England’s Rio Ferdinand has slamed Uefa for what he regards as their failure to deal with racism in the game.
Ferdinand backs a European Parliament resolution calling for referees to be given powers to abandon matches where supporters make racist taunts.
“It is time for Uefa to stop paying lip service to the problem,” said the Mannchester United defender.
“Uefa should look at imposing huge fines or deducting points within tournaments or competitions.”
Fifa imposed a £44,750 fine on the Spanish FA after Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole were the target of racial abbuse during last year’s friendly with England in Madrid.
“The fines handed out after the England-Spain game were a joke,” added Ferdinand.
“For too long now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the problem is.
“I talk to a lot of European players and know there are big problems in Spain, in Italy and in Eastern Europe.
“Just look at what happened to Samuel Eto’o. He was racially abused against Zaragoza and what happened? Zaragoza were fined a paltry 9000 Euros by the Spanish Football Federation.
“If he had reacted to the fans that were abusing him by gesturing to them, he would have been fined a couple of weeks’ wages at the very least – but, yet again, nothing happens to the fans that abused him.
“If Uefa really is serious about kicking racism into touch it should adopt some of the penalties called for in the (EP) resolution and get on with punishing those who defame the game we all love with their backward, racist views.”
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