Racism - Why Does It Go Seemingly Unpunished in Pro Sport?

Racism in sport is worse than it has even been previously. For many, sport is a platform. Some use it as a place to display greatness and achievement. Some use it for political agenda's or propaganda. But some use it to abuse others, and for one reason or another, racial abuse is a continued form of mistreatment that remains largely unpunished within pro-sport. 

Now, by "unpunished", I don't mean that any racial abuse is quickly swept under the carpet and forgotten. Governing bodies have taken major steps in minimising the racial abuse that professional athletes may receive by launching campaigns such as the Premier Leagues "No Room for Racism" and "Black Lives Matter".  Penalities for fans or athletes who continue to engage in racism can be given a plethera of punishments that include fines, stadium bans, point deductions, or even arrests. Although this has slightly improved the behaviour of fans in attendance, the athletes themselves are actually one of the biggest incriminating factors in the fight against racism. 

Just recently, Scotlands Rangers FC faced Slavia Prague in a Europa League Round of 16 match, in which Rangers Glen Kamara was racially abused by Slavia Prague's Ondrej Kudela. This resulted in a 10-game ban for Kudela along with a 3-game ban for Kamara who reportedly assaulted Kudela when returning to the locker rooms. The Czech government heavily disputed the punishment, claiming that the ban was put in place "in order to satisfy the perverted expectations of a small group of activists" - hardly words of support for the anti-racism movement. This resulted in high levels of media backlash and further racism being used against Kamara and Rangers FC. 

This is just one example of many but the consequences that players receive for engaging in this behaviour are not transferrable to the rest of the working world in any way and create more problems than they do solutions. 

For example, let's say you work in an office and you are racially abused by a co-worker. Now, would that co-worker receive a 10-day suspension or a fine? Hell no! They would most likely be quickly kicked to the curb with a serious stain on their reputation and little chance at finding another job. So why should professional sport be any different? 

These, frankly pathetic, bans not only offer little to no deterance to players to continue this abuse but provides a rather bleak example to the fans as well, resulting in both parties not changing their ways at all. 

If UEFA and other governing bodies alike want to make a serious stand in the war against racism, the termination of player and coach contracts would go a long way in deterring players from engaging in racial abuse. It's not a cure by a long shot, but it's a step in the right direction. 

Chelsea FC taking the knee - Wikimedia