By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
UEFA made its first formal charges of racism at the European Championship on Saturday, opening a case against the Croatian soccer association after receiving reports that fans made monkey chants at Italy forward Mario Balotelli.
UEFA charged the Russian soccer association on Saturday after fans were filmed fighting with stadium stewards after a European Championship match.
For fans of soccer, Feb. 1 promises to be a sad day.
The referee heard the insulting chants toward French-speaking Walloons cascading from the stands, and he had enough.
"It was fairly consistent throughout the game," FARE executive director Piara Powar told The Associated Press. "It was at its most intense as he was substituted and left the field."
The symbol was one "we take as evidence of far-right sensibilities," FARE executive director Piara Powar told The Associated Press.
