Dec. 13, 2004. 08:15 AM
Racists taunt hockey star
Russian incident `no big deal'
Anson Carter is latest abuse target

GLEN COLBOURN
SPORTS REPORTER

Fan racism against black soccer players in Europe spilled into the rink yesterday, as spectators in St. Petersburg, Russia, twice tossed bananas or banana peels on to the ice at Anson Carter.

Carter, a Scarborough (Toronto) native playing with a touring team of locked-out National Hockey League stars, wasn't bothered.

"It's no big deal," Carter, 30, told reporters in Russia. "I'm not surprised — look around."

The banana-tossing occurred on a day when the English-language St. Petersburg Times had a front-page story about attacks on ethnic minorities in the city.

And it comes as soccer authorities around Europe struggle to deal with a spate of racist outbursts directed at black players.

But it's an old story for Carter.

He was a slender 12-year-old when he first faced racism at the rink. Playing for the Toronto Red Wings in a Christmas tournament in Guelph, an opponent with Detroit Little Caesars began taunting him.

"He kept shouting and calling names from the bench, using the N-word. When he was on the ice beside him he was calling him the N-word," Carter's mother Valma recalled yesterday.

"And Anson said to him: `Okay, you can say what you want, but let's prove it on the ice.'

"And Anson's team won.

"From there on, we've been telling him you're going to encounter these things, but you have to be strong."

Carter, now a player with the Los Angeles Kings, won yesterday's game, too, helping the Worldstars beat a Russian all-star team 5-4 in an exhibition match played with little intensity that would explain the fan outburst.

But it follows a series of troubling incidents at soccer games:

In Madrid, Spanish fans bellowed out monkey noises last month each time three black English players touched the ball in a match between England and Spain.

A month earlier, Spanish national coach Luis Aragones was caught by a TV crew using racist language about France's star striker Thierry Henry. On Friday, Spain's anti-violence commission asked the country's soccer federation to open urgent disciplinary proceedings against Aragones, who has so far not been formally censured.

Real Madrid, Europe's most successful soccer team, and Belgian club Brugge were fined by European soccer officials, while Lazio of Italy was ordered to play its next European home match in an empty arena following racism by fans at European games.

In England, three men appeared in court last Thursday accused of racially taunting forward Dwight Yorke during a Blackburn-Birmingham game.

"The racism in football is all about national identity," Stefan Szymanski, economics professor at Tanaka Business School in London, said in a recent interview.

"It's a way of cementing your identity and singling out people who are not like you."

For Valma and Horace Carter, who emigrated from their native Barbados more than 30 years ago, they've long taught their eldest son how to deal with being singled out.

"That's a part of life," Valma said.

"Anson is well-prepared for all of this. We sat down and we talk with him and we constantly tell him: `People's attitudes have not changed and there are still some people out there who are still thinking (like in) years gone by.'"

Carter, one of just 13 blacks among the 600-plus players in the NHL in 2003, also encountered racism while playing college hockey at Michigan State University. There were slurs shouted on the ice. One student sent him an e-mail that said, "Go back to your project."

Carter, raised in Scarborough, didn't know what a project was.

"It (racist taunts) hasn't happened enough for me to really think it's a problem, though," Carter said in a 1995 interview while still at Michigan State. "The times it's happened, guys have said some things to try to get me off my game, but all it does is help create an inner toughness that allows you to thrive in any situation.

"I've come to realize that you can't let it affect you."

That attitude makes mom proud.

"Quite right. I agree. He's not injured (by the banana-throwing). It's no big deal. People will be people and all these things are expected. ... I'm sure this is an eye-opener for him and it will make him even stronger."

sorry to break to you..but racism is still alive and kicking..its just like 20,30,40 yrs ago..ppl just learned to hide it better.
they just fake it well. ppl are still racist..but they just wont say it out loud...or in these cases..they still do.
sad world we live in...sad world.

that doesn't surprise me

Amazing the way those people look/judge/treat people with colored skin.

It sickens me.

Very sad and sickening. People should learn it is inside what counts and skin colour means nothing. People need to judge by the character not the skin colour.

I despise racism, I really do. I was under the impression that it was reasonably under control, but even at football games (soccer for our American readers) i've heard fans from one team shout racist comments at players from the opposition, even though their OWN teams have black players. I mean for christs sake, its not like if you insult a black man you are only doing it to him specifically - you are insulting all black people

I hate it, and it shocks me that it doesnt seem to be fading away with the older generation who just don't know any better.. we should, as a race be above this kind of crap.

As a minority born and raised in the US. I say that racists are cowards, I mean when have you seen the KKK hold a demonstration, in the middle of compton or watts, or oakland. for that fact ANY ghetto? they hate minorities so much, but yet there scared too scared to demsontrate in these areas. And when they do they committ cowardly crimes, I have never faced racism till i moved here to Seattle, and knocked two guys out already, because they wanted to be bold and say something to my face. any one who doesnt like hispanics, black, asians, etc....
Are cowards, im not saying all white people are racists, theres alot of minorities that are just as guilty, My dad for example is always talking about back people and for that reason i have distanced myself from him and all others who have a caveman mentality.


Racists suck period.

I feel for him... i can't even count the times i got picked on for being jewish... and i don't even practice or even look jewish...

sad. and sick.

hehehe..man..jewish or not..i dont think they have a "look"..unless you have a huge nose! lol
but c'mon..you cant be serious...racism againts a jewish person..Vs. racism againts blacks, hispanics and middle eastern? ohh cry me a river...

There's a good and bad racism? Some racism is better than others? I think it's all bad.

Racism is totally uncalled for, there is no excuse for it. I'm glad he doesn't let it get to him. Some people just never learn, I really hope future generations are more tolerate than current ones.

nononono..i never said theres good or bad racism....racism is stupid and sick.
dont get me wrong...wat i meant was...outside those days in germany..and palestine..no1 else really has anything bad to say againts jewish ppl. like for example..when was the last time you heard a fan make a comment about a jewish player? that never happens...all im saying is..it is not as bold in the community. if you act cheap..some1 will consider you jewish...but if you are from a mid easters country..you will be called a terrorist...your passport will be checked..at least 4 times..and ur finger prints will be taken...or if your black...and a shooting happend around the corner..you will be questioned...or if you havea nice and expensive car..you will be pulled over..cuz black ppl driving expensive cars..has stolen written all over it...
u get my point?

yea tahts called" Stereotyping" and its still dumb and lame

Anti-semitism is alive and well. Every once in a while you'll find swasticas spray painted on jewish cemetaries.

I think Mattieu Shneider has run into some incidents with the NHL (to keep things on topic).

I'm surprised there hasn't been more reports of racism in nhl or any other sport. When someone is racism, then they are either scared or can't handle changes very well. I don't care what the color of someone's skin is. Its just sad that racism won't go away.

LOL, bananas!

I'm glad you find the racists funny.

I don't know about other places but here in this town it seems like girls are mostly racists than boys. No idea why though .. I don't understand these people anyway.

Racial insults are the same as other insults levelled at other stereotypes/minorities - against geeks, against fat people, against gays, people that dress differently, people that go to posh schools, etc. I find it sad that people will yell abuse at others because they are different in any respect.

It is not just that these people have a problem with race, these people have problems full stop.

Racism goes back to the mid 1800's, so it's nothing shocking. However, the sports associations have to deal with these occurences accordingly. Hell, Real Madrid was given a big fine for the racist remarks of their fans towards players of England.

You have to start somewhere.

ppl don't take the problem seriously enough, it's everywhere, just jokingly or with violence

darn that sucks

/me waves his flag

I do believe the KKK held a demonstration in downtown Memphis.

As for the girls being more racist, EVERY girl i know has been stared at and followed by the hispanic or african-american race and upon multiple instances. If you are being put in an unpleasant situation by a certain race more than one time, you will usually remember the bad before the good and have that conotation. I'm not approving of throwing bananas because that is just plain wrong, but because a person has multiple uncomfortable situations with one race then being a bit racist is understandable IMO. Inside there is probably at least a little bit in everyone, or maybe this is just all formed from me living in the south, but if you see one race continually carrying themselves in a certain manner, they will start to append that perception to all of them.

The clan of today does not go out on night rides to go lynching, they are not that brave. They hold rallies in places where white people congrigate, places where not a lot happens and people can be influenced. If some 18-25 year old white male thinks his life sucks and is confused, he is a prime target for these jerk-offs. The one who can hear something about how minorities are taking jobs away from the 'hard working white man'. It gets stuck in his head and he begins to think like that. For anyone who has seen 'Higer Learning', that is a prime example. Racism is a plague and it will never be cured, harmony amongst people will never exsist, religion assures us that, just too many people stuck to their beliefs. Which is weird, because most black and hispanic people believe in Jesus Christ like a lot of white people do, isn't that ironic.

I do not think anyone should be treated differently because of their skin color, you shouldn't lose a job or be scaulfed at. With that said though, I am tired of everyone saying America keeps the 'black man down'. Stop using excuses. I know it isn't fair that you might have to be a little smarter or have a little more education or qualifications, come on. Minorities use this excuse constantly and it ****es me off. No one is holding you back from what ever you want to be, you just have to work a little harder. Which is a bad draw, but the other side is to sit their and feel sorry for yourself and let the cliche of how things are supposed to be keep you down.

PS: The clan can hold a rally in any city they want with the proper paperwork submission, it is their civil right. They have held rallies in many places of hostility, maybe not Compton, but that is just ignorant and the typical thing to say.

I feel very strongly about this topic, and I could point out a _lot_ of real life tragedies that I've seen.. but I won't.

---

If you aren't familar with racism, or people of a racist nature, then you'll probably never will be. It'll all be second nature to you.

It's a mindset that evolves from (among others) the family.

Case in point:

Your dad was laid off because an immigrant performed the job much more efficiently, and was willing to accept minimal wages. Your Dad takes his bitterness to the dinner table, and the entire family is exposed to the pearls of wisdom that he has to bestow upon them.

Instead of bettering his life, he decides to become an alcoholic. He would play psychological games with his children, telling them that the reason they're not getting a Christmas this year was because a <insert racial slur> ruined their lives. He takes a sip of his already stale beer, and proceeds to beat the living hell out of them.

They go to school to only realise that most of their fellow classmates descended from a <minority> family. Memories of their god-forsaken father and his whipping belt play over repeatedly in their minds, and they begin to develop an instinctual fear of a differing culture. They begin to isolate themselves from their peers, and retreat to the safe haven (while ultimately abusive) that is their family.

Once they're of age, they begin to develop a false sense of security. They're more ambitious, and they're willing to show who's (apparently) in charge...

---

Either that, or they're just uncultured hicks. They think that the rest of the world starts and stops at their own convenience. They believe that their continent of residence is the sole landmass on the planet Earth, and they act accordingly.

I'm not targeting just rednecks of America. As detailed by the article, much of this nonsense occurs at a global-scale. Xenophobia was accentuated by early century propaganda, and was perpetuated by modern day media.

---

My gf is of a different descent. My parents, and siblings were extremely uncomfortable when meeting her (despite my public 4 yr relationship with her,) and are always condescending towards her. According to them, her misgivings are a direct result of the inferior stock that is her heritage.

---

Infer what you will from this piece. Rationalize what you will of your own existence.

OT: Is it called Soccer only in the States? What other countries call it soccer?

On Topic: Racism sucks and doesn't belong in sports

Canada uses the term 'soccer' too.

There aint much that winds me up, but racism really does

When i was watching the Spain vs England football (soccer) match a few weeks ago, i felt so sorry for players like sean wright philips and ashley cole, it's just sad, pathetic, disgusting, and abou as low as you can get.

Nothing new... racism will always be there thanks to ignorant idiots.

sure- racism still exists, racism towards blacks, whites, puerto ricans, everyone's got someone who hates them.
hell, the recent- it's popular to hate americans.
we need to stop giving hate such attention, whether through the media or through groups of friends laughing about how stupid americans are while downing a few brews at the local pub.
same thing goes for those americans laughing over how stupid the french are while playing poker.
hate is the problem.
stop it at it's source.
we hang /w our buds and make it popular to hate something- hell, it mite even give some of us a buzz.
end it now.
- sure, u have the rite to hold a responsible grudge towards someone who u feel wronged u, just don't hate those similar to the 'assailant'
[/emote]

I have to agree, nothing gets me more pi$$edoff than racism or stupidity.
Which when you think of it are the same thing.

Sad. Disgusting.

a problem i'm noticing tho- these aren't serious cases of racism.
sure- reprimand them, but i doubt they go home n' sport kkk or black panther parefenelia.
these are just punks looking for a high.

I being a minority find it sad, But i often brush it off and don't think too much of it. I don't get called names or anything but when someone does and they mean it. They can expect trouble from me.

With that being said, I would like to hear the other side of this. Can a racist person speak up and tell me whats wrong with other races and people? And why you feel that you are so much better than other people? Tell us in a way that people wont start flamming the thread.
I seriously would like to hear from a racist on neowin. Cause i know there is at the very least one. But chances are that the racist don't have the balls to speak up and speak their mind.

very sad.

can someone explain me what is a hispanic person?

people from spain...?, american indians...?, mix people (black- white, black- indian, white - indian, w/b/i - asians...)?, white people from central - south america...? ...?

Dec. 15, 2004. 09:51 AM
Soccer coach faces racism hearing

MADRID (AP) — Spain's soccer federation has initiated disciplinary proceedings against national team coach Luis Aragones for making racist remarks.

A lawyer will be appointed Tuesday to take charge of the case. The process is likely to take several months, with Aragones expected to be called as a witness.

If Aragones is found guilty, he could lose his job or be fined 30,000 euros ($49,435 Cdn), sports daily As reported Wednesday.

Spanish federation president Angel Maria Villar had initially declined to take action against Aragones. But he agreed last Friday to a request by Spain's Anti-Violence Commission to open a disciplinary case.

"I expected the news because the president had already told me," Aragones told As. "Anyway, in a case like this you always have the right to defend yourself."

Aragones has been under fire since making a racist comment about Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry during a training session of the national team in October.

The veteran coach has claimed the remarks were taken out of context and that he had meant no offence to Henry, who is black.

Aragones created a further storm before Spain's Nov. 17 friendly against England in Madrid, when he responded to questions about the incident by making an angry outburst about Britain's colonial past.

The coach's remarks are believed to have fuelled the racist chanting toward England's black players during the game as well as at an under-21 match the previous day. FIFA is investigating.

Since the England match, there has been a spate of racist taunting at Spanish matches.

Last Friday, European governing body UEFA fined Real Madrid 9,780 euros ($16,115 Cdn) for racist behaviour by its supporters at the Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen on Nov. 23.

On Tuesday, the Spanish federation fined first-division Albacete 600 euros ($990 Cdn) after some of its fans taunted FC Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o last weekend.

wanna know what an ignorant idiot is...
unfortunately in a 'midget' level hockey game, i was labeled a racist by the other team because i layed a huge center ice hit on a player who happened to be black... not for any racial reasons, just because he was skating through center with his head down.

I'm glad your glad.

Yeah, there's always people like that who like to play the race card