Anti-racism taskforce

       

  Lord Ouseley urged the taskforce to introduce harsher penalties for clubs whose fans were guilty of racist abuse.In our workplaces we should all be free from abuse and have the protection from employers not be harassed and racially, sexually or homophobically abused.What we've had in the past have been financial penalties, which don't seem to have been sufficiently punitive so I think it's quite important that if we are to have more severe sanctions we would want to see if that would work," he said.Referees have that power to stop the game, to take players off and to get security and ground officials to deal with matters. I think that is one very important area which could make a difference.It's certainly an alternative that has to be tried because what we've had so far has not worked to prevent these incidents from occurring.An alternative option of retrospectively deducting points from teams is also expected to be discussed.Taskforce chairman Jeffrey Webb, a Fifa vice-president, has already signalled that tougher measures are needed and concedes that financial sanctions are largely ineffective.Football Association chairman David Bernstein, a taskforce member, will not attend Monday's meeting because of the relatively short notice with which it was called. The FA has sent a senior representative in his place.The BBC understands that the taskforce will debate giving referees increased authority to lead teams from the pitch if players are racially abused.