Spanish FA soft on racism

Robertson disappointed at lenient racism punishment

Hugh Robertson MP, the Shadow Sports minister has expressed his disappointment at the Spanish FA’s lenient treatment of the Spanish Football Coach after racist comments.

The Spanish Coach was fined only £2,060, the equivalent of a day’s pay, for a racist outburst directed at Arsenal Striker, Thierry Henri last October.

Commenting, Hugh said: “I am extremely disappointed that the Spanish FA has chosen to respond so leniently to the Spanish Coach's racist attack on Thierry Henry. Quite apart from the fact that his remarks were totally unacceptable in themselves, they had an obvious effect on Spanish football fans in advance of the U21 and full international games against England where our players were subject to racial abuse. The fine imposed on Luis Aragones should have reflected this and sent a clear signal to the international football community of Spain's intention to confront this issue in the same way that it has been tackled here by the FA and the Kick it Out campaign.”