ABSTRACT
In Chapter 13, Christos Kassimeris focuses on the supra-national level and explores the contributions to the fight against racism made by four influential organisations. He notes that racism in European football has evolved over time from the more traditional form of fans making monkey noises and throwing bananas to black players, to the modern-day online abuse on social media platforms and the institutional discrimination that has become evident from the absence of black players from managerial positions. As ‘racial’ stereotypes continue to blemish the game of football, since even match commentary if often racialised, the European Union (EU), Council of Europe (CoE), the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and the FARE network (Football Against Racism in Europe) have all become involved in combating racism in football albeit not in a concerted effort. While all have a share in issuing anti-racism resolutions, the two political entities have been preoccupied with policymaking and legislative measures, UEFA has been keener on experimenting with disciplinary action, and FARE is more accustomed to campaigning. This chapter summarises how these organisations perceive and define racism, followed by a critical evaluation of their contributions to the elimination of racism from football.
