Keith Haynes has a long hard look at the shape of things to come.

Keith Haynes has a long hard look at the shape of things to come.

It isn’t without reason that various players, including all the staff at Swansea City decided to not wear the issued ‘Kick it Out ‘ shirts for a premier league game against Wigan. And it isn’t a surprise at all that certain players like Jason Roberts, Jason Brown and the much maligned Rio Ferdinand have decided to push for a more specific union to represent their wishes.

In truth the FA and world wide bodies like UEFA and FIFA have failed for years to address the constant abuse players with a visible cultural difference receive at football matches across the world. When they do review policy or manage an investigation in to a wayward FA like Serbia the end result is never satisfactory, and the money involved in fines is pitiful.

Many would say that the only way to really kick it out is for the governing bodies to do just that, kick out the offending nations and ban them for long periods of time from competition. I have never felt comfortable with the well fed suited leaders of FIFA and UEFA being involved in this decision making when it came to dealing with offending players, clubs and nations. Recent fines for Lazio when they played Spurs and the over reported John Terry case prove this without further discussion.

So why does this happen ?

It goes without saying that all organisations have differing views on racism, even the people you work for. This surfaces in the type of people you have running the show within your department, office, shop floor or factory. What is deemed racist by one is not by another. To wave a sheep at football fans at The Liberty is seen as an insult by some, and a laugh to another. And the songs about England that often surface at Welsh football matches are clearly there to insult and antagonise. And when challenged its called banter. The breeding ground for racism is in the insult, the way it is said and the effect on the person who receives it. Cultural difference just adds an aggravating factor. And extends the thought process.

It is my belief that FIFA, UEFA and indeed the FA do repeat the same old rhetoric and mantra’s when it comes to kicking out racism in football. They only seem in general terms to fine players, clubs and nations based on the insult - and do not see beyond the aggravating circumstance that is the racial slur. And then there is their own opinion on what is a racist comment and what is not. It’s a boiling pot of opinions, that is about to boil over.

And here is why.

When the predominantly black players in British football do form their own union, and they will, there is much for the FA to be concerned about. Straight away they will have a large and very well funded voice shouting straight at them, and that voice will have to be listened to. It is my view, and think about this, that when the FA have once again mismanaged a racist issue within the game or when a wider federation fails to adopt fit and proper policies that the problem will surface. The John Terry’s, the Michel Morganella’s and Luis Suarez’s of this world will all have further problems.

The well spoken and well thought out responses by the new players union will be analysing decisions closely, and where possible I have absolutely no doubt will be serving their own legal papers against the person or body involved in any poor decision making or offence. I can genuinely see a position whereby a player or group will be taken to court under civil conditions by the new union and prosecuted because the FA has not done their job properly. Maybe even the FA themselves ? I have spent a number of years teaching and working within the law framework, developing new law professionals and ensuring the wider view is adopted in law practice. I can assure you that this is not just my view. The FA of England and indeed the home nations and all the varying governing bodies had better take note, and take heed. Their unqualified position based on their own viewpoint is flawed and open to redress. When Jason Roberts talks about a new union, and when he is supported by well versed and extremely rich players like Rio Ferdinand ( and all the influence he brings ) they all had better stop, think and listen. It is only a mater of time before the rule books are literally thrown out of the window. Because those books are not being interpreted properly. It takes a strong person to stand up and fight their personal corner, and an even stronger one to stare straight back in to public view and say it how it is. This is happening now, and the new black players union will not suffer sanctions from any governing body, nor be ignored, just think about the ramifications of doing that ? And indeed the message that will be conveyed by doing so, and how it will be interpreted by many.

The reason is very clear of course, the FA and all their lookey likeys have failed, they have had chance after chance, and all they do is seemingly support the racists in the fining structure and sanctions imposed. This is about to change, and when it does the tin hats had better be put on, because when you fail a culture, when you let down a community the whole thing does eventually go bang. And this time the fat suited men in Switzerland and beyond had better make sure they run to the hills quickly. Or as some would believe find a new bunker to hide in whilst their questionable infrastructures crumble about them, and lets be honest, they have no one but themselves to blame.

The tide is turning in world football, intelligent debate has resulted in no action, and no progress. The new players union will have more teeth than any governing body and will bring about court ruling after court ruling. This is how the problem will be addressed, and this is the future of the world game that is for sure. Individuals who commit the criminal offence of using aggravated racial words and behaviour - and who are supported by their managers, clubs and FA’s will all feel the heat. For me its been a long time coming, for certain others it will be their biggest fear. The time for dialogue has reached its end, and now, its time for action.

Sit back, the new face of football is coming. And its going to hurt.

Keith Haynes new book, Shine on Swansea City is available here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shine-Swansea-City-2011-Season/dp/075248625X

Follow Keith on twitter @_Keith Haynes

Photo: Action Images

Colchester United Polls