Euro stars urged to protest racism

LONDON: Euro 2012 stars should be allowed to walk off the pitch if they are racially abused by fans, according to the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association Clarke Carlisle. The first few days of the tournament have been marred by incidents of racism as Dutch players were taunted by local fans.

"As a player, if you see that the officials aren't handling the situation then you are well within your rights to walk off the pitch,” said Carlisle. Uefa has warned that any player who walks off the pitch during Euro 2012 in protest at racial abuse will be handed a yellow card.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2012.