My, my, my...

Well racism in football rears its ugly head again.

This time, the victim’s were members of the England under 21 players against the so-called soccer fans of the Serbia under 21's - I won't repeat the details as I'm sure you already know them.

I admire all of the English under 21 players and support staff, who clearly had a lot to endure both on and off the pitch.

I also am grateful that the Serbian Football Association has finally apologised for the actions of some people during this match.

But I also remember South Africa during the days of Apartheid – state approved racism, where White people were the so-called ‘master race’.

Then the Asian people were the next level, then the Coloureds, who were of mixed black Hottentots and White ancestry – they too, like the others, racially abused black people, using the derogatory word, Kaffir.

Then there are the blacks, who were the lowest, who were denied access to even a decent education.

The reason why I mention this is because there was one thing that did finally end this awful system: sanctions.

There were others who embarrassingly undermined this by going to Apartheid-run South Africa, such as the pop group Queen.

Let’s not forget the England rebel tour, when cricketers, led by Mike Gatting, went to this country, without official approval, in the 1980s.

Then there was another tragedy during the 1980s regarding English football: hooligans.

For years during the 1980’s the English Football Association would say sorry to other country’s until the horrible crush of 39 Juventus fans on the 29th May 1985, at the Heysel Stadium, in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

That’s when UEFA finally lost its patience with the English Football Association just saying sorry.

Again, as with South Africa, there was only one thing left to do: sanctions.

This is why I do understand the old saying that goes along the lines of; sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

The bottom line is, sanctions against South Africa and the English football clubs in the 1980s did do the job and made them both accountable and responsible.

I’m very glad to say Apartheid and hooligans at English football matches, as a whole, are a thing of the past.

Yes, there are a few South Africans who do still wave the old Apartheid flag of South Africa.

Hooligans at football matches can still be a problem, as was demonstrated three years ago at the FA Cup match of West Ham against Millwall FC.

But on both issues, there is firm action within England to deal with such undesirables.

The English FA made sure all rioters both within and outside the West Ham ground were caught and dealt with by the legal authorities.

Those South Africans, regardless of their race, who now wave the old flag of South Africa during rugby matches in the UK will now be arrested for inciting racial hatred, which is an offence under the Police and Criminal Evidence act of 1984, also known as P.A.C.E.

So please don’t make excuses like Chicago Bulls player and Serbian national Marko Jaric who says Britain’s link with slavery and hooliganism means we have no right to criticise Serbia fans for alleged racism.

Slavery happened more than 200 years ago – time and society within the UK has moved on since!

Mr Jaric should make a visit to the Anti-Slavery International museum in Liverpool, which will help to explain the meaning of the word SLAV.

It doesn’t take much to see the link, as the four letters of Slav - there are more than 10.5 billion in Serbia (courtesy of Wikipedia) should tell him something.

All that’s missing is the letter E at the end and then you’ve got the meaning of that word!

Andria

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