talking about RACISM

Every year on third Monday of January Americans celebrate Martin Luther King's Day to commemorate  to his work in the civil rights movement, or more generally to promote tolerance. As this years holiday is slowly approaching now (it will be celebrated on January the 19th) I decided to share a lesson on racism in football - a topic which unfortunately is very relevant and and still up-to date.

WARM UP

Are you a football fan?

Do you enjoy watching it or do you prefer to play it yourself?

Have you ever heard or experienced any racist behaviour in football? Give examples.

READING

Read the text and fill in the gaps with the words given.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2582945/Premier-League-stars-reveal-racism-homophobia-rife-game.html

Players from England's professional football leagues have told a campaign group that racism is common in the game. Over 200 professionals ⁽¹⁾__________________ in the Premier League, and the three divisions below it, took part in a survey ⁽²⁾__________________ by the campaigners “Kick It Out”. The organization said racism is ⁽³⁾__________________ in English football. Over half of those who answered the ⁽⁴⁾__________________ said they regularly see racism. A quarter said they have heard racist ⁽⁵⁾__________________ from fans or other players. One in five said they have heard comments from their own teammates. Many players said there should be ⁽⁶⁾__________________ protection about it at football matches.

            better · comments · conducted · everywhere ·  playing · questions   

“Kick It Out” said things were improving but progress was too ⁽⁷⁾__________________. Its website said: "Last football season, a number of players showed their anger in public at lack of ⁽⁸⁾__________________ in tackling racism in the game." Former Premier League player Paul Mortimer said there was ⁽⁹⁾___________________ racism now than there was in the 1980s and 1990s. He said: "If you choose any club in the ⁽¹⁰⁾__________________, any stadium or any training ground, everything in a club has changed for better. But some of the offensive vocabulary used is from the old times. This kind of mentality is still in the dark ages."

country · less · progress · slow

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Answer the questions about the text you’ve just read.

1.     How many players answered the survey?

________________________________________________________________

2.     What did the players say needed to be better at football matches?

________________________________________________________________

3.     When did players express their unhappiness in public?

________________________________________________________________

4.     Who is Paul Mortimer?

________________________________________________________________

5.     When was discrimination worse than today?

________________________________________________________________

Match the following synonyms from the article.

answer * common * comment * improve * mentality * take part * choose * progress * survey * tackle

_________________________________	challenge/fight/handle
_________________________________	pick
_________________________________	get better
_________________________________	questionnaire
_________________________________	remark
_________________________________	reply to
_________________________________	steps/going forward
_________________________________	participate
_________________________________	way of thinking
_________________________________	widespread

           

BRAINSTORM

Discuss the questions below.

What can these people do to kick racism out of sport and society?

NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN * FIFA BOSS * YOUR COUNTRY'S LEADER * POLICE CHIEFS * TV COMMENTATORS * YOU

Rank these: put the most harmful ways to discriminate at the top.

____	online comments	____	comments from home fans
____	banners at football matches	____	"jokes" from sports managers
____	comments from players	____	not doing anything with the problem
____	comments from teammates

VIDEO       

Watch the video and fill in the gaps with names of colours. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N14Lbwk7q34

Dear white fellow,

Couple of things the English ignore: when I born, I BLACK. When I grow up, I BLACK. When I cold, I BLACK. When I go in the sun, I BLACK. When I scared, I BLACK. When I sick, I BLACK and when I die, I still BLACK.

You, WHITE fellow, when you born, you ________ . When you grow up, you ________ When you cold, you ________ . When you go in the sun, you ________.

When you scared, you ________ . When you sick, you ________and when you die, you ________. And you have the cheek to call me coloured!? Ha ha ha!

Did you like the video?

What message does it try to send?

DISCUSSION POINT

• Why is there discrimination in sport?
• Why do people think skin colour is important?
• What should happen to fans who make racist comments?
• What should happen to racist players?
• Is there racism in sport in your country?
• What would you do if you hear racist or homophobic comments?
• What can be done to tackle racism in football?