UEFA racism ruling backed

Anti-racism campaigners have backed UEFA's stance on racist abuse at the European Championship, despite Michel Platini's mixed messages on the matter.

UEFA president Platini has confirmed referees had been instructed to call a halt to matches at this summer's tournament if a player was racially taunted. But he warned any player who otherwise left the field in protest over abuse from the stands would be yellow carded.

But Piara Powar, the executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), was confident European football's governing body would not hesitate to expel teams from Euro 2012 if necessary. He said: "For us, the UEFA system is three strikes and you're out."

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