BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL

Hatred slithers back into soccer (Cathal Kelly, Toronto Star, September 21st, 2006)

After a summer of love in the stands, the hate has started to creep back into soccer's heart. Racist outbursts continued to mar matches across Europe only weeks after FIFA's huge push to counter terrace bigotry during the World Cup.

The persistent problem was illustrated during a Bundesliga match last weekend. A tilt between Alemannia Aachen and Borussia Moenchengladbach was disrupted by chants of asylant (refugee) directed at Moenchengladbach's Brazilian-born forward Kahe. At the half, referee Michael Weiner got on the stadium's loudspeaker to warn fans that the game would be forfeited if the taunt was repeated. The result? During the second half, Moenchengladbach's fans picked up where their opponents left off, shouting racial abuse at a Zambian player on Aachen.

Before the World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter publicly mused about docking points from teams whose fans racially abuse opponents. During the tournament, FIFA's "Say No to Racism" flags were displayed before every match and on the hoarding at every stadium.

They took down all anti-Jewish signs for the ‘36 Olympics too.