THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 SPORTS Racism clouds Italian football renaissance TURIN, Italy: These should be the best of to highlight his treatment in interviews, of recent cases of black players being nent black player, Mario Balotelli, he were they good or not so good.” times for Italian football. Juventus protesting at “being made to feel like a verbally attacked from the stands. Serie argued. “Balotelli had to endure endless Hoping the problem will go away is reached their second Champions League criminal” while the game’s governing A has sanctions procedures but the crite- abuse but he never had any kind of sup- not enough, said Valeri. “Many sociolo- final in three years on Tuesday evening, bodies sit on their hands. The spotlight ria for applying them (such as the whole port in trying to stop it,” said Valeri, not- gists talk of the phenomenon of the new investors are promising a revival of on Italian football brightened after stadium must be able to hear the abuse) ing how reluctant white Italian foot- weekend racist - someone who goes to AC Milan and and Serie A is casting off its Juventus’ Moroccan defender Medhi means they are hardly ever used. “It is ballers are to join anti-racism cam- the stadium and shouts abuse but does reputation for sterile defensive fare. But Benatia cut short a TV interview at the just ridiculous,” according to Valeri. “The paigns. “In Italy anti-racism is not every- not apply the same approach to people the renaissance risks being clouded by weekend after reportedly hearing some- result is racism is never punished.” one’s battle. If you say you are against he meets during the week. “Personally I reminders of football’s dark ages: the one involved in the production describ- Another problem is that although Italy racism, you risk people saying maybe think that is wrong and what is happen- specter of racism has returned to haunt ing him in racially derogatory terms. has strong legislation covering racial you’re a communist.” ing in the stadiums now risks being the national sport. Ten days after Ghana abuse, the law requires positive identifi- Mainstream Italian politicians are reproduced outside. If it is okay to insult midfielder Sulley Muntari walked off in ‘RACISM NEVER PUNISHED’ cation of the individuals involved, and reluctant to take a stand for fear of black players inside a stadium, it quickly disgust at being racially abused during a Italian football cannot be blamed for clubs cannot be held responsible for fail- being seen as not appreciating voters’ becomes normal to insult a young guy match at Cagliari, the fans responsible that incident. But sociologist and writer ing to identify perpetrators. Valeri says worries about the arrival of more than from Gambia or elsewhere that you meet have not been identified. And no action Mauro Valeri believes its racism problem clubs’ fear is alienating their most hard- half a million mainly African migrants in in the street.” has been taken against the Sardinian club. is only partly about sport reflecting the core fans, even if they have extremist or three years. “Today, talking about Sebastian Louis, a French expert on Muntari, in contrast, was sanctioned, outside world. “What happened with even criminal affiliations. And broader racism means losing votes,” said Valeri. fan culture, said the recent incidents after failing to persuade the referee to Muntari is a very important episode. But cultural and political influences also Within football, suggesting Italy could should not be downplayed but argues suspend the match. Remonstrating with only because he reacted. Sadly, this kind shape attitudes. learn from neighboring countries that Italy is changing. “You have to the fans earned him a first yellow card, of thing is all too common,” Valeri told seems to raise hackles. “I don’t believe it remember that in 1996, in a Verona der- walking off in frustration a while later got AFP. “And it is not just Serie A and B. In STADIUM TO STREETS is just an Italian problem, it’s global,” by, a black mannequin was brandished him a second and a sending off, leading junior football there have been 80 regis- “Within Italian football there is no Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said with a noose around its neck by two sup- to an automatic one-match ban. An out- tered cases of black players being anti-racism movement and other anti- ahead of Tuesday’s win over Monaco. “I porters wearing Ku Klux Klan hoods. cry spearheaded by the international abused in the last two years. Usually by racism associations don’t take any inter- just hope that as soon as possible we “Throughout the 1980s there were players’ union and the UN human rights parents of their opponents and almost est in football,” said Valeri. This leaves can stop talking about racism and race extreme right symbols in numerous sta- agency saw the ban overturned on invariably nothing is done about it.” anyone who takes a stand isolated, as and only talk about Chiellini, Benatia, diums, racist attacks outside them. The appeal. Muntari has subsequently sought The Muntari abuse was one of a string happened to the country’s most promi- Muntari, what they do on the pitch, situation has evolved.” — AFP PREVIEW Herrera says fans can fire Man Utd to final LONDON: Ander Herrera wants upon cup pedigree that saw them over- Manchester United’s supporters to turn Old come Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of Trafford into a cauldron when his side look this season’s Copa del Rey, a year after they to complete victory over Celta Vigo in had accounted for Atletico Madrid at the Thursday’s Europa League semi-final return same stage of the tournament. “It is still leg. Marcus Rashford’s sweet second-half close,” said Celta striker John Guidetti, who free-kick brought United a 1-0 win in last was formerly on the books of United’s week’s first leg, putting Jose Mourinho’s cross-town rivals City. “It is half-time. They side within touching distance of the final in are leading 1-0 and we have to go out and Stockholm on May 24. But although United make the second half count. At the end of have gone 17 European home games with- the day, if we go to Old Trafford and score out defeat, Celta have scored in all six of the first goal, we are in the driving seat their Europa League away matches this because if we score another one, they have season and Herrera says everyone in United to score two.” red will have to be on their game. Celta’s Europa League commitments “They have scored away in every game have had a striking impact on their league they’ve played in the competition so we form, largely due to coach Eduardo have to be aware of that,” the Spanish mid- Berizzo’s determination to rest players. fielder said. “They are a very good team, Their 3-0 defeat at Malaga last weekend very dangerous when they play away and was their sixth loss in seven La Liga outings we will need our fans at home. “I tell them and they have won only two of their last 10 we really need them to create a good games in all competitions. Peter Bosz’s daz- atmosphere, a difficult atmosphere for the zling young Ajax team are likely to be opponents, who can push us to be in the awaiting the victors in the final, having final. It’s not going to be easy.” beat Lyon 4-1 in the home leg of their semi- United have never won the Europa final. But Lyon have averaged over four League and are bidding to reach a first con- goals per game in their Europa League tinental final since their 3-1 loss to home matches and coach Bruno Genesio Barcelona at Wembley in the deciding believes his side’s 3-2 victory over Nantes match of the 2010-11 Champions League. on Sunday showed they are capable of But while success in Europe’s second-tier pulling off a famous comeback. “There’s an competition will complete United’s collec- hour and a half to overcome our deficit,” he tion of trophies, what motivates them said. “We’ll have to create chances and take SYDNEY: Shanghai SIPG’s Lyu Wenjun (right) falls over Sydney Wanderers’ Vedran Janjetovic as Wanderers’ Haritz Borda watches during their above all is the place in next season’s them, but also remain calm and organized Asian Football Confederation Champions League match yesterday. — AP Champions League that Europa League when we lose the ball. “We have to remem- success will yield. Mourinho has openly ber that we scored three goals. And if we abandoned United’s hopes of securing the score three on Thursday, we could go top-four finish in the Premier League that through.” —AFP Wanderers down Hulk-less SIPG would open the door to the Champions League. He made eight changes to his SYDNEY: Western Sydney Wanderers pinched starting XI for last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at only their second win of this season’s AFC Arsenal, which brought an end to United’s Champions League with a late winner over big- Buffon seeking to get 25-game unbeaten run in the league and Matches on TV spending Shanghai SIPG in their final group left them four points below fourth-place (Local Timings) game in Sydney yesterday. Jaushua Sotirio had a Manchester City. Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, tap-in in the 89th-minute to claim a 3-2 win for gloves on elusive prize Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba and Rashford UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE the 2014 AFC Champions League winners who are among the players expected to return grabbed a consolation win after failing to qualify TURIN: Cardiff beckons for Gianluigi Buffon on more than patriotic fervor.