Norwich City are joining clubs across the country to show support for the EFL’s Together Against Racism campaign.
The campaign aims to remove racism from the game and is highlighting the swift and firm action that is taken against anyone found guilty of racist or discriminatory behaviour throughout their club’s environment.
Norwich City’s robust approach to tackling racism and discriminatory behaviour includes a sanction panel, set up three years ago, to assess alleged incidences of such behaviour reported to the club.
One member of the sanction panel is the club’s head of HR and EDI Perry Hamilton, who explained the composition and function of the sanction panel.
“Any report of inappropriate behaviour is written up and referred to the relevant member of the sanction panel.
“If it’s discriminatory in nature, it comes to me, if it’s anti-social behaviour it comes to the head of operations, if it involves children at risk then it will go to our head of safer sport.
“We then complete an investigation, which is why it’s so important that when someone makes a report that they give us as much information as possible. We will go back and look at historic CCTV, speak to our stewards and police officers who were present on the day.
“We may contact the individual who has raised the concern, but we may also contact other people in that seating area and ultimately, we will talk to the individual who is the subject of that report. At all times, protecting the identities of those involved in the report.
“From this investigation, we produce a brief which will then go to the sanction panel to debate and decide the outcome according to our sanction tariff.
Speaking about the work of the panel so far, Hamilton referenced a case last season that resulted in a supporter being banned from Carrow Road.
“We had a report from a supporter that another supporter further down from them had aimed some racist abuse at a player. They mentioned in their report that a steward had intervened at the time.
“From the detail provided, we were able to find the CCTV footage and spoke to the steward who corroborated what was in the report, and then we spoke to the individual involved.
“We operate on the balance of probability - do we believe it is more likely than not that what is alleged has happened - and what we took from the investigation was that the incident had happened as alleged.
“The intent behind the words used was disputed, but we found in that instance it had been a breach of our sanction terms and we issued an appropriate sanction as laid out by the tariff.
“If it’s a matchday and supporters or staff experience or witness behaviour they believe to be racist or discriminatory in nature, they should tell a steward so that it can be dealt with there and then."
Bans aren’t the only tool at the disposal of the sanction panel to reduce incidents of discrimination; where appropriate, those deemed guilty of discriminatory behaviour can also undertake a course of education.
“During some consultation with other clubs who do this well, it was suggested that we add some educational opportunities to our sanction tariff as part of the rehabilitation process,” said Hamilton.
“They advised we get in contact with Kick it Out who provide educational seminars for people who have committed acts of discrimination.
“We introduced the completion of relevant seminars as part of our sanction tariff if appropriate, which could lead to a reduction or suspension of a ban depending on the subject’s level of engagement and involvement in the process.
“When deciding if education is the right course of action, we obviously consider the level of aggravation; if it’s particularly aggravated and aggressive behaviour, we will likely decide that they are not eligible for the education route.
“It was decided also to look historically at those serving bans to decide whether or not it was appropriate to invite them to follow the educational route to reduce those bans.”
So how can supporters report incidents to the club?
“We encourage supporters to speak to a steward, so that the situation can be initially dealt with there and then.
“If you’re unable to locate a steward or are not comfortable doing so, supporters can text REPORT to 80011 with a description including the nature of the incident and location.
“We display that number on the big screen, LEDS and in the programme as well as our email address report@canaries.co.uk, which is monitored in real time.”