21.08.2019

List of incidents reported to Fare during July 2019

The following incidents of racism, xenophobia, extreme nationalism or homophobia have been reported to Fare during July 2019. This list is only likely to reflect a proportion of the incidents that occurred.

All reports have been brought to Fare’s attention through eyewitness or media accounts. A Fare observer scheme is also currently at place at UEFA club competitions to monitor discriminatory behaviour.

Fare has third party reporting status with UEFA, and FIFA on international matches, and at a national level we can support incident reports made by our members.

The general public can keep us informed of national and international level incidents through the reporting form here.

03 July 2019 – CONCACAF Gold Cup: Haiti v Mexico

A large group of Mexico supporters directed homophobic chants at the Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide as he was clearing the ball.

08 July 2019 – CONCACAF Gold Cup: Mexico v USA

Mexico supporters targeted the USA goalkeeper Zack Steffen with homophobic chants as he was taking goal-kicks.

09 July 2019 – Club Friendlies: FC St. Gallen v VfL Bochum

The VfL Bochum defender, Jordie Osei-Tutu, was subjected to racist abuse by an opponent player of FC St. Gallen during an off-the-ball incident in a pre-season friendly.

11 July 2019 – UEFA Europa League: MFK Ružomberok v PFC Levski Sofia

Fare recorded far-right displays by PFC Levski Sofia supporters within the MFK Ružomberok Stadium. A report was sent to UEFA.

The UEFA Disciplinary ordered the partial closure of the PFC Levski Sofia Stadium during the next one (1) UEFA competition match in which PFC Levski Sofia would play as the host club, for the racist behaviour. PFC Levski Sofia shall inform, as a matter of urgency, prior to the match, the sector(s) to be closed, which shall at least comprehend 3,000 seats. Bulgarian club is ordered to to display a banner with the wording “#EqualGame”, with the UEFA logo on it. The banner shall be displayed in the sector(s) to be closed;

17 July 2019 - UEFA Champions League: FK Sutjeska Nikšić v ŠK Slovan Bratislava

Fare recorded ŠK Slovan Bratislava supporters chanting anti-Semitic and homophobic chants. A report was sent to UEFA.

18 July 2019 – UEFA Europa League: Rangers v St. Joseph’s.

Fare recorded Rangers supporters chanting sectarian religious discriminatory chants throughout the match.

A report was sent to UEFA.

The UEFA Disciplinary order a partial closure of the stadium during the next one (1) UEFA competition match in which Rangers FC play as the host club, for the racist behaviour of its supporters. Rangers FC shall, as a matter of urgency, inform UEFA of the sector(s) to be closed, which shall at least comprehend 3,000 seats. The Scottish club is ordered to display a banner with the wording “#EqualGame”, with the UEFA logo on it. The banner shall be displayed in the sector(s) to be closed.

24 July 2019 - UEFA Europa League: ŠK Slovan Bratislava v KF Feronikeli

Fare recorded ŠK Slovan Bratislava supporters chanting xenophobic chants within the Narodny Futbalovy Stadion. A report was sent to UEFA.

25 July 2019 UEFA Europa League: Budapest Honvéd FC v CS Universitatea Craiova

Fare recorded Budapest Honvéd FC supporters racially abusing the CS Universitatea Craiova player, Carlos Fortes. A report was sent to UEFA.

25 July 2019 - UEFA Europa League: Budapest Honvéd FC v CS Universitatea Craiova

Fare recorded several Budapest Honvéd FC supporters chanting xenophobic anti-Roma chants. A report was sent to UEFA.

25 July 2019 - UEFA Europa League: PFC CSKA Sofia v NK Osijek

A small group of NK Osijek supporters chanted far-right chants related to the fascist Ustaše movement outside the stadium.

31 July 2019 - UEFA Champions League: Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi v Crvena Zvezda

Fare recorded xenophobic chants by Crvena Zvezda supporters. A report was sent to UEFA.

Social media 

29 July 2019 – Netherlands: Ellie lust: Johan Derksen

On the Dutch TV show ‘Ellie lust’, football commentator, Johan Derksen, repeated his homophobic comments relating to a Dutch petition late November to make football stadiums gay-friendlier.

Instagram: Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe received online abuse on Instagram after appearing in a sports drink ad on what is good about America.

Instagram: Yuri Gabovda

The Ukrainian player of Hungarian second tier club Haladas, Yuri Gabovda, posted ethnic slurs against Russians ahead of an upcoming friendly with the Russian club Krasnodar.

Arsenal kit launch 

Launching the new kit, Arsenal FC and adidas presented a customisable online shirt the users could put their slogans on. The campaign received many antisemitic and far-right messages posted on the shirt.

Instagram: Wilfried Zaha

The Crystal Palace F.C. forward, Wilfried Zaha, was subject to racist abuse on social media by a group of Algerian supporters after Ivory Coast's game against Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sanctions

Professional French Football League

A Lens supporter was charged €10,000 and handed five hours of community service for homophobic chanting at the second division match between RC Lens and Valenciennes FC on 12 April 2019.

UEFA

Bulgaria was sanctioned with a partial closure of the stadium due to the far-right incidents that took place during the EURO 2020 qualification match against Czech Republic v Bulgaria on 07 June 2019.

UEFA

Bulgaria was sanctioned with a partial closure of the stadium due to the far-right incidents that took place during the EURO 2020 qualification match Bulgaria v Kosovo on 10 June 2019.

UEFA

Romania's Under-21s have been sanctioned with a partial closure of the stadium during the next UEFA competition match in which the Romanian U21 team will host due to the racist behaviour of its supporters during Romania v Croatia on 18 June 2019.

UEFA

UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first-leg match between MFK Ružomberok and PFC Levski Sofia (0:2), played on 11 July in Slovakia

Charges against PFC Levski Sofia:

- Racist behaviour (banner) - Art. 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR)

The Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has decided to order the partial closure of the PFC Levski Sofia Stadium during the next one (1) UEFA competition match in which PFC Levski Sofia would play as the host club, for the racist behaviour. PFC Levski Sofia shall inform, as a matter of urgency, prior to the match, the sector(s) to be closed, which shall at least comprehend 3,000 seats. Bulgarian club is ordered to to display a banner with the wording “#EqualGame”, with the UEFA logo on it. The banner shall be displayed in the sector(s) to be closed;

Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club issued sanctions against six people including a lifetime stadium ban regarding the racial abuse of Raheem Sterling during the Chelsea v Manchester City match on 8 December 2018.

The English Football Association

Fernando Forestieri was handed a six-match suspension and fined £25.000 due to a racist incident that took place in the match against Mansfield Town F.C. on 24 July 2019.

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