By Rasmus Lukunka

Most people have heard the phrase “Practice begins at home.” If you haven’t? Then you have now! But a home doesn’t necessarily have to be a traditional formation involving a family living under the same roof. Home can also be a general environment that you belong to or have been involved with for a period in your life. Whatever the set up, it’s at home where behaviours and skills connect to form your character.

Enough with the analytics, let’s talk football! Recently, Premier League audiences around the world have witnessed accusations of racism involving high profile players, namely Liverpool forward Ruis Suarez and Chelsea and England skipper John Terry. Both were said to have used racially sensitive language towards Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and Queens Park Rangers’ Antoine Ferdinand.

Racism comes in two forms – apparent and discreet and whether or not it has increased or decreased is a separate argument, but football is an international spectacle that is enjoyed by billions of fans around the globe and any hint of racism only serves to tarnish the game’s reputation.

So, if Suarez and Terry are guilty of making racial statements towards their opponents the question is, why would they do that? The reasons could be plenty.

Another of my favourite sayings is “If you want to test a man’s character give him power.” Suarez and Terry have plenty of money and influence. With such power comes big egos and if indeed they are guilty, that power should feel something like a buzz with echoes of invincibility! That’s pretty much what the once powerful Tiger Woods described he felt when playing away from home!

The anti-racism campaign’s credibility has definitely been undermined and appears to be failing. Kids are watching TV and witnessing their heroes say things they are discouraged from saying at home. The seeds of racism can be stirred and nurtured from all sorts of places and who knows what makes a person end up venting such hatred in this dreadful way. One thing’s for sure, if a football club falls under my definition of a home, then should we also be looking at the culture of the clubs involved? I’ll let you answer that one.

The beautiful game is sacred and players are emotive and entitled to their opinions, but it’s the fans who ultimately pay them and have the ability to remove their power. What we’ve learned from the likes of Manchester United is that no matter how much fans dislike the Glazers, they can’t stay away from the game. So even if they are guilty, we can’t expect fans to boycott games involving Suarez or Terry.

To me the solution is simple – remove their power! Fines and suspensions are merely temporary solutions. For real impact take a page from the Tiger Woods saga. Fans have the power by applying pressure on corporate sponsors. Racism like infidelity, can be viewed as a moral issue and despised by the masses. Corporate sponsors don’t want to risk losing the masses. Besides, in the case of Terry he’s almost at the end of his career anyway…that’s an easy way to forfeit their contract with him and offer it to Phil Jones – a future United and England captain.

At the end of the contest, it’s back to where the practice happens and that always begins at home.