Is Soccer the World’s Most Racist Sport?

Fans and players just can’t stop the hate.

French Deny Discrimination  - Last year, French soccer officials were outspoken in their denial of a report which claimed the French Football Association purposely tried to reduce the number of Black and Arab players entering national training programs.(Photo: Handout/UEFA via Getty Images)
The Legend of Zoro - In one of the most infamous incidents of soccer racism, Marc Zoro, an Ivorian who plays for an Italian team, threatened to walk off the field in 2006 after fans of his team's opponents hoisted a banner stating, “Peanuts and bananas are the pay for your infamy,” and shouted racial slurs. (Photo: Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
Racist Chants - Two Espanyol of Barcelona players, the Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni (above) and Brazilian midfielder Fredson were subjected to racist chants in Madrid by fans of opponent Atletico Madrid.(Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)
FIFA Steps In - A far cry from the FIFA president’s denial of racism last year, the organiztion fined the Spanish Football Association nearly $90,000 after Spanish fans taunted English players Thierry Henry and Shaun Wright-Phillips with racial slurs in 2004.(Photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)Terrible Tweets - Racist fans took to Twitter during EURO 2012 and lashed out at English players Ashley Cole and Ashley Young, using racial slurs and abusive language after the two missed penalty kicks in a match with Italy.(Photo: Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

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The Legend of Zoro - In one of the most infamous incidents of soccer racism, Marc Zoro, an Ivorian who plays for an Italian team, threatened to walk off the field in 2006 after fans of his team's opponents hoisted a banner stating, “Peanuts and bananas are the pay for your infamy,” and shouted racial slurs. (Photo: Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

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