FA Launches Films To Tackle Discrimination
The Football Association has told referees at all levels of the game to prepare for an increase in the reporting of abusive behavior after launching its latest anti-discrimination drive with four animated short films urging players and supporters to stand up to racism, homophobia, anti-semitism and other acts of discrimination.
Fronted by former England internationals Dion Dublin and Graeme Le Saux, and featuring the work of artist Paul Trevillion, the videos centre around the tagline “See it. Hear it. Report it,” asking players at all levels of the game to take action against abusive behaviour by informing the match officials.
The FA hopes the initiative will address the under-reporting of discrimination in the game and encourage those who feel that they have been discriminated against to report it.
Speaking on the videos, the FA said in a statement: ‘Whether it be on the playing fields in your local park, or surrounded by thousands of people at a top-flight game, discrimination has no place in football.’
‘The use of any threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour in reference to a person’s ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability is completely unacceptable.’
It comes just weeks after West Brom’s Nicolas Anelka was banned for five games for his anti-semitic gesture after scoring against West Ham United in December.
The FA has also introduced a mandatory five-match suspension and education programme for people found guilty of discriminatory abuse under FA Rule E3.
