McGrath backs racism fight

Former Ireland international Paul McGrath expressed the hope yesterday that the FAI's plans to promote greater interculturalism within the game will help stamp out the racism that continues to afflict the sport.

Speaking at the launch of the association's Intercultural Football Plan, the product of more than a year of work by a committee that included representatives of Sport Against Racism in Ireland (Sari), Show Racism the Red Card and the Department of Justice and Law Reform, and of the association itself, McGrath said the issue was taken much more seriously now than when he was a player and that anything which helped in the fight against racism was to be welcomed.

"It's a new Ireland since I've come home," said the former Manchester United and Aston Villa defender, "and it's fantastic, everybody seems to be getting on. There are small pockets of racism, though, and hopefully this initiative helps to tackle not all maybe, but some of those."

McGrath, a regular target for racism during his playing days, feels there is a far greater willingness within the game now to take a stand but he argues that stronger leadership is still required on the part of those who run international football.

"You just have to think of what the Spanish manager (Luis Aragones) said about Thierry Henry (he called him a "black shit"), I don't think anything very much was done about that.

"What's required in a case like that is Sepp Blatter, or whoever, to stand up and take firm action. Personally, I don't think that manager should still be in the game, I really don't."

Asked about allegations this week that English players were similarly abused by Serb opponents at the European Under-21 Championships in the Netherlands, McGrath said harsh penalties were required in cases where the charges were substantiated.

"I'm not saying that something like that should end a player's career but six or 12 months on the sidelines would certainly make them think twice before they'd say something like that again.

"When I was playing I always had a hard time with this sort of thing and it was to my detriment that I put up with it but players today shouldn't have to put up with it and I think what we're seeing here today is part of a process that will help to ensure they don't have to anymore."

Under the proposals, the FAI are committed to initiatives encouraging the country's new communities to get involved in the game and ensure they are treated with respect when they do.

Full implementation of Uefa's 10-point plan on countering racism is one of the most immediate and significant undertakings but the association have also promised to impose harsher sanctions against parties found guilty of racism, to work towards greater participation by minorities in coaching courses and other FAI-backed schemes.

"This is an important landmark in the FAI's efforts to promote football among members of minority ethnic and cultural communities within Ireland," said the association's Intercultural Co-ordinator, Des Tomlinson. "It's important too that the plan seeks to use football as a vehicle to promote a fully intercultural and socially inclusive society."