Campbell calls for penalties for racial abuse

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Serbian player Milos Ninkovic, left, and England's Danny Rose, right, and Craig Dawson, center, clash during their 2013 European Under-21 Championship play-off, second leg match, in Krusevac, Serbia. AP Photo

Former England defender Sol Campbell has called on European football's governing body UEFA to introduce point deductions to stamp out racist behaviour in the sport.
 
England Under-21s' 1-0 victory over Serbia in Krusevac on Tuesday, which saw them qualify for next year's European Championship in Israel, was overshadowed by apparent racism from the stands towards England full-back Danny Rose.
 
The Serbian federation (FSS) issued a statement "absolutely" denying there was any racism at all and branding the England players' behaviour "vulgar".
 
UEFA charged both the English and Serbian associations for the improper conduct of their players, and the Serbs for "alleged racist chanting" by fans.
 
And former Arsenal and Tottenham centre-back Campbell believes the European governing body now needs to send a strong deterrent to prevent a repeat in the future, with fines having been issued for similar incidents in the past.
 
"It was a disaster. It was as if there was no control from the fans, from the officials and to top it off Danny was getting abused all game from stone-throwing and monkey chants," Campbell told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme.
 
"For me it was just disgusting, I really felt for him and I felt for the players out there because everyone concerned with England must have felt it.
 
"I think (UEFA should deduct) points and then after a while when you stop qualifying for these competitions I think people will start to wake up." Meanwhile, Everton striker Victor Anichebe told the Daily Star that he will follow in the footsteps of Jason Roberts and Rio Ferdinand by refusing to wear a Kick It Out T-shirt in the Toffees' clash at QPR on Sunday.
 
"I believe in kicking racism out of everything, not just football - kick it out of society," he said.
 
"Situations have happened and I don't feel the outcome has been just. I won't wear the T-shirt, I don't think it's right to wear it. If other people want to wear it that's their right.