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UEFA hit Atletico for racism


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By Duncan Shaw, dpa

Madrid (dpa) - Spanish football was in a state of indignation on Tuesday as racism in the game made the headlines.

The English Football Association does not want to play against Spain in a planned February friendly in Real Madrid's Estadio Bernabeu because of the racist abuse suffered by England's black players there in a 2004 match.

In addition, the continental body UEFA have ruled that Atletico Madrid must play their next two Champions League home matches - against Livepool on October 22 and against PSV Eindhoven on November 26 - at a distance of at least 300 kilometres from Madrid.

The punishment comes after serious crowd trouble at the October 1 match between Atletico and Olympique Marseille. Spanish police made around 30 arrests and Marseille's black players were racially abused in the Estadio Calderon.

UEFA has also hit Atletico with a 150,000 euros (203,709 US dollars) and Atletico coach Javier Aguirre has been given a two-match touchline ban for abusing Marseille players.

The ban was front page news in Marca on Tuesday, with the sports paper saying the sanction "seems rather harsh."

Marca said it would be "very cruel" to deny the Atletico fans the chance to pay tribute to former club idol Fernando Torres, now starring for Liverpool.

Atletico - back in the Champions League for the first time since 1997 - are top of Group D after winning their first two matches, 2-1 against Marseille and 3-0 in Eindhoven.

An online poll conducted by Marca showed on Tuesday that 62.67 per cent of readers think the ban to be unjustified, though 37.36 per cent consider it fair.

Another online Marca poll said that 63.36 per cent of its readers believe that the Spanish federation should cancel the February friendly the English FA confirms its refusal to play in the Bernabeu. The FA said on Monday it would prefer a different venue.

Alfredo Relano, influential editor of Madrid sports daily AS, said that the Spanish federation should not propose an alternative venue, if the FA refuses to play at the Bernabeu.

At the same time, however, he dared to admit that Spanish football might have a racist problem, something that practically no other sector of the Spanish media has so far conceded.

"Are we racists?" asks Relano. "Perhaps we are, without being aware of it."

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"Are we racists?" asks Relano. "Perhaps we are, without being aware of it."

Hmmmmm...

Frente are 100% fascist and they don't hide. White Power, three 7's, Celtic crosses etc are not uncommon sites in there area but generally Groups do not represent the rest of the supports as they are normally the most extreme in the support.

Even their logo is a SS Skull :angry2:

17rd.jpg

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What is the SS skull?

I know it as the symbol of a Nazi soldier regiment or something of that sorts but what did they do?

Google is you friend mate lol.

The SS where like the best of the best and believed 100% in Nazi ideology. They would carry out the most evils acts without even a slight conscience.

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There is a deep rooted problem with Atletico (and most of Spain really) and racism.

It wasnt too long ago they had a president who went by the name of Jesús Gil, a man who is famed for his extreme right wing views. This was a man who used to vehemently defend El Frente. Some of his escipades include referring to Ajax FC as "FC Congo" because the club has many players of African origin.

I remember they absolutely laid into Roberto Carlos with the racism at a league game at the Calderon 3 years ago. What did the Spanish FA do? Fine them £400.

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"Are we racists?" asks Relano. "Perhaps we are, without being aware of it."

Hmmmmm...

You have to laugh at that.

Sinama-Pongolle came out and slammed the Atletico fans 4 months ago after they laid into a black Recreativo player at the Calderon.

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An earlier report said that the police had refused to escort the marseilles team bus to the ground and it was attacked.

If true they should have the points docked.

In fact i think Spain should be banned from hosting international football until it is safe to attend them.

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An earlier report said that the police had refused to escort the marseilles team bus to the ground and it was attacked.

If true they should have the points docked.

In fact i think Spain should be banned from hosting international football until it is safe to attend them.

Don't know if I'd go that far, but they certainly need stronger action.

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An earlier report said that the police had refused to escort the marseilles team bus to the ground and it was attacked.

If true they should have the points docked.

In fact i think Spain should be banned from hosting international football until it is safe to attend them.

Don't know if I'd go that far, but they certainly need stronger action.

But then I was in Pamplona, and it wasn't bulls I was running away from ;)

Kind of opinion forming that sort of experience.

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An earlier report said that the police had refused to escort the marseilles team bus to the ground and it was attacked.

If true they should have the points docked.

In fact i think Spain should be banned from hosting international football until it is safe to attend them.

Don't know if I'd go that far, but they certainly need stronger action.

But then I was in Pamplona, and it wasn't bulls I was running away from ;)

Kind of opinion forming that sort of experience.

Fair does.

Your comments are more informed in that sense.

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What a terrible decision to play the match at least 300 km's away when Liverpool fans have already booked to go to Madrid. doh

exactly thousands of fans will be all booked up for next weeks game....it will cause them mayhem

UEFA don't care though...they could have chosen a later set of fixtures to give people more time to change their travel arrangements

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Funny how the more catholic a country is the more racist it is

Now I can't disagree with that point, but had you phrased it as "less Protestant", timmy would have been less motivated to take a screen-grab. :D

However, you're not wrong, culturally speaking.

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Meanwhile, Atletico's local rivals Real Madrid have thrown their support behind their neighbours.

Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon: "It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans."

Real Madrid full-back, Michel Salgado: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd. I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent. We'll have to wait to see what UEFA does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

I must admit, Salgado is talking absolute nonsense. Madrid should have stayed well clear of this issue.

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Meanwhile, Atletico's local rivals Real Madrid have thrown their support behind their neighbours.

Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon: "It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans."

Real Madrid full-back, Michel Salgado: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd. I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent. We'll have to wait to see what UEFA does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

I must admit, Salgado is talking absolute nonsense. Madrid should have stayed well clear of this issue.

That's him off the Celtic fans' Xmas card list.

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Meanwhile, Atletico's local rivals Real Madrid have thrown their support behind their neighbours.

Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon: "It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans."

Real Madrid full-back, Michel Salgado: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd. I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent. We'll have to wait to see what UEFA does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

I must admit, Salgado is talking absolute nonsense. Madrid should have stayed well clear of this issue.

Salgado seems to be suffering from the almost in-bred racism suffered by a massive number of the Spanish people.

It's not just black people, they hate anyone that isn't Spanish, as I can confirm from several experiences in the country.

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Meanwhile, Atletico's local rivals Real Madrid have thrown their support behind their neighbours.

Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon: "It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans."

Real Madrid full-back, Michel Salgado: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd. I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent. We'll have to wait to see what UEFA does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

I must admit, Salgado is talking absolute nonsense. Madrid should have stayed well clear of this issue.

How is he? It's not Atletico's problem but a problem with society. Clubs do not pick who follows them and they can't be blamed for a social issue. It's all PC bullshit and where does the line get drawn at what is and isn't offensive?

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Meanwhile, Atletico's local rivals Real Madrid have thrown their support behind their neighbours.

Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon: "It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans."

Real Madrid full-back, Michel Salgado: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd. I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent. We'll have to wait to see what UEFA does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

I must admit, Salgado is talking absolute nonsense. Madrid should have stayed well clear of this issue.

How is he? It's not Atletico's problem but a problem with society. Clubs do not pick who follows them and they can't be blamed for a social issue. It's all PC bullshit and where does the line get drawn at what is and isn't offensive?

From my experiences of watching Spanish football, Atletico are one of, if not the worst when it comes to racism. It's about time someone threw the book at them.

Sorry, but to say that "there is racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd" is just laughable.

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Meanwhile, Atletico's local rivals Real Madrid have thrown their support behind their neighbours.

Real Madrid President, Ramon Calderon: "It seems unfair to me. The police do not report to Atletico Madrid. Those that caused the problems were the Marseille fans."

Real Madrid full-back, Michel Salgado: "You can't punish an entire fan base for the racist behaviour of a few people in the crowd. I think they've been too drastic in their decision. There's racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd. It has nothing to do with sport. This punishment sets a precedent. We'll have to wait to see what UEFA does whenever this happens again; if every stadium has to be shut down because of this, many games will be played behind closed doors."

I must admit, Salgado is talking absolute nonsense. Madrid should have stayed well clear of this issue.

How is he? It's not Atletico's problem but a problem with society. Clubs do not pick who follows them and they can't be blamed for a social issue. It's all PC bullshit and where does the line get drawn at what is and isn't offensive?

From my experiences of watching Spanish football, Atletico are one of, if not the worst when it comes to racism. It's about time someone threw the book at them.

Sorry, but to say that "there is racism in every stadium due to a minority of the crowd" is just laughable.

Unless everyone's adopted the tim-like definition of racism.

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