Football: Racist Abuse (Hansard, 17 October 2002)

§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)
My Lords, the Government share the revulsion which has been widely expressed following events during England's match in Slovakia, and fully support the Football Association in the prosecution of its formal complaint to UEFA. Racist chanting is a criminal offence in the UK. Where this is not the case overseas, UEFA is responsible for working with national football federations to ensure that such behaviour is not tolerated. In the light of events in Slovakia, UEFA must be prepared to impose tough sanctions where necessary.

§ Lord Faulkner of Worcester
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that very robust and welcome reply. I am also sure that she will wish to join me in congratulating Wales on its magnificent victory last night over Italy, and perhaps in drawing a veil over England's performance against Macedonia. Reverting to the disgraceful scenes in Bratislava on Saturday—when Emile Heskey and Ashley Cole were subjected to 959 taunts not only from the crowd, but incredibly from the stretcher bearers as well—is she aware that those were merely the latest in a long line of similar events involving British footballers playing at club level in Europe this season? Her comments on punishment will be widely welcomed. Does she agree that punishments should include the closure of grounds when such offences take place and the playing of matches behind closed doors?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, it was indeed a bad night for England last night, but my noble and learned friend Lord Williams of Mostyn is a happy man today. I absolutely agree with the sentiment behind my noble friend's comments. We should remember, however, that this is a matter for UEFA. I am quite positive in my expectation that UEFA is taking extremely seriously the events in Slovakia. I also think that there is greater recognition in European football that it needs to follow the UK's example in combating racism in football, a very serious matter which damages this nation's great sport.

§ Baroness Buscombe
My Lords, does the Minister agree that sport, including football, has achieved so much in Britain in helping to break down racial barriers, particularly through role models from ethnic minority groups playing on our teams? Is she therefore not alarmed by recent press coverage of a leaked document from the Performance and Innovation Unit at No. 10 Downing Street stating that no evidence has been found to show that taking part in sport increases social inclusion or encourages the young from all communities, through our sporting icons, to participate in sport?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, I think that the noble Baroness's question is a rather long way from that on the Order Paper about racism in football. However, I believe that sport of all kinds, football included, is one of the many routes that should be taken to increase social inclusiveness for all young people.

§ Lord Addington
My Lords, does the Minister agree that as the British Government have been very good about giving information about potential hooligans to all nations to which English football fans travel, it would only be just for us to expect those nations to enact at least some form of anti-racism policy where British players are exposed?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, I know that the Football Association frequently discusses these matters with UEFA. My right honourable friend the Minister for Sport is also discussing these matters with the Football Association. It is a matter for foreign and European Union governments to decide what 960 legislation they wish to have to ensure that racism in football, and indeed in any other sport, is not accepted in those countries. As I said, however, there is evidence that other European countries are taking this matter seriously. They are looking at what has happened in the UK and at our legislation, and they may wish to take that up further.

§ Baroness Uddin
My Lords, will my noble friend join me in congratulating Ashley Cole and Emile Heskey on being so bold as to call for banning the Slovakian team from coming to Britain? Does she also agree that, although the UK is doing very well, we still have a long way to go in ensuring that such incidents do not occur in our own stadiums? Will she assure the House that her department is doing all it can to ensure that British Muslim and Asian youngsters are encouraged into the football arena?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, it is very important that all English—indeed, all UK—football clubs take any form of racism among their supporters extremely seriously. Racist chanting is simply unacceptable. However, I think that there has been a big improvement in the way in which football supporters behave at football matches within the UK. I am nevertheless aware that it is very dangerous to be complacent about this, and we require the football clubs, governing bodies and supporters' clubs to continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.
As regards the second part of my noble friend's question, of course it is important that young people from any group, whatever their ethnic background, should be encouraged to play in all the sports that are available to them and that talent should be recognised whatever the racial background of the person concerned.

§ The Lord Bishop of Southwark
My Lords, does the Minister agree that such general racial abuse would indicate that there are general grounds for consideration when minority ethnic people from, such countries seek asylum here?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, I am not absolutely clear that I understood what was behind the right reverend Prelate's question. The matter of asylum seeking is far from that on the Order Paper. However, I should perhaps earlier have congratulated the noble Lord, Lord Ouseley, on all his work in promoting and supporting the Kick It Out campaign, of which he is the chairman, which has done so much to try to cut out all racism in our football stadiums.