Thierry Henry: FIFA must dock points to stop racism

Former Arsenal and Barcelona star Thierry Henry insists docking points is the only way to stop racism in the game.

FIFA have been criticised in recent years for their apparent relaxed stance on the subject, where minimal fines have made up the majority of punishments for the offence.

Earlier this month, FIFA, for the first time, imposed a one-match spectator ban on Bulgaria for racist abuse by their fans of a Denmark player.

And Henry, who is currently playing for the New York Red Bulls in the MLS, wants the governing body to go one step further, claiming fans will only really get the message if their team is made to suffer in the league becasue of their actions.

“If you want to stop fans screaming and shouting racist things you have to deduct some points,” he said on Al Jazeera. “If it does happen, the team [whose fans] said those things should lose the game.

“If the fans love their team then surely they won’t want to lose three points. Giving fines of $1,000-$2,000 is not going to hurt the team. What is going to hurt the team is losing points.

“You always think they [the football authorities] don’t do enough. Well, the solution is to take some points away from the team, that’s the only way I see anything happening.”

AC Milan star Kevin Prince-Boateng and his team-mates left the field during a friendly match against Italian fourth division Pro Patria recently after hearing sustained racist abuse, and Henry added that he supported the Ghana international’s actions.

“At the time it was perfect,” he said. “It was a friendly game. If you want to prove a point and be seen, then it was the perfect moment to do it.

“Although some people don’t agree I thought ‘well, it’s a friendly game so why not’? Let people know enough is enough.”