On May 15, 2010, at a game of the J. League Division 1, the top division of Japan Professional Football League, some Urawa Reds supporters used a racist word against a Vegalta Sendai player who is a Zainichi Korean. According to the J-league official site, the Urawa Reds had to pay a 5 million yen penalty for breaking J-league rules. And Vegalta Sendai, the host of this match, had to pay a 2million yen penalty. I think this penalty is too light for such an inveterate problem.
Zainichi Koreans who are the permanent ethnic Korean residents of Japan are about 0.9 million. Their ancestors originated in the Korean peninsula, but now most of them are born in Japan. In the colonial period of the Empire of Japan many Koreans were brought to Japan for labour. When the Empire of Japan lost World War II, many Zainichi Koreans returned to their home country. But some Zainichi Koreans decided to stay in Japan for some reasons, and some Koreans came to Japan after World War II. Such a complicated background makes the situation more difficult.
Recently, Japan's economic power declined, so many Japanese lost their identity that depended on economic power. Some Japanese seek their new identity from nationalism. Such warped nationalism considers neighboring countries, especially China and Korea, who are becoming new economic powers, to be enemies. I think this is the main reason for the Urawa Reds supporter’s attitude to the Zainichi Korean player.
It seems that sometimes football has close ties with nationalism. At an international match's opening ceremony, the players and supporters sing their national anthems. And supporters wave their national flag. I think this has a good side and a bad side. The good side is that supporters can feel a sense of unity. The bad side is that sometimes nationalism makes enemies.
Some people give priority to the country where their ancestors were born. North Korea attended the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In the opening ceremony of their opening match, match with Brasil, when their national anthem was played, Chong Tese, who is a Zainichi Korean, cried. If I consider their situation I can understand his emotion and I wish to respect that kind of emotion even if their country doesn't have democratic government. And I will never forget that emotional scene, it was such a beautiful moment.
On the other hand, some people give priority to the country where they were born. Lee Chung-Sung, who was a Zainichi Korean, decided that he would become Japanese, so now his name is Lee Tadanari, and he attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a member of Japan's national team. I respect both the decisions of Chong and Lee.
Other countries also have racism problem. I remember a scene in Spain few years ago, when the Cameroon player, Samuel Eto'o, one of the best football players, stopped playing suddenly in the match. He heard a racism chant from supporters. He couldn't continue playing football because of his sadness. But finally he restarted playing football after persuasion by his teammate and manager. In our time various races live in the same country. Nevertheless, such heartbreaking things occur even today. Sadly, it is one of the aspects of football.
In English football, on the pitch black people are as active as white people. Nevertheless, it seems that outside of the pitch it is not the same story. Football was born as the sport for white working class people in England. So, over 90% of English managers of football are still white people, who were born as white working class. The former England national team's striker Ian Wright, who is Black British, says that he can't imagine that a black person can become the England national team's manager. I think there is an obvious class rift in society there.
Football is the most popular sport in the world. All kinds of people play according to the same rules. In the World Cup we can see many kind of culture. In 2010 the World Cup was held in South Africa. Many people blew into Vuvuzelas, the musical instrument of South Africa, in stadiums. That’s a noisy sound! But I like seeing people blow into Vuvuzelas happily. Through football we can understand other cultures.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, FIFA held the campaign“Say No to Racism”. In the World Cup I saw many dramatic scenes. When Asamoah Gyan cried for his failed penalty kick, people, including the opposition team, sympathized with him. When Maikon's shot bent fantastically, people were amazed. I think these feelings have no color.
On the pitch, it seems that football has no particular ideology. Even if a player is poor, football will accept him, if he is a good player. For example Carlos Tevez was born in a slum of Buenos Aires. Even if a player’s body is delicate, football will accept him, if he is good player. For example Lionel Messi used to have a growth hormone deficiency.
I love football, so I wish to respect all of the people who love football.