With a fresh racism scandal to hit Hungarian football, the national football federation (MLSZ) have decided to tackle the issue head on by implementing punitive measures for the new season.
Former national coach Kalman Meszoly was forced to resign from the football federation board just days after making racist remarks in public.
“They have hardly just come down from the trees,” said Meszoly in an interview with Hungarian television channel Sport TV, concerning African players with Hungarian clubs.
The Mahatma Gandhi association, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that looks after the interests of Africans in Hungary, were quick to react and requested that European football’s governing body (UEFA) investigate the manner in which the MLSZ are fighting racism.
The remarks by Meszoly follow the largest racism scandal to hit Hungary when last season the federation docked three points from Budapest club Ujpest for crowd trouble during their domestic league tie against Debrecen. The supporters chanted monkey noises every time Senegal striker Ibrahim Sidve touched the ball. As a result of the three-point penalty, Ujpest ended the season in third place, which cost the club substantial earnings and a qualification spot in the UEFA Cup.
Racism has persistently plagued the Hungarian league, despite a tiny number of their players being coloured – five in the First Division for 2006-2007 and 10 this term. African players have also been attacked outside the stadiums and at underground train stations.
For the 2007-2008 season the MLSZ have announced a “zero tolerance” policy against racism and have published a charter on the official website (www.mlsz.hu). The Hungarian federation have asked all referees to interrupt games at the first sign of racism in the stands, and if the racism continues to award the three points to the victimised team. The stadium of the offending supporters will also be closed if there is a second offence coupled with the points deduction, according to FIFA guidelines. However the team will be relegated to the division below if there is a third offence. The rules also apply to verbal offences towards the opposition and referees.
Agence France-Presse
August 04, 2007
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