New Delhi:: England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says that efforts to eradicate racism from football are undermined by the lenient sanctions handed down by the game’s governing bodies.
Chairing a debate for MUTV on racism and how to eliminate it, Ferdinand criticized the way in which football’s authorities have dealt with racist abuse of players by fans.
"You see feeble punishments handed out. The message to youngsters is that it couldn't have been that bad after all."
Ferdinand, a long-standing spokesman for anti-racism campaigns, wants to see the strongest possible sanctions imposed for the good of the game and society at large.
"If you are (disqualified) out of a competition then I think young people get the message that it is harder-hitting," he said.
The England international’s comments come the day after allegations that Ukraine fans racially abused team mate Carlton Cole during Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, the latest in a series of such incidents that have marred England away games.
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