According to a report by anti-discrimination group Fare network, the world soccer body has failed to act upon a dozen clear incidents of racism and discrimination at this year's World Cup.
The analysis done by Fare during the tournament in Brazil revealed that racist and homophobic activity at the tournament had reached double figures ahead of the semifinals this week. None of the incidents mentioned and analyzed by Fare for the report were said to have been given action by FIFA despite the fact that it has publicly made aware of the majority of the incidents by Fare itself of by media.
The Telegraph said FIFA's disciplinary committee did consider taking action in several of the cases, but in controversial fashion, decided that none of them warranted sanctions or have violated its rules.
Several of the incidents mentioned in the Fare report include "homophobic" chanting by Brazil and Mexico supporters, far-right banners displayed by followers of Germany, Russia and Croatia and racist attacks instigated by England fans. Moreover, there were several who had worn discriminatory costumes and makeup by visitors from a number of countries. Most notorious of them were the incidents of spectators wearing blackface makeup during matches of African teams.
The incidents that flew past FIFA was contrary to FIFA president Sepp Blatter's earlier vowed that the world soccer body will have a "zero-tolerance" approach to racism and discrimination.
Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb, who is also head of the world soccer body's anti-discrimination task force, had said last week about the inaction on the discriminatory incidents, "It is obvious there is a disconnect between what we in the task force deems as racism and discrimination and what the disciplinary committee deems as racism and discrimination."
In its report, Fare is recommending measures aimed at curbing behavior to be repeated in future tournaments, the Telegraph said.
