Governing Bodies
Tunisia denounces racism in Brazil game, but questions identity of culprit
Tunisia’s football federation (FTF) has denounced the racism that marred Tuesday’s 5-1 defeat in Paris, where Brazil’s Richarlison had a banana thrown at him.
While the FTF awaits confirmation that it was indeed a Tunisian who threw the banana, it has condemned the action and says it will apologise unreservedly.
“We strongly condemn any practice of racism that may occur in any stadium in the world,” the FTF said in a statement.
“If the identity of the person who threw the banana is confirmed as being Tunisian, we apologise on behalf of him and on behalf of all Tunisians present at the stadium and who reaffirmed that the Tunisian fans are a phenomenon.”
“We are surprised by ignoring the ideal behaviour of the overwhelming majority of the Tunisian fans present, whose number exceeded 40,000.
“Instead some chose to insult Tunisia by insisting that the person who threw the banana is Tunisian in the absence of any evidence proving their identity, especially with Brazilian and other foreign countries fans present.”
However, the FTF criticised those spectators who had booed the Brazilian national anthem, while failing to mention the use of lasers aimed at several Brazil players as well as the referee.
“We call on Tunisian fans not to conform with the phenomenon that exists in many stadiums in the world, which represents whistling the national anthem of competing teams,” the statement continued.
“We hope that Tunisian fans will always be exceptional and perfectly-behaved, especially when we are on the verge of the World Cup.”
At the forthcoming finals in Qatar, Tunisia will meet Denmark, Australia and defending champions France in Group D.
Earlier, a leading fan group in Tunisia had taken a different stance, criticising the behaviour of some of the team’s supporters in Paris.
In a social media post, the ‘National Tunisian Team’ group labelled the actions as “lousy and offensive” while calling the individual who threw the banana “ignorant and uncivilised”.
Brazil’s football federation has already spoken out against the incident, which world governing body Fifa is investigating.
“The Brazilian federation has expressed its dissatisfaction and anger against this ‘individual’ racist behaviour, which has unfortunately tarnished all Tunisian fans,” the group said.
Richarlison’s Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have said they are “disgusted” by the behaviour.
The match was supposed to be a prestige encounter for Tunisia, with captain Wabhi Khazri telling BBC Sport Africa before the friendly that he was expecting a ‘great party’.
The game proved anything but however, with the supporters’ regrettable actions coming on top of a heavy thrashing after Tunisia were reduced to ten men in the first half.
“Tunisian football sinks deeper,” local sports reporter Souhail Khmira told BBC Sport Africa.
“Violence is no stranger to Tunisian stadiums unfortunately, nor is hostility. The use of lasers and whistling during national anthems are unfortunately common, but throwing bananas at opponents is a new low – whether an intentional racist action or not.”
On the pitch
Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri has said his Tunisia side will learn from the defeat against Brazil, who he believes are on an equal footing to France, who the Carthage Eagles meet in Qatar in November.
“We know that France is of the same quality as Brazil so it is for us to correct the mistakes and find solutions,” said Kadri.
“The main point of the match was to learn. You need to manage difficult moments in a match. We played against an opponent that forced us to make mistakes. You can’t leave any space, you have to be completely focused.”
“We tried to press after the 2-1, but unfortunately we conceded a third goal and a red card, which made the match very difficult.
“In the second half, even though we were reduced to ten men, we tried to play at enough of a respectable level and to control possession at certain moments.
“You need to retain lessons from these kinds of matches. At this high level, you can’t make mistakes.”
Tunisia will also meet Denmark and Australia in Group D, prior to their final clash with the defending champions, who lost 2-0 against the Danes in the Nations League on Sunday.
“With the absences and the difficulties in recent times, it’s not easy for the French team – it is understandable,” said Kadri.
“We all know France will be at their best level as soon as they have their key players. The team remains a favourite to win the World Cup for a second consecutive time.’
-BBC
World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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