Jacques Brinon / AP

** ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, FEB. 8, AND THEREAFTER ** FILE ** In this April 11, 2006 file photo, Paris Saint Germain soccer fans at the Kop de Boulogne section yell during the French Cup soccer match PSG and Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)

Established in 1996, Show Racism the Red Card has harnessed the high profile of professional players — such as Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand — to combat racism. Through films, workshops, posters and DVDs, SRTRC sends out an anti-racism message at soccer grounds and schools across England, Scotland and Wales.

“This campaign is one of the leading campaigns in trying to stamp (racism) out of the game,” Ferdinand said. “Drumming it home to the kids, that any type of racism isn’t needed. In school, anywhere, in any workplace. We are definitely on the right track, but I still think there is a long way to go.”

Bright said the Kick It Out campaign gained momentum slowly but made a major impact on the psyche of football fans. Taylor phoned several leading black players in the game, including Bright, Paul Ince and Ian Wright and said, “You’re in the Premier League. I’m asking for your help,”’ according to Bright.

The British press also played a role in swaying opinions, showing up at anti-racism campaigns and writing at length about what they had seen and heard.

“Without them you can’t do anything. The press are the vehicle, to say out loud, ’You cannot abuse black players; you cannot abuse someone because of their color,”’ Bright said.

To be sure, England is not perfect. Two cases this season cast a spotlight on racism: Egyptian forward Mido was taunted with Islamaphobic chants during Middlesbrough’s match against Newcastle, and Tottenham fans insulted Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell, who is black, in September. Yet the incidents prompted outrage partly because they represented a relapse by English fans. Eleven Tottenham fans were criminally charged with indecent chanting — four pleaded guilty last month and received three-year stadium bans.

In Germany and Austria, clubs and fans have struck blows against racism. During Werder Bremen’s match in November at Bochum in the Ruhr, a small group of visiting fans unveiled a Third Reich flag, prompting other Bremen fans to chant “Nazis out!” Eight fans were detained and banned by Werder Bremen from attending home matches, and the club was examining whether a nationwide ban could be implemented.

As the most popular club in Austria, Rapid Vienna was a recruiting ground for the neo-Nazis in the 1980s and into the ’90s, with a prominent far-right following numbering some 500 people. Black players were regularly abused.

Things are different now.

“Several clubs introduced anti-racism measures ranging from awareness days, action days and ranging to a policy of equality when it comes to staff recruitment,” said Kurt Wachter, a Vienna-based coordinator for Football Against Racism in Europe. “The people who work in the stadium are relating to ethnic minorities in the community. You can see them and they feel accepted.”

Wachter fears countries like Spain and Italy are lagging way behind.

“That is a big challenge because a lot of football grounds are predominantly white in most parts of Europe,” Wachter added. “In Italy or Spain, some of them have not even come beyond the first step which is to accept there is a problem.”

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