signed
I agree that FIFA wouldnt be happy with any governments intervention into football matters, however, alleged racial abuse is not a football matter, it should first be investigated by proper legal authorities, then if the FA want to take action they can do so after that has happened, cant see FIFA having any objection to that unless they think they are a higher god than the laws of most countries. (yeah i know about Brazil and drink laws etc, before somebody points that out)
The FA would be hamstrung if the CPS threw out a case, i certainly couldnt see them throwing around sentences based on probability.
Of course they could. The FA are acting like many organisations and employers who have codes of behaviour and disciplinary sanctions that don't rely on the standards of evidence you'd require for a criminal conviction.
If someone in my business uses racist language I can discipline them without having to take them to court, and I can do it on the basis of probability, not 'beyond reasonable doubt'. Luis Suarez wasn't found guilty of racial abuse - he was found guilty of insulting a fellow sportsman on the pitch, aggravated by reference to race or colour. It's ridiculous to suggest that insulting behaviour should have to be taken to a criminal court.
What makes this so ridiculous is the FA's ridiculous show trial and punishment, the reaction of the media and the inevitable tribal reaction of opposition fans.
The issue isn't about criminal prosecution. The issue is that the FA are effectively the defendant, judge, jury, prosecution counsel and appeal court. In the early days of the Suarez case someone (can't remember who) suggested the idea of an independent sports tribunal to deal with these types of cases across all sports. It would allow non-criminal disciplinary issues to be dealt with fairly and apolitically.
I won't bother signing that petition because it's badly written and too closely tied into the Suarez case.
