01.06.2020

List of incidents reported to Fare during May 2020

The following incidents of racism, xenophobia, extreme nationalism or homophobia have been reported to Fare during April 2020. This list is only likely to reflect a proportion of the incidents that occurred.

All reports have been brought to Fare’s attention through eyewitness or media accounts. A Fare observer scheme is also currently at place at UEFA club and national team competitions to monitor discriminatory behaviour.

Fare sends trained international observers to record discriminatory incidents at UEFA Champions League, Europa League, European Qualifiers and UEFA EURO 2020 as well as FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preliminary Competition.

Fare has third party reporting status with UEFA, and FIFA on international matches, and at a national level we can support incident reports made by our members.

The general public can keep us informed of national and international level incidents through the reporting form here.

Note: Football matches have been suspended worldwide in the second part of March due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) global pandemic and the corresponding quarantine measures by most countries in the world.

Media/ Social Media/ E-sport

11 May 2020 – England – Instagram

The former Arsenal and England striker Wright was sent a number of Instagram messages which he shared on Twitter.

11 May 2020 – England – Instagram

The former Aston Villa forward Agbonlahor was also sent an abusive and racist message on Instagram.

18 May 2020 – Belarus – Instagram

Isloch FC player Momo Yansane shared a racist instagram message he was sent.

18 May 2020 – India – Instagram

Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri was subjected to racism during his Instagram live chat was referred to as a 'Nepali' by a user who commented the same during the live chat. Northern Indians were subjected to a lot of racism during the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

Sanctions

27 May 2020 – English FA - Grimsby Town midfielder Elliott Whitehouse

Grimsby Town midfielder Elliott Whitehouse has been banned for six games and fined £2,000 for calling Northampton midfielder Alan McCormack ‘pikey.’ Whitehouse, who admitted the charge, must also undertake an education course run by the Football Association.

28 May 2020 – English FA – Arsenal Women

Arsenal Women FC have been fined £50,000 by the Football Association (FA) after being found to have discriminated against a former coach "by reason of disability".
The club were charged with a breach of FA Rule E4 over the dismissal of under-15s head coach Robin Carpenter - who had earlier informed them that he believed he had autism - in May 2014.

Report incident