CAMPAIGN
ORGANISATION AND FAN GROUP CALL ON FIFA TO TAKE ACTION.
Campaign
organisation JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) and BRADFORD CITY LGBT+ Fan Group call on
FIFA to take firm and further action on the homophobic, biphobic and
transphobic insults directed at players during international football matches.
For the past
two years FIFA have made it common knowledge that the very public chanting of
homophobic biphobic and transphobic (HBT) abuse in the stadiums whenever Mexico play has been unacceptable, with warnings and fines handed
out. What has not been made public until now are the reports of 15 other international
teams fans (13 of whom are South American) who have on a number occasions
seen fit to chant HBT abuse at games. Mexico have now been fined and warned by
FIFA 11 times, Chile 9 and Argentina 5 times.
The report
made public by FIFA on 2nd Oct 2017 can be found here: http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/91/01/10/fifa_disciplinaryoverview_2018fwcqualifiers_2october2017_neutral.pdf with the message “Following the
latest meeting of the Disciplinary Committee, FIFA can today confirm the
sanctions imposed for incidents that occurred during the latest round of the
preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup.”
Moving
forward JBG? and Bradford City LGBT+ fan group would like assurances anyone
participating in or involved in football in any way will be given the
protection and support necessary should similar incidents occur.
One of the
founders of Bradford City LGBT+ fan group Richard Dunbar, who later this week
will present at the Queer Football Fans conference in Dortmund Germany says,
“As the football world’s governing body FIFA has a moral obligation to ensure
that all fans feel included, and know that, should they be victims of any kind
of abuse a zero tolerance and appropriate action will be taken. All the facts
prove that members of an LGBT+ community are more likely to be victims of abuse
and discrimination therefore it is incumbent upon FIFA to ensure they
proactively engage with campaigns like JBG? and LGBT+ fan groups
globally to
ensure their needs are met and they feel included in all aspects of the game.”
A JBG? spokesperson said, “We would like to see FIFA
work in collaboration with organisations like ourselves and also LGBT+ fan
groups to educate and train stadium event day staff in dealing with HBT
discrimination promptly. We have already created resources for Kick It Out and
the Home Office which have been in use in the English leagues by clubs and have
been very well received by all. These publications and accompanying workshops alongside
educating supporters on what is acceptable language could be adapted and used
by all FIFA member countries FA’s as a great starting point on taking a much
needed zero tolerance.”
“ JBG? also call
for coordinated official LGBT+ event
days to raise awareness of LGBT+ inclusion and visibility.”
End.
Contact
for further information:
Founder-Lindsay
England
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