Sports and hate speech

Analyzing "hate speech" in the Russian media, we try to carefully evaluate sports reports in the context of this problem, although many observers and experts who touch on these topics in one way or another do not agree with us (see, for example, the opinions of V. Tishkov and S. .Buntman ).

However, it is no secret that ethno-nationalist and even racist statements are far from uncommon for sports commentary . This is all the more alarming because the environment of sports (especially football) fans is closely intertwined with the environment of skinheads, and racist antics often overshadow sports competitions. And in this sense, incorrect statements in sports reports are tacit support for such incidents.

In July 2005, we came across at least two such statements. And this, we emphasize, despite the fact that in the current project, sports news is not at all within the scope of our attention.

In particular, in an interview with the Sovetsky Sport newspaper on July 2, 2005, FIFA referee Igor Yegorov, talking about the incorrect behavior (including verbal) of players and coaches, himself also allows himself incorrect statements like "Bikey from Shinnik" in each match is trying to tell something to the referees in the palm-banana language" .

But in an article published on the sports section of the RosBusinessConsulting portal, devoted to the problems of poor-quality play by one of the sports teams, the correspondent for some reason focuses not on the quality of the football players or the work of coaches, but on the color of the players' skin: "... It is not clear , Why did they buy Kanyenda, or is it a sign that one striker must be dark-skinned...Obiora, Parks, Kanyenda"...

Vandenko Andrei. FIFA referee Igor Yegorov: I won't let you make soap out of me! The rebellious referee sums up his "case" in a conversation with an observer of "Soviet Sport" // Soviet Sport. 2005. July 2.

Sources

• Andreev Maxim. Bring back Loskov! // RBC. 2005. 28 July. *