What price a bigot?
The Justin Campaign has long been critical of Vlatko Markovic, the Croatian football federation president.
Last year the 74-year-old said in an interview that a gay player wouldn't play for Croatia while he led the federation.
He added he had never met a gay player because "only healthy people play football."
It sparked outrage not only from LGBT campaigners but also from football fans.
Uefa took the decision to punish one of the most powerful men in European football with a fine of $14,500.
When you consider the vast sums of money that the Croatian FA earns in a year through a variety of sponsorship deals and international game revenue then this amount was hardly a drop in the Adriatic Sea.
But still the footballing bureaucrat, who has since been re-elected to serve a fourth four-year term, decided to appeal the fine and attempt to get it overturned.
Thankfully, Uefa has seen sense and decided to uphold the punishment.
It is pleasing to see Uefa stand up to the diplomats who help fund its organisation.
If this ban had been overturned then completely the wrong message would have been sent out to football fans across the continent.
While the fine could have been a lot more, at least it still stands and is a firm sign that such comments are not welcome from those who run the game.
For if that is the message from the top, then what hope is there for those at the bottom looking for leadership.
But could Uefa not take a stronger stance and make this man stand down?
Their view is obviously no.
Uefa seemingly took the decision that it would be overstepping the mark to remove diplomats who have been elected by contemporaries, such as Markovic.
Any decision to reverse this would have no doubt overthrown the applecart and made its life a lot more difficult in the future.
While it is very easy to oppose this view, pragmatism, it seems, is the winner in this one.
But at least the officials in Switzerland have not completely ducked the issue.
Campaigners, fans, footballing authorities, everyone must work together if we are finally to bring some justice to tackling homophobia in football.
Showing posts with label Markovic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Markovic. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Saturday, 27 November 2010
It's not just for men
Homophobia in sport is something which affects the whole of the LGBT community.
One of the most frequently asked questions to the Justin Campaign is if we represent the lesbian, bisexual and trans community.
Our view is simple: This is not just about campaigning for one group in society, it is about making football more accessible to everyone.
This is because bigotry and discrimination is apparent at all levels and across the world.
Just take a look at this example.
Augustine Makalakalane, the coach of the South African women's football team, is the subject of claims that he sexually assaulted two of his players.
Several members of the team, which clearly does not respect the man leading them, also claim the 46-year-old said he only wanted “straight ladies in his team”.
The reasons behind these allegations will no doubt come out in due course as the officials investigate.
Following the comments of Croatian FA boss Markovic, once again we are seeing a nation which has relied on sport to give it a sense of independence fail itself on equality grounds.
In a country still recovering from the apartheid regime, football in South Africa has been a uniting movement culminating successfully in this summer's World Cup.
Many of the officials heading the game have witnessed discrimination first hand, which is why it is so shocking to hear such claims coming from members of the women's national team.
If it turns out that these allegations are true then we hope the South African FA take the right steps and remove Makalakalane from his post and, if the crimes are bad enough, ban him from the game.
One of the most frequently asked questions to the Justin Campaign is if we represent the lesbian, bisexual and trans community.
Our view is simple: This is not just about campaigning for one group in society, it is about making football more accessible to everyone.
This is because bigotry and discrimination is apparent at all levels and across the world.
Just take a look at this example.
Augustine Makalakalane, the coach of the South African women's football team, is the subject of claims that he sexually assaulted two of his players.
Several members of the team, which clearly does not respect the man leading them, also claim the 46-year-old said he only wanted “straight ladies in his team”.
The reasons behind these allegations will no doubt come out in due course as the officials investigate.
Following the comments of Croatian FA boss Markovic, once again we are seeing a nation which has relied on sport to give it a sense of independence fail itself on equality grounds.
In a country still recovering from the apartheid regime, football in South Africa has been a uniting movement culminating successfully in this summer's World Cup.
Many of the officials heading the game have witnessed discrimination first hand, which is why it is so shocking to hear such claims coming from members of the women's national team.
If it turns out that these allegations are true then we hope the South African FA take the right steps and remove Makalakalane from his post and, if the crimes are bad enough, ban him from the game.
Homophobia alive and kicking at FA Cup tie
GUEST BLOG - Lindsay is a football fan and blogger based in Manchester. Here she talks about her views on homophobic chants during an FA Cup reply game featured on national television.
Blue Square South side Woking earned a reply against Brighton and Hove Albion on November 16, the game was televised live in ESPN. Four goals in a two-all draw, then three penalties sufficed for Brighton to go through.
Nothing out of order there you might think, but those like myself who pick up on the ever increasing amount of discrimination in the game these days and who watched the coverage or who attended will have a lasting memory of the abuse given out throughout the night from the home fans.
The abuse has been picked up and highlighted on a number of football websites and blogs by fans of both teams, but this is an all too common a tale of what goes on at many of today's matches.
A number of flares and smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch and "run from the students, you only run from the students." was chanted at the police and security presence, this may have been the witty start of things but as is all too common when BHA play the opposition fans just can't help themselves to shout homophobic abuse and chants.
The cards may well be governed by conference rules and regulations, rather than the FA regs there are in the top four professional leagues (the ground quite possibly coming under nothing more than a public area) but surely its time their own administration took action against those who saw fit to disrupt the evenings entertainment as it wasn't a one off.
Homophobic chanting could be heard quite clearly on the TV coverage, as well as by those at the game.
"We can see you holding hands" and "Does you're boyfriend know you're here" Followed by "Do you take it up the ####" and "Does your father know you're QUEER" were order of the day.
Tame you may think to some of the chanting of abuse around someones sexuality but this comes only days after two well known names in the professional game from Croatia have stated "there will be no homosexual players on the team while i am in charge" - comments which should see UEFA (under pressure from gay rights groups and the likes of EGLSF and FARE) finally make a stand against this type of discrimination that adorns football globally.
Administrators of the game in the FA, PL, FL, PFA, LMA along with the REFS ASS, and government, police and fans need to clampdown on this behaviour in every way they can so that anyone regardless of sexual orientation feels safe and comfortable to play, coach and watch football in which ever environment they chose.
FOOTBALL IS NOT EXCLUSIVE; FOOTBALL IS FOR ALL.
Read more of Lindsay's thoughts at http://justaballgame.blogspot.com
Blue Square South side Woking earned a reply against Brighton and Hove Albion on November 16, the game was televised live in ESPN. Four goals in a two-all draw, then three penalties sufficed for Brighton to go through.
Nothing out of order there you might think, but those like myself who pick up on the ever increasing amount of discrimination in the game these days and who watched the coverage or who attended will have a lasting memory of the abuse given out throughout the night from the home fans.
The abuse has been picked up and highlighted on a number of football websites and blogs by fans of both teams, but this is an all too common a tale of what goes on at many of today's matches.
A number of flares and smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch and "run from the students, you only run from the students." was chanted at the police and security presence, this may have been the witty start of things but as is all too common when BHA play the opposition fans just can't help themselves to shout homophobic abuse and chants.
The cards may well be governed by conference rules and regulations, rather than the FA regs there are in the top four professional leagues (the ground quite possibly coming under nothing more than a public area) but surely its time their own administration took action against those who saw fit to disrupt the evenings entertainment as it wasn't a one off.
Homophobic chanting could be heard quite clearly on the TV coverage, as well as by those at the game.
"We can see you holding hands" and "Does you're boyfriend know you're here" Followed by "Do you take it up the ####" and "Does your father know you're QUEER" were order of the day.
Tame you may think to some of the chanting of abuse around someones sexuality but this comes only days after two well known names in the professional game from Croatia have stated "there will be no homosexual players on the team while i am in charge" - comments which should see UEFA (under pressure from gay rights groups and the likes of EGLSF and FARE) finally make a stand against this type of discrimination that adorns football globally.
Administrators of the game in the FA, PL, FL, PFA, LMA along with the REFS ASS, and government, police and fans need to clampdown on this behaviour in every way they can so that anyone regardless of sexual orientation feels safe and comfortable to play, coach and watch football in which ever environment they chose.
FOOTBALL IS NOT EXCLUSIVE; FOOTBALL IS FOR ALL.
Read more of Lindsay's thoughts at http://justaballgame.blogspot.com
Thursday, 25 November 2010
A hollow apology
Just wanted to reflect on the apology statement made by Vlatko Markovic, the president of the Croatian football association.
The misguided figurehead caused enormous controversy when he told a newspaper that he would "certainly" not permit a gay player on the Croatian national team.
But, after facing the wrath of LGBT groups including the Justin Campaign, a few days later Markovic apologised for the comments.
His statement on the association's website said: "It was not my intention whatsoever to insult or hurt anyone. I have nothing against members of any minority, least of all against those of same-sex orientation.
"Once again, I apologize to all those who were hurt."
While it must be welcomed that an apology has been made, it must be asked if Markovic really means what is attributed to him.
Do people's view really change at the click of the fingers?
On the surface this appears to be a manufactured view which was initiated not by the official but by backroom staff in a public affairs exercise.
If he had really meant it, then surely a more public apology would have been made.
Whatever happened behind the scenes we must hope that actually the Croatian FA, and other footballing authorities, have learned from this ugly episode and, instead of its officials spouting bigoted soundbites, work will be done to promote the sport to all members of society.
Ultimately, this would mean more to fans and players than a well-thought out public affairs exercise.
The misguided figurehead caused enormous controversy when he told a newspaper that he would "certainly" not permit a gay player on the Croatian national team.
But, after facing the wrath of LGBT groups including the Justin Campaign, a few days later Markovic apologised for the comments.
His statement on the association's website said: "It was not my intention whatsoever to insult or hurt anyone. I have nothing against members of any minority, least of all against those of same-sex orientation.
"Once again, I apologize to all those who were hurt."
While it must be welcomed that an apology has been made, it must be asked if Markovic really means what is attributed to him.
Do people's view really change at the click of the fingers?
On the surface this appears to be a manufactured view which was initiated not by the official but by backroom staff in a public affairs exercise.
If he had really meant it, then surely a more public apology would have been made.
Whatever happened behind the scenes we must hope that actually the Croatian FA, and other footballing authorities, have learned from this ugly episode and, instead of its officials spouting bigoted soundbites, work will be done to promote the sport to all members of society.
Ultimately, this would mean more to fans and players than a well-thought out public affairs exercise.
Monday, 8 November 2010
This man must resign
Every now and then you read something that makes you feel ill.
In an interview in his home country, Vlatko Markovic, the president of the Croatian Football Association stated there was no place for homosexuals in the national side.
His exact comments were: "While I'm president...there will be no homosexuals playing in the national team.
"Luckily only normal people play football."
How such a vile bigot could reach such a prominent position is beyond the Justin Campaign.
This is such a massive step backwards for the whole movement to rid the beautiful game of homophobia.
The authorities in this country must sit up and take notice and put sanctions on the Croatian FA.
Any authority exhibiting such a prejudiced stance to any group should be seriously reprimanded. Further sporting tours of Croatia should be put under review until a full and comprehensive apology (or indeed, resignation) is secured from Vlatko Markovic.
In an interview in his home country, Vlatko Markovic, the president of the Croatian Football Association stated there was no place for homosexuals in the national side.
His exact comments were: "While I'm president...there will be no homosexuals playing in the national team.
"Luckily only normal people play football."
How such a vile bigot could reach such a prominent position is beyond the Justin Campaign.
This is such a massive step backwards for the whole movement to rid the beautiful game of homophobia.
The authorities in this country must sit up and take notice and put sanctions on the Croatian FA.
Any authority exhibiting such a prejudiced stance to any group should be seriously reprimanded. Further sporting tours of Croatia should be put under review until a full and comprehensive apology (or indeed, resignation) is secured from Vlatko Markovic.
The Justin Campaign will shortly present a petition requesting Markovic issue such an apology. Stay tuned for further details.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
