PFA wants players sacked for racism
Reuters - Thursday 24 May 2012, 16:59
The Professional Footballers'
Association (PFA) is pushing to make racist abuse a sackable
offence for professional footballers in England next season.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor (pictured) wants to see changes made
to every Premier League and Football League player's contract
after two controversial incidents this season.
The PFA will present the proposal to the Professional
Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC), which
includes the Premier League and the Football League.
"We're just about to bring it to the PFNCC, the body by
which we bring the issues to the Premier League and Football
League, and I don't see a problem with that being introduced,"
Taylor told The Guardian newspaper's website on Thursday.
"It just highlights the point in the standard players'
contract. It would say that racist abuse, if found guilty, will
be classed as gross misconduct and a reason to terminate a
contract. I feel it's important to highlight it, bearing in mind
what has happened, and not mess about with it and not afford for
anybody to be ambiguous about what the consequences are.
"I'm not saying it's ambiguous [now]. But just to really put
it in there means there is no misunderstanding on how serious we
take it. If any player is found guilty of racist abuse, the club
and the player need to be aware that could be a solid reason for
terminating the contract."
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches
for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra
during a Premier League match at Anfield in October.
Chelsea captain John Terry will go on trial in July after he
pleaded not guilty to racially abusing Anton Ferdinand of Queens
Park Rangers during a Premier League match in October.