European football, specifically in this case Serie A continues to have an issue with racism during matches. Most recently this occurred on Boxing Day match when Napoli‘s Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly was racially taunted during a match against Inter Milan at San Siro.
What makes matters worse is Leagues aren’t doing much to combat the issue. For instance Koulibaly was banned for two games following the crowd incident for what Serie A called ‘dissent’, something Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti blamed on the racist taunting from the crowd rather than Koulibaly simply losing his cool. Meanwhile Inter were ordered to play two home games behind closed doors which in retrospect is simply a slap on the wrist.
Now since the Leagues aren’t in any quick hurry to solve this problem, leave it up to coaches and players to figure a solution. Case in point former Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello
who suggested that players simply stage a protest by sitting down on the pitch and refusing to play if the racist taunting continues.
Via Channel News Asia:
“The players should sit down on the pitch, and they shouldn’t be punished for doing it,” Capello said in a radio interview with state broadcaster RAI.Advertisement
“That would help the fans who are behaving and want to watch football and force those guilty of animal noises to stop and feel ashamed of what they’re doing.”
Capello, who also coached England and Russia during his long career, added that the hardcore ‘Ultras’ had too much power in Italian football.
“Italy is the only place where the ultras run the show and the players go the curve (stands) to wave at them,” he said.
The 72-year-old added that “85 to 90 percent of Italian fans are important – not these gentlemen with their banners, slogans and too much power given to them by the clubs.”
Taunting comes with professional sports, I get it however there’s an obviously line that has continued to be crossed within European football. Capello’s solution is one that isn’t necessarily new. Back in 2013 AC Milan walked off the pitch after continued racist taunts were directed at a number of their players. It was because of this guidelines were established that gave match officials the power to stop matches if racial chants and taunting were evident while making a report to security.
That didn’t happen during the Inter-Napoli match.