In this section, we will use four case studies to show the way forward in monitoring and reporting discrimination in sport.
To make the most of each of these real-life and learning case studies, we invite you to follow these steps as a learning process:
Basics of the case (Who/WHEN): Oltalom Sport Association, “Score for Respect”, since 2018
Description: Oltalom Charity Society started to use sport as a therapeutic activity with personal development value in its operations in 2005. The idea came from our protégés: the residents of the homeless shelter said that they would like to play football together from time to time, so a tradition of playing football together as a hobby, just for fun - a kind of "football session" - began. In the beginning, the club offered regular, free sporting opportunities exclusively to the homeless, but later, in 2008, the club extended its offer to younger, but also socially disadvantaged people.
Identified Needs: Addressing latent racism in Hungarian football and the role of coaches in supporting their players.
Specific insight: An incident in March 2024 involving Mészöly Géza , the head coach of Hungarian professional football club Újpest FC, and his racist insult to a player highlights the complexity of racism in Hungarian football.
Géza, a prominent figure in Hungarian football whose father also had a significant presence in the sport and made a controversial statement on live TV, faced disciplinary action from the MLS (the Hungarian Football Federation). His use of the derogatory term "feka", which is a racist term used to insult people of the black community, sparked widespread criticism. Despite this, the decision to punish Géza was met with opposition from high-profile figures, including the Prime Minister and the head of the Hungarian Football Association, who argued against the interpretation of his words as racist.
This scenario underlines the ongoing challenges in addressing and understanding racism in sports and society at large.
Basics of the case (Who/WHEN): The Lahden Pelicans Ice Hockey Club and the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation - 2022/2023 season
Description: In November 2022, a 13-year-old junior player from the Lahden Pelicans ice hockey club in Finland, reported racist insults during a game, prompting the coach to abandon the match as per a pre-established plan built on previous incidents. The referee did not make any other reporting other than the decision to abandon. The Ice-Hockey Federation had a stern reaction, suspending the head coach and imposing a €3,000 fine on the Lahden Pelicans club.
Identified Needs: Addressing a situation where racist insults occurred between players during a grassroots youth game and one team left the place.
Specific insight: Ice hockey is one of the most important sports in Finland. Children of immigrant families face several difficulties in joining. For example, their parents cannot teach them the beginnings, the sport is quite expensive and there are no role models for them. Now the first children from immigrant families have joined nevertheless but they are already facing racism in the sport. The Ice Hockey Federation had no concept of how to deal with this.
Basic ID info: Royal Europa 90 Kraainem FC - Active since the 80’s, created the "We welcome young refugees" initiative in 2015.
Description: Football is the most popular sport in Belgium and the one where there is the greatest diversity and, by extension, the most significant risk of discrimination and racism.
In 2015, a significant migratory flow arrived in Europe and Belgium, and with it, racism manifested itself even more strongly. Football reproduces social behaviour and, by extension, racism.
During the 2022-2023 season, the National Chamber against Discrimination and Racism dealt with 156 discrimination cases. Of these 156 cases, 109 were complaints of bigotry.
Identified Need: Although an action plan to combat racism and discrimination has been in place at the national level since 2020, clubs at the local level need to take action to prevent and monitor racism and discrimination at source.
Specific insight: Kraainem FC is a football club born in the 80s. The club is convinced that football is a vehicle for social integration and should be a "living together" space on a community scale. The club has always advocated diversity and open-mindedness.
Since its creation, initiatives have been implemented to prevent, monitor, and combat racism in and around the club. Since 2015, and following the European migration crisis, the club has decided to promote the inclusion of migrants and asylum seekers (young people and adults) through football, highlighting the importance of living together and advocating acceptance of all as the basis of sport.
Background information on the ID: Cricket activity in Rome, promoted by UISP Roma and Association ‘Insieme per l'Aniene’ which includes several cricket teams (Bangla Roma, Cricket Roma)
Description: Around 2006 a number of Asian communities asked UISP to help them find places to play cricket. They felt excluded and marginalised in a country that knew nothing about the game and had no facilities available. Thanks to UISP Roma and the Insieme per l’Aniene, which manages a city park (Aniene is one of the two rivers in Rome), an area was found that is currently managed entirely by the various cricket teams that have sprung up over the years. The beginning was not easy, marked by discrimination from the Italians who accused them of ‘privatising’ a public place, but over the years it has become a virtuous example. The cricket teams (which over the years have mixed in terms of nationalities and a women's section has also come up) take care of maintenance and cleaning, and many Italians have become enthusiastic, so much so that some have learnt to play cricket or go to cheer during the matches.
Identified needs: Asian communities needed a place to play the sport representative of their culture of origin. A place to meet and socialise. In fact, matches played on Sunday mornings are often an opportunity to be together with families, eating together, and listening to music.
Another need identified was to feel welcome and included, to meet Italians and pass on one's culture.
Specific insight: After about 20 years of work, the camp in the Aniene Park has become a public place, run by citizens (no matter their passports) and open to citizens. It is a perfect example of an action of inclusion through sport, done together with local communities and associations. Above all, it is a project that has developed over time, understanding everyone's needs and requirements and negotiating the best solutions.
Anti-racism needs time, culture and education for future generations.
Basics of the case (Who/WHEN): CONI Italian Olympic Committee + 2020 Tokyo Olympics Flag Bearer
Description: In 2021, Paola Egonu, one of Italy's greatest volleyball players, was nominated as the Olympic flag bearer for the opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020. Following the nomination, many people in Italy began to express their dissatisfaction with the choice of representative.
Indeed, on social media, many commented on Egonu's nomination with racist, sexist and homophobic insults. A large number of users saw the choice as simply the result of the new "trend" of being politically correct, and also reinforced the idea that Egonu could not be considered Italian (which she is) simply because of the colour of her skin. Most of the remarks made did not take into account Egonu's talent and dedication to her sport, but rather her skin colour (she was born in Italy to Nigerian parents), her gender and her sexual orientation (at least allegedly).
Identified Needs: Addressing a situation where an incorrect narrative can cause the spread of a combination of racist, sexist and homophobic violent comments through social and mainstream media.
Specific insight: The Olympic flag bearer represents athletes all around the world and it is considered a great honour.