Switzerland has sent out a strong message by expelling a member of their football team for making racist comments against the South Koreans.
Michel Morganella was told to pack his bags and leave London after his tweet “gravely insulted and violated” the dignity of South Korea following his team’s 2-1 defeat on Sunday.
In a post on Twitter that was later deleted, Morganella wrote: “I am going to batter the Koreans, burn them all... bunch of ‘trisos’.”
‘Trisos’ is a French slang word for people born with Down’s Syndrome.
The fact that the Swiss authorities acted on their own reflects the high ethical and moral standards they have set for themselves. No Swiss official came forward to defend the player. It was treated as a cut and dry case that deserved no further proof or hearing.
The 23-year-old is the second athlete to be expelled by their own team over a racist Twitter comment at the first Games where social media are an integral part of the athletes’ daily lives.
Greek triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou was thrown out of her nation’s team last week, two days before the Games started for a racist comment regarding African immigrants in Greece. In this case, too, it was Greece which took the initiative, reflecting a new trend in sport where authorities have become increasingly proactive in dealing with insults on the basis of race and religion.
Morganella, who has already left London, said he had been “provoked” but the Swiss would have nothing of it.
“As a consequence of this behaviour, Michel Morganella is immediately stripped of his Olympic accreditation and all future participation in the Olympic tournament. “The Swiss team will now focus entirely on the next match. I wish the team inner peace and serenity,” a team spokesman said.
The player also apologised. “I made a huge mistake after the disappointing result. I wish to apologise to the people in South Korea and their team, but also to the Swiss delegation and Swiss football in general. I obviously accept the consequences for my actions.”
In a further display of graciousness, the Swiss authorities also apologised to the South Koreans.
Racism – whether covert or overt – had been a part and parcel of competitive sport for long, but a spate of recent high-profile cases, including one involving players such as John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole, have raised public awareness about the issue. The English FA have now charged both Terry and Ferdinand for racism, which, if proved, may result in both players facing lengthy bans or fines.
With more and more players from Africa and Asia breaking into the top echelons of European sport, especially football, racial tensions are inevitable, but strict rules would prevent them from getting out of hand. Racism simply has no place in sport.