Police could stop matches due to racist abuse

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The Spanish Home Office is moving to fight against the racism that is prevalent in sports stadiums. They could give state security forces the power to stop matches where racist abuse is occuring.

1 year ago
It appears that finally racist abuse will have a heavy consequence. According to 'El Pais', the police in Spain could stop a match where this kind of abuse is occurring, to avoid a repeat of the incidents that occured when Real Madrid played Valencia.
The match saw serious disruption as Madrid striker Vinicius called out fans shouting racist abuse from the stands, and the incident focused a global spotlight on the issues faced by black footballers around the world.
Now, the Home Office of Spain has drawn up a bill, reports the aforementioned source, in which "the role of the agents and the State Security Forces in these events is reinforced".
It would give the Police the power to ask the referee to stop the match, either temporarily or definitively. Until now, the decision was left in the hands of the referee either to suspend the match or only to give a warning over the loudspeaker before continuing with it.
With this new bill, the aim is to avoid what happened in the Mestalla with Vinicius, who has been vocal about the incident, and has raised the profile of the abuse that has insidiously made its way into football.

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