Daniel David
Youth Team
In Brazil, during a Juventude - Grêmio derby by Rio Grande do Sul State Championship this weekend, Grêmio DM Jeovânio allegedly was hit in the face by the elbow of defender Antônio Carlos of the opposing side. A heated on-field discussion followed, resulting in the latter expulsion. While proceeded with leaving the field, Antônio Carlos twice gestured sliding his finger over his white-skinned arm while uttering the word 'monkey', in such a way obviously directed to Jeovânio, which happens to be black...
After the match, the veteran defender tried to justify his act in all sort of ways, going as far as claiming to be cleaning blood from a scratched forearm... That was not the first related incident involving Juventude; last year the club was fined and lost home ground privileges in two matches of the state championship for a crowd doing monkey noises addressed to another Grêmio player. There was a recent example of racist abuse from fans even at a volleyball match in Rio Grande do Sul.
Now some of you may be wondering: how the can that happen in Brazil, a country with such an enormous list of black football heroes? Regional discrepancies are the key to understand that. In Rio Grande do Sul and other far-southern states the black population is considerably smaller than, say, in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro; large parts of the South inhabitants have direct European ascendance. In addition, these states life quality standards are significantly above those in most of the country. The natural outcome of that is racism being more evident there, as people are not so used to black people amongst them; and moreover the regional discrepancies insufflate the sensation of superiority from some people with racistic behavioural tendencies. It is a complete mistake to say that in the rest of Brazil there is no racism to be seen; there is a terrible lot of it. However, due to the different social setup, somewhat more favourable to racial integration, it is completely unlikely that supporters or fellow players will abuse blacks in pitch - even it is in 'the heat of the match', as Antônio Carlos and others claim their offence was committed. There is little social condescendence for such blatant public display of prejudice.
Those observations, if generalized, lead to a critical point in racism discussions. All racism has a cultural background and a socioeconomic explanation. The recent outbreak of racism in European football is a reflex of large-scale transformations over the last decade on stances which reflect directly on the way immigrants or people from cultural minorities are seen; namely the economic fears of immigration and the cultural clashes which are the modern world trademark. The diffusion of racistic and fascistic behaviour in football pitches and stands is a natural reflex on changing cultural models.
Football little cosmos cannot attempt to tackle alone those issues aiming to
'solve' the problem. However, the sporting community can and must resist to the dissemination of prejudice, by taking firm stances and punishing offenders exemplary. Granted that racism is not born into stadiums, but it can find there approval and support. Action is needed against this wave of prejudice, and the pressure for action over the FA's must come from concerned supporters and football professionals.
Firm stances were mentioned; and, it must be said, that was not quite what wass seem from Jeovânio after the Grêmio - Juventude match. The offended player almost went to tears, hugely concerned with the deep humiliation he was exposed. Though fully understanable, the resignated attitude is another relevant problem, and it arises from coherent distorted social models that must be fought as well. On the positive side least legal action is already in course in sporting tribunals. Public Ministery, an investigative common justice organism, is already involved with the case; as it is commonly done in Brazil for similar cases. Improper interference, some may say, but better than hearing club representatives claiming that Juventude is not liable of punishment as sportive laws do not mention supporter racism directly, as it was done after last year incident. The Brazilian legal system is quite active on these issues, at least until the controversy settles, half-remissions are accepted and everything returns to its natural condition...not so much better than nine thousand Euros overseas. The stances need to change, both here and there.
Shout racism out of football
(Link to a Brazilian news agency with some justifications from Antônio Carlos:
http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/estaduais2006/interna/0,,OI906477-EI6195,00.html)
(PS.: With this are hopes of keeing alive the aborted discussions on that other thread, that one where its creator counter-flamed what was not said. So let's keep it civil this time. A discrete sorry if this being opened less than 12 hours after the first thread closure upsets a mod.)
After the match, the veteran defender tried to justify his act in all sort of ways, going as far as claiming to be cleaning blood from a scratched forearm... That was not the first related incident involving Juventude; last year the club was fined and lost home ground privileges in two matches of the state championship for a crowd doing monkey noises addressed to another Grêmio player. There was a recent example of racist abuse from fans even at a volleyball match in Rio Grande do Sul.
Now some of you may be wondering: how the can that happen in Brazil, a country with such an enormous list of black football heroes? Regional discrepancies are the key to understand that. In Rio Grande do Sul and other far-southern states the black population is considerably smaller than, say, in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro; large parts of the South inhabitants have direct European ascendance. In addition, these states life quality standards are significantly above those in most of the country. The natural outcome of that is racism being more evident there, as people are not so used to black people amongst them; and moreover the regional discrepancies insufflate the sensation of superiority from some people with racistic behavioural tendencies. It is a complete mistake to say that in the rest of Brazil there is no racism to be seen; there is a terrible lot of it. However, due to the different social setup, somewhat more favourable to racial integration, it is completely unlikely that supporters or fellow players will abuse blacks in pitch - even it is in 'the heat of the match', as Antônio Carlos and others claim their offence was committed. There is little social condescendence for such blatant public display of prejudice.
Those observations, if generalized, lead to a critical point in racism discussions. All racism has a cultural background and a socioeconomic explanation. The recent outbreak of racism in European football is a reflex of large-scale transformations over the last decade on stances which reflect directly on the way immigrants or people from cultural minorities are seen; namely the economic fears of immigration and the cultural clashes which are the modern world trademark. The diffusion of racistic and fascistic behaviour in football pitches and stands is a natural reflex on changing cultural models.
Football little cosmos cannot attempt to tackle alone those issues aiming to
'solve' the problem. However, the sporting community can and must resist to the dissemination of prejudice, by taking firm stances and punishing offenders exemplary. Granted that racism is not born into stadiums, but it can find there approval and support. Action is needed against this wave of prejudice, and the pressure for action over the FA's must come from concerned supporters and football professionals.
Firm stances were mentioned; and, it must be said, that was not quite what wass seem from Jeovânio after the Grêmio - Juventude match. The offended player almost went to tears, hugely concerned with the deep humiliation he was exposed. Though fully understanable, the resignated attitude is another relevant problem, and it arises from coherent distorted social models that must be fought as well. On the positive side least legal action is already in course in sporting tribunals. Public Ministery, an investigative common justice organism, is already involved with the case; as it is commonly done in Brazil for similar cases. Improper interference, some may say, but better than hearing club representatives claiming that Juventude is not liable of punishment as sportive laws do not mention supporter racism directly, as it was done after last year incident. The Brazilian legal system is quite active on these issues, at least until the controversy settles, half-remissions are accepted and everything returns to its natural condition...not so much better than nine thousand Euros overseas. The stances need to change, both here and there.
Shout racism out of football
(Link to a Brazilian news agency with some justifications from Antônio Carlos:
http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/estaduais2006/interna/0,,OI906477-EI6195,00.html)
(PS.: With this are hopes of keeing alive the aborted discussions on that other thread, that one where its creator counter-flamed what was not said. So let's keep it civil this time. A discrete sorry if this being opened less than 12 hours after the first thread closure upsets a mod.)
... but we all know that problem with Quilmes-Sao Paulo was because the big rivalry between Argentina and Brasil.