Beyond Spain's spectacular win in the FIFA World Cup final was a less-talked about issue: Racism. It's an ugly thorn in the beautiful game.
Fans at European games, as well as coaches and officials, have become infamous for heckling black players. They've been heard and seen chanting "monkey" at non-white players, throwing bananas onto the field, spitting, and holding up insulting signs like the one held by fans intended for French player Thierry Henry that read, "Peanuts and bananas are the pay for your infamy."
Some players, like Italy's Marc Zoro, originally from Cameroon, have become so fed up with taunts that he's walked off the field in the middle of play.
But the racism isn't exclusive to just fans. Luis Aragones, coach of the Spanish national team, was overheard saying to one of his players about Thierry Henry, arguably the best player in the world: "Show that black piece of **** that you're better than he is." Aragones was fined $5,000, but continues to coach.
Thierry took it upon himself, with Nike's sponsorship, and with other players of color to create ads criticizing the blatant racism, holding a sign in a Nike commercial that says: "We are still abused for the color of our skin."
Where is FIFA in all of this? Or any of the league's owners? They were quiet on the subject up until this year's World Cup with its media frenzy cause by South Africa's historic hosting. FIFA's President Sepp Blatter instituted rules that resulted in the loss of three points to any team or coach espousing racial slurs. But there are no consequences for the fans, though FIFA's president said any game will be stopped if a racial slur is heard.
