FIFA needs to follow the example of the NBA

[de_redman]

Donald Sterling, the LA Clippers owner who made racist comments, was just banned for life from basketball and fined US$2.5 million. The commissioner acted swiftly before the Clippers home game tonight in order not to put the players and coaches for the Clippers in any kind of awkward situation and allow them to focus on the game. Footballers on the other hand have no such support from FIFA and are forced to act out on their own accord (like eating bananas on the pitch) when racial abuse is hurled at them. Just some food for thought...

[Bakes]

The NBA has a constitution that permits the Commissioner to act as he did... we don't know that FIFA President has the same.  Also, an analogous situation would be FIFA punishing any Federation that acts as Sterling did.  We don't have that situation and probably never did.  Knee-jerk apples to oranges comparisons aren't always useful.

[de_redman]

We don't have that situation and probably never did.

Don't forget Silvio Berlusconi, brother of AC Milan owner and vice-president, who called Balotelli "a little nigg@r"...

[asylumseeker]

Redman, yuh on de right track!

[Bakes]

We don't have that situation and probably never did.

Don't forget Silvio Berlusconi, brother of AC Milan owner and vice-president, who called Balotelli "a little nigg@r"...

As I said, the analogous situation would be on the CONFEDERATION level... if we're talking about FIFA that is.  If you're talking about on the club level then that is down to the local governing bodies, meaning La Liga in this case.

[Tiresais]

I think you're taking him too literally Bakes, his general point seems to be that FIFA isn't strong enough on racism. I'd find it hard to believe that the owner of a football club would be banned for life for comments like this, but when it happens we'll find out for sure. As they pointed out, Berlusconi gets away with all sorts of crap, but being Prime Minister/Ex-PM gets you certain privileges...

Also, Redman you forgot to do the "bah-dum-tish" for your pun about food for thought :p

[Dinner Mints]

People keep thinking Sterling was only punished for his comments. The comments were just the last nail in the coffin. He has a decades-long history of discriminatory practices behind those comments. So it ain't quite as analogous as pelting a fig.

[de_redman]

People keep thinking Sterling was only punished for his comments. The comments were just the last nail in the coffin. He has a decades-long history of discriminatory practices behind those comments. So it ain't quite as analogous as pelting a fig.

As Tiresais pointed out, please do not take the comparisons too literally. The point is the NBA seems to have nip the problem in the bud whereas FIFA is continuously dancing around it. DM, I think however your statement is dangerous to even suggest that pelting a fig is any less racist (if there is such a thing) or offensive that someone who has exhibited a history of discriminatory practices. I also don't believe the comments were 'the last nail' (it was the first and last!!!). He was not on anybody's radar, including the NBA!!! In fact the NAACP was about to give this dude a lifetime achievement award!!!!!