21 Mar 2013

GENEVA / RACISM FOOTBALL

The United Nations human rights chief, professional footballers who experienced racism, and an official from FIFA came together today (21 March) to call the elimination of racism in sports, particularly in football. CH UNTV

Posted at: March 21, 2013 5:03 pm

Duration: 02:09

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: GENEVA / RACISM FOOTBALL
TRT: 2.09
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 21 MARCH 2013, PALAIS DES NATIONS, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS

1. Exterior, Palais de Nations, United Nations Geneva Headquarters

21 MARCH 2013, PALAIS DES NATIONS, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS

2. Wide shot, pan right of the room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Prince Boateng, German-Ghanaian professional footballer, AC Milan player:
"There were times in my life when I didn't want to deal with the subject.  I tried to ignore racism.  Similar to a headache that you know will go away if you just wait long enough.  But this was a misconception.  Racism doesn't go away. If we don't confront it, it will spread."
4. Med shot, two women listening
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"Event organizers should provide secure sporting grounds where acts of racism are clearly outlawed.  At the very least, they must ensure that any racist acts are met with prompt and decisive action.  There must be accountability for racist offences."
5. Med shot, cameras recording the conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Federico Addiechi, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, FIFA:
"This gravest of subjects is one that FIFA treats with the utmost sincerity and the utmost urgency. Nothing speaks more of injustice that the scourge of racism and intolerance in our world.  It is vile, destructive. We know fines may not be enough.  Deducting points from a team could send a very strong message. If you tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism, you will face the consequences."
7. Med shot, children listening

21 MARCH 2013, EXTERIOR, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS

8. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Patrick Viera, former French football player of Senegalese descent:
"During my career I faced racism and I always said the best answer is ignorance, try to ignore those kind of people in the stadium but it is a difficult situation to deal with and that is why I am proud and happy to be here today. Because it is a really important day and try to send a message: enough is enough."

9. Close up, hands of Kevin Prince Boateng
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Prince Boateng, German-Ghanaian professional footballer, AC Milan player:
"But we have to do something and we have to fight against it.  But it is very important not to fight with anger because then we do something bad as these people are, we have to fight against it with smiling and humour and with positivity."

21 MARCH 2013, PALAIS DES NATIONS, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS

10. Med shot, children listening
11. Wide shot, conference room

STORYLINE:

The United Nations human rights chief, professional footballers who experienced racism, and an official from FIFA came together today (21 March) to call for the elimination of racism in sports, particularly in football.

Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, former French football player of Ghanian descent, Patrick Viera, current AC Milan player Kevin Prince Boateng, of German-Senegalese descent, and FIFA's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Federico Addiechi, spoke at a panel discussion held in the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Footballer Boateng, who recently walked off a friendly match in Italy after being taunted with monkey chants, likened racism to a disease that cannot be ignored.

He said, "there were times in my life when I didn't want to deal with the subject.  I tried to ignore racism.  Similar to a headache that you know will go away if you just wait long enough.  But this was a misconception.  Racism doesn't go away. If we don't confront it, it will spread."

Navi Pillay deplored racism in sports and other areas,  and said that in the 21st century, there should no place for it.

She said that "event organizers should provide secure sporting grounds where acts of racism are clearly outlawed.  At the very least, they must ensure that any racist acts are met with prompt and decisive action.  There must be accountability for racist offences."

Addiechi, speaking on behalf of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, expressed the football body's commitment to addressing racism.

He said that "this gravest of subjects is one that FIFA treats with the utmost sincerity and the utmost urgency. Nothing speaks more of injustice that the scourge of racism and intolerance in our world.  It is vile, destructive. We know fines may not be enough.  Deducting points from a team could send a very strong message. If you tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism, you will face the consequences."

Former French footballer Patrick Vieira, who was also at the event, reiterated the call for accountability for racial discrimination in football.  In an interview he spoke of his own experiences.

He said, "during my career I faced racism and I always said the best answer is ignorance, try to ignore those kind of people in the stadium but it is a difficult situation to deal with and that is why I am proud and happy to be here today. Because it is a really important day and try to send a message: enough is enough."

The Day is marked annually on 21 March on the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, during which 69 unarmed demonstrators were killed when South African police opened fire on a protest against the country's apartheid laws.

Filed under 14.02.01 - DISCRIMINATION 15.06.00 - LEISURE, RECREATION AND SPORTS.