I fail to understand how this anti-racism warning displayed at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium, venue for the fourth Indo-Pak Cricket match, applies to the fans of the two teams:
“Spectators shall not engage in any conduct, act towards or speak to any player, umpire, referee or other official or other spectators in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies that other person on the basis of race, religion, colour, national or ethnic origin.“
Race or religion have hardly ever been the topic of contention in India-Pakistan matches. If a spectator raised anti-Islam slogans, for example, he’d be cursing his country more than Pakistan. Colour? Hardly any difference. Ethnic origin? Not Applicable.
The rivalry among the two countries is political. Does a Pakistan hai hai chant become a racist comment? Does it come under the purview of the ICC’s anti-racism code? Heck, is what Indians call Pakistanis and vice-versa ICC’s business at all?
The ICC is being overactive in imposing its anti-racism code on India, which hardly has any history of racist comments being made at sporting venues. I have no intention of giving the Indian crowds a clean chit though. The crowd behaviour, at times is pathetic, to say the least. But racism?
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