Lagos, Nigeria - Fines have not acted as a deterrent against racism in football, hence a new strategy must be evolved to stop the disturbing practice, according to the head of the FIFA's Anti-Racism Task Force and FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb.
'We need to engage clubs, member associations, some NGOs and campaign groups, and then if there are consecutive infringements, punishments have to follow,' Webb said in .an interview with the official website of the world soccer's governing body, FIFA.
The Task Force was announced on Friday by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, at the Annual General Meeting of the decision-making International Football Association Board (IFAB), apparently following a spike in the cases of abuse of players of colour.
Webb, who is also the President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), said the Task Force would first review the current sanctions for anti-discrimination, and then embark on an education process, 'where I want to engage players, the broader football community and NGOs'.
Saying enough is enough, he acknowledged that not enough has been done to check racism in football, adding that players have clearly not been supported enough, which he calls a travesty.
The Task Force will discuss and formalise more concrete proposals against racism in football at the Executive Committee meeting 20-21 March.
Pana 03/03/2013