Footballers team up to tackle racism

Date: 09/10/1997

By Simon Coss

SOME of the world's top footballers will gather in Spain this weekend to take part in an all-star tournament being staged to counter the problem of racism on Europe's playing-fields.

The teams taking part will be captained by France's Eric Cantona, former captain of Argentina Diego Maradona and Liberian player George Weah, currently with AC Milan. All three players have experienced racist taunts during their professional careers. On one infamous occasion, Cantona was suspended from playing for top British team Manchester United after he responded to the racist jibes of a supporter with a Kung Fu kick.

The European Commission, which is co-sponsoring the tournament as part of the current European Year Against Racism, says it will bring together some of the best footballers in the world, united in their determination to combat the problem.

“Three of the world's greatest footballers want to send a message that racism has absolutely no place in sport or anywhere else,” said Social Affairs Commissioner Pádraig Flynn.

Each side will have a squad of 21 professional players picked from teams across the globe. “We will be drawing on talent from all five continents,” said an official at the International Association of Professional Footballers, which is coordinating the event.

The tournament will take place at Madrid's Santiago-Bernabeu stadium on Sunday (12 October).