UEFA steps up racism fight with tougher sanctions
AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng walked off the pitch in January after being subjected to racist abuse.
Following a meeting of
UEFA's executive committee in London Thursday, the European governing
body confirmed the bans would apply to its own competitions, while other
national associations remain free to decide on their own punishments.
The new tougher sanction
comes just over a week after the English Football Association drew
criticism for its plans to introduce a minimum five-match suspension for
racism.
"An association should
adopt the same or similar measures. UEFA has always acted in a way to
try to convince people rather than impose," said UEFA general secretary
Gianni Infantino at a press conference.
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"I don't think you measure the way of fighting against racism in one simple measure and sanction.
"The way I read the FA's
decision is that it could be five matches and it could also be 15. The
FA is sure their way of regulating is more correct for England.
"It's their decision but it doesn't mean they do more or less than us. Everyone has to do what they can do in this field.
"The FA is autonomous and
knows best what is best for England to do in the fight against racism.
It is probably one of the countries where the most has been done."
According to details
released by UEFA, clubs and national side's whose fans are found guilty
of racist abuse will be punished with a partial stadium closure as a
first offense, while a second offense will lead to a complete closure.
Only last week, AC Milan
striker Mario Balotelli told CNN that he was prepared to walk off the
pitch if racially abused once again.
The Italy striker was subjected to "monkey chants" by visiting fans during Milan's goalless draw with Roma at the San Siro.
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"I always said that if
it (racism) happened in the stadium I will just do like 'nobody says
nothing and I don't care,'" Balotelli told CNN.
"But this time I think
I've changed my mind a little bit. If it's going to happen one more
time, then I'm going to leave the pitch because it's so stupid."
Balotelli is not the
first player to have suffered racial abuse while playing for AC Milan --
one of the most revered clubs in Europe having won 18 league titles and
seven European Cups.
In January, midfielder
Kevin Prince-Boateng walked off the pitch in disgust after being
racially abused by a section of supporters during a friendly game at Pro
Patria.
Since then, UEFA has
stated its intention to introduce stricter punishments for those found
guilty of racism after being heavily criticized in the past for being
too lenient.
The new rules are
intended to curb racism at clubs such as Italian club Lazio, which has
been charged four times by UEFA so far this season, with the Italian
side paying $300,000 in fines.
Europe's governing body also plans to introduce the implementation of biological passports for players in the future.
Biological profiles are
built up by collating an athlete's drug test results over time,
therefore making it easier to detect differences which could indicate
the use of a banned substance.
A new UEFA anti-doping
program will also examine 900 samples given in the past five years to
decipher whether steroids have been used.
On Friday, UEFA is
expected to announce changes to the Europa League with the winner set to
be granted a place in the Champions League from 2015.
Meanwhile, Berlin's
Olympic Stadium will host the 2015 Champions League final, while Warsaw
will welcome the finalists of the Europa League.
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