Croatians are not racial. They hate everybody who are not Croatian. Even white Muslims from Bosnia they hate. Remember the war in the former Yugoslavia.

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Ferdinand's right.. FIFA / UEFA need to make a tough stand, and soon!! Remember last season's UEFA cup winners, Zenit St. Petersburg?.. Their "supporters" will not allow "n**gers" (their words, not mine!..) to play for them!! Celtic and Rangers get hammered when bilious sectarian songs are heard within the confines of a stadium. When we can board a flight at heathrow and within practically the length of a sneezing fit arrive in a foreign country, I think it's about time we grew up!

Of course we need to eradicate racism from football and society in general but what about the conduct of the footballers themselves? Do these over paid prima donnas condone cheating and verbally abusing the ref? Is this behaviour perfectly acceptable? And all this kissing of the badge, don't get me started, loyalty? most of them can't even spell the word. Please don't ask footballers for social commentary just get them to play the game with pride and honesty and keep their mouths shut.

To all those people who say let the hatred go. Consider this. I grew up in highbury and have kicked a ball about on many occasions with youth players who went on to play for the club. Not least of whom was one Ashley Cole. He always talked about his love of Arsenal football club, and said that he could never want to play for anyone else. Then he went and sold us down the river because of 5 grand. Have you read the extract of his autobiography. He "almost swerved off the road" when told he was (only) being offered £55k a week. For this, even though i knew him as a kid, i hate him. Not deep down to the bone because hate is a strong word, but i think it is a fitting one for the man who sold out his fans and boyhood club for money.

rio's probably trying to think of a way where they can finish top of the group...

I am all for free speech and all that. At least we get to realise from some of the comments that have been posted here. that the problem is not only unique to FIFA, Croatia or football fans. The sorry fact remains that in our society there is still an intolerance for people who are 'perceived' as different, and some people will use any excuse to justify their actions. We are sadly presuming that the people tasked with the responsibility to police issues like this are different from the rest of society. The proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say.

i cant believe that at these stage of life,some pple are still into racial differences.i think fifa is not taking the proper action to tackle these problem,mayb they really enjoy the fun as a way of making money.in the world today i think blacks have taking over al sports,that a blessing from God.anyday/time am proud to be black..

We cannot complain about other countries being racist when it's just as bad in our own stadiums. Sol Campbell gets abused at White Hart Lane!!! Racism is absolutely the tool of mindless idiots, but if you want to punish Croatia, deduct points from them, well we better take Spurs points away from them as well then. Not that they have many to take ;)

this was the work of a few idiots! Its all I can say, anyway dindn¨t english invent rasizam?

You make me ashamed to be English.

In the case of Rio/John I don't care if you don't like their style of play or if they are 'bully's - the fact is they get the job done and prevent goals being scored. If you would all get over the club rivalries and support players in the English national team they would be a lot more successful. Instead you spend your time saying what a 'jerk' he is and that there is noone you hate more'- I mean how unbelieveably stupid can you be. You watch a guy play football and suddenly he is your worst enemy? Get over it.

3 - England are so lucky to have what a lot of people regard as the two best central defenders in the world at our disposal; Rio and Terry (and the same applies to Gerrard - Lampard and Rooney - Owen).

2 - Why are there so many people who say they 'hate' anyone who is the subject of an article like this? Why are your lives so pathetically meaningless and bitter than you have such hate for people who clearly are significantly more successful than you ever will be? Get over it.

1 - When Rio Ferdinand 'Kicked a female steward' he was actually kicking a wall which she was on the other side of, and she got 'brushed' by his foot. He apologised profusely afterwards, with her laughing, and he sent her flowers. There was no malice there, it was an accident. Get over it.

racism is a defect in social behaviour. i agree with rio on this. but i propose for FIFA to have a stronger more pro-active approach to battle racism in this beautiful game. imposing fines on teams is not going to shut people's pie holes. they need to station marshalls in every sector of the stands so that these marshalls can easily pull out those racist bigots and simply show them the exits. that way, people will be more alert on their behaviour at games.

Fifa is a money making scheme croatia should be fined more unless blatter is also a racist

Anyway you see it racism is bad. It's what has got us waging wars with each other, sowing hatred and enmity. Maybe one day we'll get rid of it for good, but not if the person who does it can wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and feel good about themselves. So who would be the better judge in all of this??? It will always and forever start with YOU! Only you can stop and end it...but the question is, are you game enough???

Ferdinand is a fine one to talk about soft punishments when he wouldnt take drug tests he should of been banned for life the coke head

lol as long The Faroe Island win against Austria i dont care about Rio SEROdant /ferdinant a spoilt 0 thats what he is ..........and im a united suporter