This month, <a href="http://www.soccersupporters.org/" target="_blank">Independent Supporters Council (ISC)</a> members from across the United States and Canada will take a stance against racism.
Supporters' groups the length and breadth of North America are backing the initiative and will be planning their own displays of support for the anti-racism campaign, including Vancouver's Southsiders and Toronto's Red Patch Boys.
Prior to the kickoff at Saturday's Whitecaps match against DC United, the Southsiders will be distributing red cards to those in sections 248-254 of BC Place. After the national anthem, the Southsiders will raise red cards to show unity against racism in football around world and here in Canada.
The hope is that fans in other sections will bring their own red cards if they do not sit in one of those areas and raise and hold them in the air until kick off, to 'Show Racism The Red Card'.
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Toronto's Red Patch Boys are believed to be planning their own show of support for the initiative at next Saturday's match against Columbus and DC United's Screaming Eagles plan to have a banner of support at BC Place tomorrow.
Now, racism may not be rife in Major League Soccer I hear you say. True, but sadly, as in all walks of life, it exists.
You just had to witness one drunken idiot at the Caps-Montreal game who was shouting racial abuse at players on both teams and there were incidents at Caps games last season as well. These aren't Whitecaps fans. These are mindless, usually very drunken, idiots and anyone who sees such action should report the offender(s) to security immediately.
Football in North America has a dynamic and rich history that is multiracial, and embraces the strength that comes with its diversity. The history of the sport here is unique from other parts of the world, in that a philosophy of inclusiveness has always been apparent in all of its aspects, including players, supporters, and management.
The Whitecaps alone have players and management representing all six governing continental football bodies around the world and 21 nationalities.
As football continues to grow in the North American continent, it is imperative that each of us takes responsibility in ensuring the diverse heritage and culture of the sport continues.
There are many recent examples in Europe, and some in the United States, where racism has reared its ugly head. A quick search of Twitter following Fabrice Muamba's collapse last Saturday showed that to be sadly true.
Some have said that the initiative is somewhat of an empty gesture and such things do little to stamp out racism from the sport and everyday life, or attaches unwanted stigma on the sport here when none exists. Others say what's the point? It's not going to change anything.
In the grand scheme of things it doesn't, and yes, maybe it is a little hollow in some places, but standing back and not saying anything about the worldwide problem is even worse. It is our duty to let the racists know that we may not be able to change what they think, but we won't be letting them share their views at the football.
The Southsiders and the ISC have found a very willing and supportive partner for their plans in the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Major League Soccer are on board with the whole idea.
The Caps have been fantastic at backing the initiative at short notice.
They plan to have the lights of BC Place turn red during the red card display tomorrow and the huge stadium screen will focus on the Southsiders section, along with pre-match announcements, which have already begun with their pre-match emailings today.
The players were also only too keen to get involved and posed for promotional pictures at today's training to raise awareness of the idea.
Coverage of the initiative has been great in the Vancouver media, with radion and TV stations picking up on it and pieces were featured in The Province, Vancouver Sun and my own column in the <a href=" http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/blog/post/1132380--away-from-the-numbers-southsiders-show-racism-the-red-card" target="_blank">Metro</a> ( part of which I've rehashed in this article as I feel it's important to get the message out to as wide and varied a readership as possible).
Whether you feel racism is a problem in the sport here or not, I for one, am glad that the ISC have come up with what I'm sure will now end up being an annual show of unity.
Here at AFTN, we've been involved in anti-racism campaigns for a long time and it takes me back to similar initiatives back in the UK in the 90's.
Upon hearing about the Southsiders and ISC campaign, I dug out some old printed copies of AFTN from our fanzine days.
In Issue 28 (our summer 1994 issue!) we gave away a free fanzine insert produced by the Football Supporters' Association in the UK.
Called "The United Colours of Football - Let's Kick Racism Out of Football", the 16 page fanzine contained articles, cartoons and humour to drum home the anti-racism message. It was meant to be a one-off. It never could be, and it became an annual feature, given away by fanzines like ourselves up and down the land, and handed out at football grounds around the UK.
We actually took some copies of that issue of AFTN ('United' fanzine included) over to the US with us that summer when we took in some games in Detroit during the World Cup. Obviously we were ahead of our time in getting the anti-racism message across to future MLS fans!
So if you're heading down to BC Place on Saturday, or another MLS stadium this month, bring along your own red cards or head to the Southsiders section and grab any spare cards. No matter where you're sitting in the stadium, stand loud, stand proud and let everyone know that you want to give racism the red card.
I want to end with quoting the last paragraph from that first ever FSA anti-racism fanzine, as it's still as relevant today, as it was then:
"Football is our game. All of ours. You can do something about it, and it doesn't mean joining a political organisation. Those who would like to use it as a vehicle for their sick, bigoted views need to be told - 'change your ways or get out'. Kick racism out of football."
<i>[*** You can find more Whitecaps photos from Harry Jay <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/15478831%40N06/collections/72157629653902077/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and from Vosie Photography <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/vosie/sets/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and thanks to both of them for letting us use their pictures from today's Caps training ***]</i>
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