Olivier Dacourt on racism in stadiums: “We identify the author, pick him up, let him go”

Olivier Dacourt has known everything in his career. The joys of a French team, Ligue 1 in Lance and Strasbourg, the Premier League in Everton or Fulham, Serie A with Inter Milan and Roma… But also racism on the pitch, in the stadiums. After insulting Samuel Umtiti this Wednesday, he wanted to remind that in Italy or in France the struggle was the same.

What was your first reaction after Wednesday’s events in Rome?

OLIVIER DACOURTE. It’s no longer a surprise. It feels like people are amazed at how racism continues. Whether it’s in Italy or France, it’s the same. When we see what the controversy around Omar Sy’s film could lead to… We understand that this is not only in Italy, and not only in football.

How to make racism disappear from football stadiums?

Intolerance. We see that when we want to impose sanctions on certain subjects, we do so. Today you can be openly racist and not be punished. If in everyday life a racist is not condemned, then, having come to the stadium, he can do whatever he wants. There are enough cameras in the stadium, security guards to know who did what. We determine the author, we come to look for him and release him. If the club does not take sanctions against the fans, it is necessary to deduct points, disqualify from European competitions …

Is there a country where this topic has been well covered?

If there is a country that has been exceptional in this respect, it is England. It doesn’t happen there anymore. Recently, a fan was banned for life for making fun of Son, a Tottenham player. It holds, it’s a principle. There is a sentence of three or four years, up to life imprisonment. We need examples. In England they have succeeded, but in France and Italy the struggle is the same. We have nothing to teach Italy a lesson in racism. We have exactly the same people in the stadiums.

You have played over 150 matches in Italy, have you been a victim of racism?

I played at Roma and at Inter. I was their player, so obviously it’s a bit easier for them with us. The difference is that when I went on the field, I didn’t care what they told me. I faced the same discrimination in France when I was little, I got used to all this. You have to understand what is happening in France after a while. When Chuameni qualifies against England in the quarter-final, it’s fantastic. He doesn’t score a penalty, are we insulting him? You must see all the monkeys and insults on social networks… It was not the Italians who insulted. They are French. Maybe the Italian just doesn’t hide behind his screen.