WARSAW – Uefa has charged the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Russian Football Union (RFS) for racist behaviour and racist chanting by their national teams’ fans during Euro 2012 matches.
Uefa has been gathering evidence following reports that Spanish fans racially abused Italy striker Mario Balotelli during Spain’s 1-1 draw with Italy four days earlier.Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie, the first black player to represent the Czech national team, told reporters he had ‘noticed’ racist chants directed at him during his side’s game with Russia. The issue of racism dominated the build-up to Euro 2012, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine and the biggest sporting event in eastern Europe since the end of communism.There have been isolated incidents, with Uefa fining the Croatian Football Federation 80 000 euros (US$100 600) for racist chants directed at Balotelli by their fans at the Group C match in Poznan on June 14. Uefa will deal with the cases tomorrow. Nampa-Reuters
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