F1: Barcelona kicks off anti-racism campaign

This weekend’s Barcelona sees the launch of an anti-racism campaign at the circuit at Montmelo in response to the incidents that took place during practice in February.

While the scenes of several pro-Alonso supporters blacked up to represent the “Hamilton Familly” certainly looks racist at first glance, it should also be remembered that it was carnival time in Barcelona where dressing like that is considered acceptable; and if it had been the case that Alosno was black it is likely that there would have been more dressed similarly.

Just because the taunts may not have been maliciously racist in nature there should be no room for complacency as serious racism does exist in Spanish sport. Unfortunately it is often not seen as being a problem, perhaps because such casual racism exists in Spanish society.