Players to receive yellow card for storming off pitch if racially abused

By Danielle Joynson, Staff ReporterPublished: 06 June 2012 3:41 PM

UEFA president Michel Platini says that players will be cautioned if they storm off the pitch for being victims of racial abuse during Euro 2012.

UEFA president Michel Platini has warned players at Euro 2012 that they will receive yellow cards if they walk off the pitch for being racially abused during a match.

The issue of racism has come to light in the lead-up to the European Championships following reports claiming that racially aggravated violence is prominent within football culture in Eastern Europe.

Recently Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli insisted that he will walk off the pitch in the middle of play if he is racially abused.

"It's a yellow card," said Platini. "We'd certainly support the referee if he decided to stop the game. It's not a player, Mr Balotelli, who's in charge of refereeing. It's the referee who takes these decisions.

"So, the referee has been given advice and he can stop the game if there are problems. We will stop the game if there are problems because I think racism is the worst of this."

Meanwhile, the families of England duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott have expressed that they will not travel to Poland and Ukraine amid fears of racism.