New FIFA racism rules to be in place for World Cup

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

ZURICH, Mar 17 (Reuters) FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that the new anti-racism measures unveiled by world football's governing body yesterday will come into immediate effect and will be in force at this year's World Cup finals.

Speaking to reporters today, after a two-day meeting of FIFA's executive committee, Blatter said that national associations would be receiving details of the new measures by Monday and were expected to introduce them into their own statutes without delay.

''I can tell you the new rules for racism are immediately applicable,'' Blatter said. ''From now on they are valid so it's the end of non-compliance with what our society is asking football to do.'' According to the statement released by FIFA yesterday, clubs whose supporters commit ''acts of racism or discrimination in football'' will now face sanctions ranging from match suspensions and the deduction of points to relegation or elimination from competitions.

''This is part of the disciplinary code of FIFA,'' Blatter said when asked about possible implementation during the World Cup. ''It will be handled by the disciplinary committee -- so now they have the instrument and they have to apply it.'' Blatter insisted that stricter anti-racism regulations were long overdue and said there was no excuse for associations to drag their heels.

''I said 20 years ago that we had this problem with hooliganism and at the time the community of football stood there and said we should do something but we had no instrument.

''Now we have given them the instrument and regulations to deal with this problem.

''I do not agree (that more time will be needed). This has been an emergency decision in an emergency situation.'' REUTERS PG KP2245

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