FIFA and Racism

FIFA (Federation International Football Association) is one of the biggest advocates on the fight against racism.  FIFA president, Joseph S. Bladder, is one of the main figures behind the scenes in this battle.  In 2002, FIFA introduced World Days Against Discrimination and Racism in which the president said, "Racism is a blight that we must eradicate forcefully and resolutely." He also said, "Football has a unifying power that can and must be used to combat discrimination of all kinds.”

 

FIFA President, Joseph S. Bladder

 

 In 2006, FIFA officially announced their Say No to Racism campaign in which they released large banners before matches at the World Cup that simply said, "Say No to Racism."  Below are some pictures of the banners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Italian club, AC Milan, supports the fight against racism

 

 

Another key figure in the fight is South African, Nelson Mandela.  He was imprisoned for 27 years because he fought for racial equality and challenged the South African government.  Mandela died on December 5, 2013.  He was often known as "Madiba" in the world of football.  May he rest in peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didier Drogba, a footballer from Ivory Coast, shows his support for Madiba.  May he always be remembered.

 

 

FIFA released a campaign commercial so viewers could understand the problem and once and for all Say No to Racism.

 



 

 

With everyone's effort and cooperation, we can finally end this massive problem and live hand in hand with each other.  We know that racism is morally oppressive and destructive for your health which should be enough.  Please, we need to unite and say no.

Racism and Your Health

What people don't know about racism is that it can actually effect your health.  On a study that followed 60,000 African American women for more than six years, it showed that if they reported racial discrimination at work they had a 32% higher risk of getting breast cancer.  Other studies have shown that racism can have a direct relation to increased blood pressure and decreased immune function.  On the other hand, racism can eventually lead to an increase in smoking, drinking and eating which can have a negative effect on your health. 


Racism can lead to more smoking and drinking

Another study performed by Dr. Nigel Barber, an evolutionary psychologist and Dr. David Chae of the University of Maryland discovered that racism and the effects of racism can make people old.  Racism is a part of discrimination which can make victims feel stressed.  Stressful situations can greatly increase aging which can ultimately shorten one's life.  This study was supported by pbs.org.

Why are people racist?

Argentina and Germany come together at the start of a soccer match in Cape Town, South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and express their feelings towards racism

Racism is a problem that has effected the world and its inhabitants for many centuries. To be specific, racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race.  So why in fact are people racist? Well, according to humanrights.gov, people are racist for a couple of key reasons.  

1. Influence

As children we often look up to higher influences to determine how we live. When a role model exhibits racist actions, it is easier for us to express them too.

2. Background

All humans come from different places, however we are all the same species.  We all have different cultures and backgrounds.  Over time this establishes an identity that we feel we must retain.  When we are compared to other cultures we might have a sense of superiority which needs to stop.

3. Stereotypes

Humans judge everything.  When an individual observes something new to them, they quickly judge it, and move on.  This creates labels on things including other humans.  The result-- stereotypes. A stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.  Humans have adopted many stereotypes over time which has affected our ability to accept new people, things and cultures.

4. "The Blame Game"

When you have a particularly bad day at the office, school or even on the field you might feel inclined to blow off some steam and let some anger out.  Humans often seek out easy targets and blame them for their own troubles.  Crazy, huh?  Well there's another way to deal with your problems and newsflash-- its not being racist.

 

 

 

 

Sources

http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/socialresponsibility/antiracism/

http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/socialresponsibility/news/newsid=1384919/

http://www.newsweek.com/can-racism-make-you-sick-84165

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2014/01/racism-makes-you-age-faster-on-a-genetic-level-study-finds.html

http://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au/it-stops-with-me/what-you-say-matters/why-are-people-racist