekstraklasa - Polish top division)
During the Ekstraklasa division match between Polonia Warsaw and Wisla Krakow fans of the visiting team racially abused Emmanuel Sarki, a Nigerian football player from Wisla Krakow.

When the player walked towards the sector occupied by his team’s supporters to thank them for their support throughout the game, a group of fans began to utter monkey sounds.

14 March 2013 – UEFA Europa League – Italy: Inter Milan - Tottenham Hotspur FC
Monkey chants were reported during the match in Milan and an inflatable banana was also seen in the crowd. The racial insults were targeted at Tottenham player Emmanuel Adebayor.

FARE reported the incident to UEFA, the case will be heard on 19 April.

16 March 2013 – Greece: AEK - Veria
AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis performed a Nazi salute while celebrating a goal. The player has been banned by the club until the end of the season and from the Greek national team for life.

17 March 2013 – Hungary: Ferencvárosi TC - Újpest
During the match in Hungary racist banners were displayed. The Hungarian Federation imposed a fine of 6,500 € to Ferencvárosi TC, as a recurring offender, and also penalised the side to play its forthcoming home match behind closed doors. A similar penalty has been imposed on Újpest, which has been fined 3,200 €.

18 March 2013 – Romania: CFR Cluj Napoca - Rapid Bucharest
Throughout the match fans of Rapid Bucharest sang racist and anti-Hungarian slogans. A Hungarian National flag was burnt in the stadium.

22 March 2013 - FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Croatia - Serbia
During the FIFA World Cup Qualifier game Croatian fans targeted the Serbian side with at least seven different nationalist songs seen in the context of the Balkans as likely to cause hatred and lead to discriminatory acts.

In addition, Croatian supporters in different ends of the stadium repeated in turns the sentence “In fight for homeland!”.

The incident has been reported to FIFA.

22 March 2013 – FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Poland - Ukraine
During the game between Poland and Ukraine fans of Ukraine held up a flag with a Celtic cross sign. The flag was taken down by stewards after intervention of "NEVER AGAIN" Association match monitors.

During the second half, Ukrainian fans showed another flag with the same symbol and were seen preforming Nazi salutes.

At the Ukrainian sector of the stadium several fans donned scarves with fascist or racist content, such as nationalist symbols and Celtic crosses.
The incident has been reported to FIFA.

22 March 2013 - FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: San Marino - England
During the match against the two National teams, England supporters sang two songs seen by many commentators as racially abusive: “Build a bonfire, build a bonfire, Put Rio on the top, Put Anton in the middle, Then burn the f****** lot”.

The English supporters also chanted “No Surrender to the IRA!”, a verse previously associated with the far-right.

24 March 2013 – Spain: CF Sant Feliu - Caldes de Montbui
During the match of Tercera Catalana division Francisco García, player of Caldes de Montbui, performed a fascist salute to the crowd. The club banned the player, reportedly number 11, to play any match until the end of the season.

30 March 2013 – Italy: Inter Milan - Juventus

The French international of Guinean origin, Paul Pogba was racially taunted by Inter Milan fans who performed cries of monkeys when the player came onto the pitch as a substitute.
An announcement was made in the stadium reminding fans about the regulations according to which in case of racial slur, the match can be stopped.

Report incident