BBC SPORT | Football | Rio stands up to racists

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks it would be a mistake for players to leave the field in protest at racist abuse.

Ferdinand told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't agree with walking off the pitch. I think then you are letting the racists think they have won.

"And you are taking the enjoyment away from people who have paid good money to go and watch the game and from the people who pay our wages."

The England defender's comments came as part of a survey of players, clubs and officials by BBC Radio Five Live into the problem of racism in the domestic game.

Clubs 'complacent' over racism

A number of English clubs playing in Uefa competitions have complained about racist chants from fans.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry was quoted after the match against PSV Eindhoven, where he was subject to abuse, saying he would consider leaving the pitch if it happened again.

Thierry Henry in action in Eindhoven
Henry suffered racist abuse in Holland
Though Ferdinand does not agree, a leading anti-racist campaigner believes such an action could be "a decisive message".

That is the view of Piara Powar, the national co-ordinator of the game's leading anti-racist campaigning body, Kick It Out.

Powar said: "Players walking off the pitch is one part of the debate, as is players saying to their manager if they are expecting a problem, 'I don't want to be subjected to it, I don't want to play in this particular game'.

"Would we want to go into work if someone in our office or workplace was abusing us in some way or another?

"The primary responsibility for tackling this is with the clubs and the police. Clubs are saying they've only evicted 122 fans over five years.

"They are very, very low statistics in terms of police arrests with 46 made over the same time, while less than half of those arrested went on to be prosecuted.

"Another problem we have is the lack of people involved in the game in a non-playing capacity.

"We need to make clubs and the Football Association and Football League aware that there are talented administrators out there from a diverse background."


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