Soccer: Eriksson backs idea of player walk-off

SWINDON, ENGLAND - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has backed the idea of soccer teams walking off the pitch in protest if they are subjected to racial abuse.

Several black England players were abused by the crowd during last Wednesday's 1-0 defeat in Spain and Eriksson told a news conference on Thursday he would consider a walk-off if ruling bodies UEFA and FIFA laid down firm guidelines.

"I never considered it during the game in Spain," Eriksson said. "But if that is a possibility in future I should like that. But there must be clear rules when you can do it and what happens if you do go off.

"Just say you are winning 1-0 and there was some chanting and you decided to go off the pitch, what happens? Who gets the points?

"I don't know but FIFA and UEFA can make strong rules now because of what happened in Spain."

Eriksson, who was speaking at the headquarters of England sponsors Nationwide in Swindon, said European body UEFA and its world counterpart FIFA now had a "golden chance" to make a strong stand on the issue of racism.

"What happened when we played in Spain was very bad of course, but in a way it was good because it means now UEFA and FIFA have a golden chance to take care of it and do something very strong against it.

"It's never good that things like that happen but I think something will happen now."

FIFA are currently investigating the events at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium last week.

- REUTERS