But can they actually make a difference?
The rules, approved by FIFA last month, went into effect on Thursday and dictate that an “official or spectator behaving in a discriminatory or contemptuous manner (that) can be attributed to a certain team” could cost the team three points for a first offense, six for a second and relegation for further violations.
Let’s see what happens… I’m not holding my breath. This is a serious cultural problem with Europe more than anything else.