It's been an enthralling season. The Premier League has surpassed its recent lack of top of the league 'final matchday drama' with the two Manchester clubs looking to take battle tomorrow in search of England's top prize.
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| One of the memorable moments from a phenominal year of Premier League football |
The Champions League and indeed all across the major European Leagues the level of quality and standard of genuine shocks have been at their highest level in years - quality for supporters and lovers alike.
For all of the 8-2's, 6-1's and 5-3's between the Premier League's big boys this year; one headline has featured heavily across all European nations - very much tarnishing the undeniable excitement.
Alleged racism.
The game has surely came to unfound levels of disrespect that the undisputed king of the footballing scene - Barca's Messi - was this week claimed to have regularly racially abused former Madrid star Royston Drenthe during their El Classico clashes.and at the latter's time with Hercules.
What is surely worse for the game is the genuine lack of shock or surprise in the headline; true or not, the lack of etiquette and overall humane qualities of these modern day athletes are rising to the surface.
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| Eboue was pelted with missiles because of his skin colour in a Turkish derby. |
Messi, despite standing out, is far from alone - Luis Suarez, John Terry, Roberto Carlos, Christopher Samba, Emre Belozoglu, Emmanuel Eboue and Peter Odemwingie and just a selection more household names who have been caught up in the sickening storm that is very much an unwanted part of the game.
What makes it so difficult for footballing authories The FA, UEFA and FIFA to intervene is the manner of each case. No two are the same and sticking to a fixed punishment really is one of the most controversial 'grey-areas' in the game; and one that is being pleaded to be fixed rapidly.
The majority of players are innocent, it remains the situation in many European nations - particularly eastern, the likes of Turkey and Russia - where 'supporters' as they somehow label themselves are the real criminals that should never be allowed near a football stadium.
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| Drenthe clearly visibly upset by the claimed 'taunting' he received from Messi |
Both Drenthe and Patrice Evra claimed Messi and Suarez respectively to have used the term 'Negro' in their direction repeatedly during times they have locked horns. Such is the wide berth of international football stars now though, that things are going to misunderstood. Much of South America shares a similar language, also akin to that of Spanish and Italian descent, as you've most probably been bored with hearing recently, 'negro' translates to a term almost of endearment - sort of a 'mate' in English.
Where is the line? Admittedly, whilst playing in England, the Uruguayan forward should have learnt, or should at least have an idea of words that are almost globally refrained from.
Suarez received an 8 game ban and was heavily fined.
Everyone says things in the heat of the moment; add to that a foreign language - it's a sure-fire catalyst for problems.
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| John Terry's racist language was said to be caught on video and can be viewed online |
Racism from the stands, all over Europe is clearly the more pressing issue of the moment and one which is really stealing the headlines both at club and international stages.
Physical abuse from 'free-for-all' sort of crowds in the likes of Turkey and Russia are common, horrendous banners reading "Peanuts and bananas are the pay for your infamy", "Paedophiles, unemployed and inbred, welcome the North" in France, "The only good Turk is a dead one" and in regards to West Bromwich Albion's signing of Nigerian Peter Odemwingie "Thank you West Brom", assisted by the image of a banana.
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| The sickening banner aimed at Peter Odemwingie |
This is before problems of items such as bananas and other missiles being thrown onto the field as well as the regular 'monkey chanting' are even taken into consideration.
Why, abroad and in such countries - is it seen as the norm for black players to be targeted so viciously and offensively whilst providing a form of entertainment? There is no place inside the sport, any sport or civilisation; it's all extremely sick and shameful.
There was the horrific case in Italy a couple of seasons ago when Ivorian defender Marc Zoro, who was subjected to three long years of racist taunts by Italian fans before eventually snapping - picking up the ball and wishing to leave the field.
Will it take an issue of such severity or even worse to waken the authorities up?
Like mentioned, there are cases that are disputed in many ways, people wrongfully accused - however where the problem is so pitifully obvious, it really shows what a sorry state the game and even society is at these days.
FIFA are currently being torn to shreds by the media for the lack of goal-line technology and general lack of equipment in football - where are the answers to the real questions that throw our sport into a sub-humane level. Where are the answers that are going to physically and morally protect our sporting stars?
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| 'Supporters' like this idiot will never go near an English football fixture again. |
With England already receiving the news that their players, staff and supporters are going to be subjected to racist abuse in Poland and Ukraine for the European Championships this summer - it is quite easy and scary to see that racism in football will certainely get a lot worse before any sort of light at the end of the tunnel.
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