Czech Hockey Fans' Fair Play Charter now addresses racism

Hockey clubs in the Czech Extraliga have published the Hockey Fans’ Fair Play Charter (Charta fair play hokejového fanouška) on their web pages condemning racism at stadiums and in everyday life. Hockey fans now have the opportunity to sign the charter as well.

There are 14 Extraliga stadiums and all 14 team captains have signed the charter. All hockey clubs this season are taking part in a fair behavior policy and all players are expected to uphold it. The most-recognized players, the captains, have set an example for the others by signing the charter.

"I like the fair play effort. It’s important that young hockey players who are just forming their personalities also take something from it," said Václav Skuhravý, the leader of the Karlovy Vary team. Teenaged players in particular attend all hockey matches to follow their idols and are some of the most faithful fans.

The charter is about the fans as well.

"We signed it and we will conduct ourselves accordingly, but young hockey fans and players are also part of the whole effort," said Pavel Patera, who plays for Kladno. "The hockey environment isn’t just us, everyone creates it, from the fans to the last hockey custodian," the experienced veteran said.

This season the charter includes a new point, which was requested by the patrons of the sport themselves. It reads: "Racism has no place in hockey stadiums or in everyday life."

Over the course of the last few weeks, hundreds of patrons of Czech hockey have signed the charter. During the last three seasons, the charter has gathered the signatures of more than 25 000 fans.

Patrons of the Kometa and Vítkovice teams sympathize the most with the charter. Chomutov and Kladno have the least number of fans signed up to it. At www.fairhokej.cz, fans can sign the charter, see the total number of signatories, read interesting stories about fair play and follow a competition to see which fans are most aware of the charter.

The page where Extraliga players sign the charter reads as follows: "Let this be about respect for our competitors, our trainers, the referees and you, the fans. Let this be about the thrill of victory and the ability to take defeat and recognize our mistakes… All this is the hockey we all love."

On the pages where fans can sign, the authors add the following: "The real fan loves hockey and would never do anything to spoil others’ enjoyment of the game… Fair play is not just about the players on the ice – it’s important to be fair in the stands as well. We don’t want to tell you what is allowed and not allowed. Fair play is about rivalry between fans, but also about their mutual respect. It’s about proper behavior, pride and respect… If you agree with these values, join the Fans’ Fair Play Charter."

On the website of the České Budějovice hockey club, captain Jiří Šimánek answered questions about fair play:

Q: What does the fair play concept mean to you?

A: It’s hard to give a short answer. Of course, to put it most succinctly, it primarily has to do with a certain honor and respect. Off the ice. How people behave in their personal lives is reflected outside the rink.

Q: What do you think is the most important part of fair play behavior?

A: Speaking specifically about hockey, it’s primarily that respect, really, toward everyone involved in a hockey game. From your teammates to your competitors and referees to the patrons.

Q: Does the behavior of Czech hockey fans fall within the limits of fair play, in your opinion? Do you ever talk to them about not being unnecessarily negative, about cheering even when things aren’t going well?

A: I believe we’re pretty good when it comes to that. It’s not so much about cheering – I liked the recent approach taken by the Chomutov team towards their fans’ racism. Reactions like that contribute toward building up fair play in all of hockey and society. It didn’t used to be like this. I’m glad for such activities that support the spirit of fair play.

The full interview (in Czech only) is available at http://hokejcb.cz/clanek.asp?id=5504

The management of the Chomutov team publicly apologized to Liberec forward Wayne Simmonds for the racist abuse shouted by some fans of the Chomutov Pirates at him on 28 October this year. Simmonds, a Black Canadian, became the target of the insults toward the end of the game, which Chomutov won 3:2 in overtime.