Nike's race row split

IT IS A groundbreaking campaign, designed to tackle a serious social issue and demonstrate that the corporate world has a heart. However, StandupSpeakup, Nike's highprofile drive to combat racism within football, could set back the cause as football antiracism groups debate whether they should become involved with the multinational company.

The furore could lead to millions of pounds raised through the sale of Nike's black and white wristbands lying unspent as groups argue whether they should take it on ethical grounds.

From the moment Arsenal striker Thierry Henry unveiled the campaign, there has been debate among the groups over its intentions and whether they should work with it.

Campaigners in Spain and Italy, two of the countries worst affected by football racism, have been most outspoken, claiming that Nike stands to benefit on commercial grounds by lending its name to the fight.

Spain's problems have been well documented recently. Last week, Atletico Madrid were threatened with possible ground closure following racist chanting.

The club were fined a paltry Pounds 400 this year for racist abuse by their fans and many black players in Spain regularly complain about abuse from the terraces.

Unlike in Britain, there is no formal antiracism football campaign and none of the country's footballing authorities have offered to fund or start one.

Spanish antiracism football campaigner Carlos Ferreyra Nunez said: "The football authorities in Spain have a very bad attitude towards racism in football. They are not willing to tackle or admit the problem. We could desperately use funds to run a countrywide campaign and Nike's money is very tempting.

"But we have serious concerns over whether antiracism campaigners should take money from such a large, multinational. We have reservations about it on ethical grounds."

Nike's wristbands, a much-sought-after fashion accessory, could generate Pounds 4million, the largest amount ever made available for the cause. It has produced 2.5m wristbands, of which 1.5m have been sold at Pounds 1.50 each. More

than 700,000 have been sold in Britain with 65,000 arriving in sports shops each week. The campaign has been accompanied by a multimillion pound publicity drive with the continent's leading footballers speaking out.

Just over Pounds 1 from each wristband will be given by Nike. It insists any money it keeps is to cover costs. The money will be deposited in the Belgian-based King Baudouin Foundation and groups can apply for funding from the summer.

One of the reasons for the debate is that in Europe, many football antiracism groups are also involved in wider political issues such as globalisation and anticapitalism and are closely linked with leftwing political parties.

A spokesman for Progetto Ultra, the main Italian football antiracism group, said: "It is not right for groups like us to take funding from multinationals. The company stands to benefit most from this campaign. We are not just about racism within football, we are also concerned with wider problems within society. We would not be happy to apply for any money raised by Nike."

In Britain, Kick It Out, the main football antiracism group, insists that most campaigners are happy at Nike's involvement but there are reservations.

Spokesman Piara Powar said: "We welcome the intervention by Nike and the key question for us is how much money this will raise. However, one of our main concerns is that this campaign will only last until the end of the season.

Once Nike have exhausted the idea of selling wristbands then that will be the end of it."

Since the campaign's launch, Kick It Out has been receiving an extra 10,000 hits each week on its website. The coalition of European football antiracism groups, represented through Football Against Racism in Europe, is to meet soon to discuss Nike's campaign.

Nike insists that it has nothing to gain commercially from its StandupSpeakup campaign and that it wants to leave a genuine legacy via its trust fund for the long-term fight against racism.

Charlie Brooks, Nike's football public relations manager for Europe, said: "If this was just about Nike then we would have just done an advertising campaign.

We would not have had a fundraising element."

Nike says it is aware of the antiracism groups' reservations. It says that many people will see the bigger picture and with racism in European football rising, the money will not go unspent.

Brooks said: "We are not imposing the money on any group. If they don't want to get involved then that's fine, they don't have to apply for it [the money]. There are groups in this area that have a political agenda but this whole campaign has raised huge awareness about racism in football. It has raised the profile of football antiracism work and that can only be a good thing.

"Many of these groups work on small budgets and if they don't want to come to Nike then that's no problem at all.

Everyone is entitled to their own views."

FOOTBALL'S LATEST RACE SHAME

.Spain coach Luis Aragones caused a storm by calling Thierry Henry a "black shit". He was later fined Pounds 2,000.

.England's black players were abused during a friendly in Madrid in November.

.Former West Ham striker Paulo Wanchope fought with supporters of his own team Malaga after they racially abused him.

.Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos and Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o were racially abused during matches last December.

.Paulo Di Canio gave a Nazi salute after scoring for Lazio during the Rome derby. He was later fined Pounds 2,000.

(c)2005. Associated Newspapers Ltd.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.