Global survey indicates fans want tougher sanctions against racism

ZURICH - Racist abuse from the stands remains widespread at soccer matches - but a large majority of fans don't know how to report it, an international survey revealed on Wednesday.

More than half of 27,000 fans across 38 countries interviewed by British anti-discrimination body Kick It Out and Swedish-based Forza Football said they had heard racist abuse being hurled at matches, but fewer than a third knew how to report it.

Kick It Out and Forza Football said the results strengthened the case for points deductions in incidents of racism from a team's supporters.