The sports minister, Mims Davies, is to hold an urgent summit with football leaders to discuss how to stamp out the growing problems of racist, homophobic and antisemitic chanting at matches. She said the game must take a zero tolerance approach to abuse.
Lifetime bans will be among the proposals when she meets the organisations, including the Premier League, Football Association and groups such as Stonewall and Kick It Out this month. Davies also said she wants to find out from supporters’ groups whether education policies can work and how the positive power of the game can be used to help address racism and discrimination.
“Football is the national game,” Davies told parliament. “It should bring people together, not foster division. We will not stand by and watch people threaten these values with ugly acts of hatred.”
The summit follows a disturbing number of chants aimed at players, coaches and fans in recent weeks. They include Millwall fans singing derogatory songs during their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Everton and the Macclesfield manager, Sol Campbell, being subjected to alleged homophobic slurs during the club’s game against Cheltenham.
Before Christmas Chelsea fans were accused of shaming the club after antisemitic chants were heard during their Europa Cup tie with MOL Vidi. Four supporters were suspended after being accused of racially abusing Raheem Sterling when Manchester City visited Stamford Bridge.
“Those involved in abuse are not football fans,” said Davies. “They are using football as a cloak for discriminatory, and often criminal, behaviour. And they are not welcome in our stadiums.
“Together we must find a way to tackle this. I will be bringing together the football authorities and other organisations with an interest to agree what action must be taken to stamp out all forms of discrimination at sports events.”
Davies said she would speak to players, fan groups and coaches about their personal experiences of racism and intolerance in football to see what action they wanted to see to eradicate it from the game. “Zero tolerance means just that,” she added. “We cannot allow the minority to ruin it for the majority of us that love the sport.”
