Bulgarian Football Punishment...

[Mozz71]

Absolutely pathetic from UEFA. A £64,640 fine ànd a two game behind closed doors order, the second of which is suspended for two years.

UEFA are an embarrassment. The anti racism in football group, Kick It Out have revealed that UEFA have refused every request for a meeting since KIO was formed several years àgo.

Comments?

[New Judge]

In my view every football senior match should take place behind closed doors. Virtually every significant match is on the telly and those wishing to see them can do so from the comfort of their own homes. This would stamp out the sort of scenes witnessed in Bulgaria and also give respite for the people who are unfortunate enough to live close by the grounds.

No matches should be shown in pubs as a football match on a pub TV makes the venue out of bounds for people wanting to use the place for a quiet drink and a meal. Football can be "enjoyed" (for want of a better word) from the comfort of your own home. If you want to shout and cheer at the TV like a lunatic you will only disturb your neighbours.

[ichkeria]

Yes it is rather pathetic.

I didn’t think an outright ban was appropriate either but this seems unduly lenient.

[Mozz71]

They would just turn to a different medium, whether it be a different sport, gigs, festivals or just marching on the streets.

These people aren't football fans, they're thugs using football as an outlet for their disgusting opinions.

However, the football authorities are less than pathetic. They hand out bigger fines for advertising infringements than they do for scenes like at the Bulgaria/England game.

[drmorgans]

Slovan Bratislava were punished for the racist chants by some of their supporters by having to play a Europa League game against Wolves "behind closed doors". There's a loop-hole that allowed them to give tickets away to under 14s, which they did. Every ten children could be accompanied by an adult. The "behind closed doors" crowd? Over 20,000. You couldn't make it.

[Mexican18]

New Judge, have you ever been to a football game?
Have you ever had any fun?

[Arksided]

I'm not at suprised.. at the ruling.. We're English... no racism whatsoever.

New Judge... people wanting to use the place for a quiet drink and a meal ... Spare your money and pay for sky.. Bt etc... at my home then it would be free... even better buy me a ticket. I'd much rather that and have to read a moan about not being able to enjoy ones evening without wanting to disrupt some 'ooty toity' above themselves couple.

[Deskdiary]

The punishment is a disgrace.

Even to a ***-pot FA like Bulgaria's, £65k is peanuts.

Where is the deterrent? All the time UEFA dole-out pathetically lenient punishments like this, the Bulgarian fans will spit their vile racism at visiting black players.

The only proper punishment would have been to ban them from Euro 2024.

[Canary42]

You must be fun at parties NJ.

[New Judge]

" I'd much rather that and have to read a moan about not being able to enjoy ones evening without wanting to disrupt some 'ooty toity' above themselves couple."

Horses for courses, ark. People who want to use a pub for the purpose for which it was designed for are not "above themselves". The very worst thing that was permitted is the showing of live football matches in pubs. In fact, a pub with a TV - whatever it is showing - is an abomination. People who want to watch football should either attend the match (as I doubt my idea of playing matches in private will gain any ground) or watch the match on TV at home. It would be very unreasonable if people went to a football match and expected the crowd to remain silent whilst they had a meal or a drink. It might therefore occur to those who watch football in a pub that it is very unreasonable to stand shouting nonsense and cheering at a telly whilst others are trying to enjoy themselves. Football stadiums are places for shouting at footballers and referees; pubs are places for a drink and a chat.

[Mozz71]

Unfortunately Judge, that is never going to happen. Pubs make so much more money when they're showing a big match, and I've never witnessed any violence in the pub, even after an England World Cup defete.

Besides, this is less about your hatred of football and more about UEFA's general apathy about racist chanting during matches.

[ummmm]

Go to a different pub then, NJ!!

[Spicerack]

Wonder what punishment Liverpool will receive?

[ToraToraTora]

yep pathetic, anyone would think they don't want to address racism in football.

[dannyk13]

NJ //Virtually every significant match is on the telly//
That leaves a heck of a lot that aren't.How many non-premier league matches are ever shown on television?

[Ken4155]

Mozz, the first two words of your post were exactly the ones i used when i heard the news. Racism will never be stamped out of football while the governing bodies (FIFA are just as bad) hand out paltry punishments. They may as well hand out pencil and paper to all their fans who, to gain admittance, must do 100 lines, "I must not racially abuse black players."

[Mozz71]

Well said Ken, have a BA.

[Ken4155]

Ta :-)