The Reading / Listening - Racism in Sport - Level 3

FIFA, the organization that controls world football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule to stop racism. It wants referees to give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things to other players. If a player is shown a red card, they are sent off and must leave the football pitch. Recently, there have been several cases of players being racist. Last month, Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, 25, was playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League. The match was suspended for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had racially insulted him. Vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse since joining Madrid in 2018.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during arguments to be sent off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a 10-match ban. Mr Infantino spoke to reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the comment could be racist, so that player has to be sent off. He added that players who cover their mouths must have said something they shouldn't have, otherwise they wouldn't have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is happy that FIFA is thinking about a new red-card rule. It said it would also "continue working, in collaboration with all institutions, to get rid of racism, violence, and hate in sport and society".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Racism in Sport - Level 0,  Racism in Sport - Level 1   or  Racism in Sport - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48073911/fifa-boss-gianni-infantino-calls-red-cards-players-cover-mouths
  • https://news.sky.com/story/footballers-who-cover-mouths-during-on-pitch-rows-should-be-sent-off-says-fifa-boss-13513895
  • https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/chelsea-could-rival-newcastle-nunez-223734834.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. RACISM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about racism. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       organization / football / soccer / racism / red card / football pitch / suspended / abuse
       arguments / discrimination / bans / collaboration / violence / hate / sport / society
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SEASON BAN: Students A strongly believe players who racially abuse other players should be banned for a whole season; Students B strongly believe that's too much. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FOOTBALL POSITIONS: What must these players do? How important are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Player Role

Abilities

Goalkeeper

 

 

Defender

 

 

Midfielder

 

 

Captain

 

 

Attacker

 

 

Winger

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. RACISM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "racism". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SPORTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best sports at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Football
  • F1
  • Skiing
  • Rugby
  • Tennis
  • Basketball
  • Ice hockey
  • Cycling

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

       1. organization a. A group of people who work together for a purpose.
       2. rule (noun) b. Times when things/events happen.
       3. racism c. An official order about what you must or must not do.
       4. sent off d. More than two but not many.
       5. several e. Unfair treatment of people because of their race or skin colour.
       6. cases f. Told to leave the game by the referee.
       7.

suspended

 g.

Stopped for a short time.

    Paragraph 2

      8. arguments h. If not.
      9. discrimination i. An official order that stops someone from doing something.
      10. face (verb) j. Angry disagreements between people.
      11. ban (noun) k. Working together with other people.
      12. otherwise l. Unfair treatment of someone because of who they are.
      13. collaboration m. Physical force that hurts people or damages things.
      14.

violence

 n.

Have to deal with something.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. FIFA said it wants to control world football.     T / F
  2. FIFA wants referees to send off players who make racist comments.     T / F
  3. A Real Madrid player said he was racially abused in a World Cup game.    T / F
  4. A game stopped for 10 minutes because of a possible racist comment.     T / F
  5. Players who racially abuse others could get a 10-match ban.     T / F
  6. FIFA's boss said players must cover their mouths in any argument.     T / F
  7. Real Madrid is happy about the possibility of a racism red card.     T / F
  8. Real Madrid said it would work to end violence, hate, and racism.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. organization
  2. pitch
  3. suspended
  4. arguments
  5. abuse
  6. discrimination
  7. comment
  8. otherwise
  9. collaboration
  10. get rid of
  1. if not
  2. fights
  3. insults
  4. remark
  5. field
  6. wipe out
  7. group
  8. cooperation
  9. halted
  10. prejudice

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. the organization that controls
  2. a player is shown
  3. there have been several cases of
  4. The match was suspended
  5. Vinicius has faced 20
  6. footballers who cover their mouths
  7. face a 10-match
  8. the comment
  9. that player has to be sent
  10. continue working in collaboration
  1. cases of racial abuse
  2. could be racist
  3. during arguments
  4. a red card
  5. off
  6. world football
  7. with all institutions
  8. for ten minutes
  9. ban
  10. players being racist

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
cases
shown
since
suspended
controls
pitch
insulted
referees

FIFA, the organization that (1) ______________________________________________ world football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule to stop racism. It wants (2) ______________________________________________ to give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things to other players. If a player is (3) ______________________________________________ a red card, they are sent off and must leave the football (4) ______________________________________________. Recently, there have been several (5) ______________________________________________ of players being racist. Last month, Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, 25, was playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League. The match was (6) ______________________________________________ for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had racially (7) ______________________________________________ him. Vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse (8) ______________________________________________ joining Madrid in 2018.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
something
working
ban
violence
otherwise
arguments
something
rule

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during (9) ______________________________________________ to be sent off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a 10-match (10) ______________________________________________. Mr Infantino spoke to reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said (11) ______________________________________________, the comment could be racist, so that player has to be sent off. He added that players who cover their mouths must have said (12) ______________________________________________ they shouldn't have, (13) ______________________________________________ they wouldn't have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is happy that FIFA is thinking about a new red-card (14) ______________________________________________. It said it would also "continue (15) ______________________________________________, in collaboration with all institutions, to get rid of racism, (16) ______________________________________________, and hate in sport and society".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things ______
     a.  to another players
     b.  to other player
     c.  to other players
     d.  to the other player
2)  If a player is shown a red card, they are sent off and must leave ______
     a.  the football pitch
     b.  the football patch
     c.  the football porch
     d.  the football putsch
3)  Recently, there have been several cases of ______
     a.  players been racist
     b.  players be in racist
     c.  players be racist
     d.  players being racist
4)  suspended for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had _____
     a.  racially insult him
     b.  racially insulted him
     c.  racially insulted his
     d.  racially insulted them
5)  Vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse since joining ______
     a.  Madrid on 2018
     b.  Madrid at 2018
     c.  Madrid in 2018
     d.  Madrid by 2018

6)  Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during arguments to ______
     a.  been sent in
     b.  be send off
     c.  be sent on
     d.  be sent off
7)  Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a ______
     a.  10-match band
     b.  10-match bin
     c.  10-match ban
     d.  10-match bond
8)  He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the comment ______
     a.  could be racism
     b.  could be racist
     c.  could be racial
     d.  could be racially
9)  players who cover their mouths must have said something ______
     a.  they shouldn't of
     b.  they shouldn't has
     c.  they shouldn't had
     d.  they shouldn't have
10)  in collaboration with all institutions, to get rid of racism, violence, and ______
     a.  hate in sport
     b.  hating sport
     c.  hate tin sport
     d.  hat in sport

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

FIFA, the organization (1) __________________________________________________ football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule (2) __________________________________________________. It wants referees to give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things to other players. If a player is (3) __________________________________________________ card, they are sent off and must leave the football pitch. Recently, there have been several cases of (4) __________________________________________________. Last month, Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, 25, was playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League. The match (5) __________________________________________________ ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had racially insulted him. Vinicius has (6) __________________________________________________ of racial abuse since joining Madrid in 2018.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths (7) __________________________________________________ be sent off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a (8) __________________________________________________. Mr Infantino spoke to reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the comment (9) __________________________________________________, so that player has to be sent off. He added that players who cover their mouths must have said something they shouldn't have, (10) __________________________________________________ have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is happy that FIFA is thinking about a new (11) __________________________________________________. It said it would also "continue working, in collaboration with all institutions, to (12) __________________________________________________ racism, violence, and hate in sport and society".

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the organization that controls world football?
  2. Who might have to give racist players a red card?
  3. For how long was a Real Madrid match suspended after possible racism?
  4. How many times has Vinicius Junior been racially abused at Madrid?
  5. When did Vinicius Junior join Real Madrid?
  6. For how long could a player be banned if they get a red card?
  7. Which news agency did Gianni Infantino talk to?
  8. How does Real Madrid feel about a possible red card for racism?
  9. Who will Real Madrid continue to work with?
  10. What does Real Madrid want to get rid of besides racism?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the organization that controls world football?
a) FIFA
b) UEFA
c) EFL
d) CONCACAF
2) Who might have to give racist players a red card?
a) spectators
b) FIFA
c) referees
d) team captains
3) For how long was a Real Madrid match suspended after possible racism?
a) 8 minutes
b) 10 minutes
c) 13 minutes
d) 21 minutes
4) How many times has Vinicius Junior been racially abused at Madrid?
a) 5 times
b) 10 times
c) 15 times
d) 20 times
5) When did Vinicius Junior join Real Madrid?
a) 2018
b) 2019
c) 2020
d) 2021

6) For how long could a player be banned if they get a red card?
a) for 3 matches
b) for 5 matches
c) for 8 matches
d) for 10 matches
7) Which news agency did Gianni Infantino talk to?
a) BBC
b) Sky News
c) ESPN
d) Aljazeera
8) How does Real Madrid feel about a possible red card for racism?
a) good
b) surprised
c) angry
d) happy
9) Who will Real Madrid continue to work with?
a) Barcelona
b) youth teams
c) institutions
d) FIFA
10) What does Real Madrid want to get rid of besides racism?
a) corruption
b) violence and hate
c) video assistant referees
d) plastic pitches

Role play

Role  A – Football
You think football is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sport. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): tennis, skiing or cycling.

Role  B – Tennis
You think tennis is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sport. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): football, skiing or cycling.

Role  C – Skiing
You think skiing is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sport. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): tennis, football or cycling.

Role  D – Cycling
You think cycling is the best sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sport. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): tennis, skiing or football.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'red card'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'racism'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • controls
    • leave
    • month
    • playing
    • suspended
    • joining
    • during
    • ban
    • comment
    • otherwise
    • happy
    • hate

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Racism in Sport

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'red card'?
    3. What do you know about FIFA?
    4. Which word is best, 'football' or 'soccer'?
    5. What do you think of racism in sport?
    6. What can FIFA do to completely end racism in football?
    7. Why are people racist?
    8. Do you think a red card for covering your mouth is good?
    9. What do you think of football?
    10. What advice do you have for Vinicius Junior?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'racism'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Is a 10-match ban long enough for making racist comments?
    5. Why is there so much racism in football?
    6. What should happen to soccer fans who are racist?
    7. What would you do if you heard a racist comment?
    8. How can we get rid of violence in society?
    9. What do you think of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the FIFA boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    FIFA, the organization that (1) ____ world football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule to stop racism. It wants referees to (2) ____ a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things to (3) ____ players. If a player is shown a red card, they are sent off and must leave the football pitch. Recently, there have been several cases (4) ____ players being racist. Last month, Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, 25, was playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League. The match was (5) ____ for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had racially insulted him. Vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse since (6) ____ Madrid in 2018.

    FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths (7) ____ arguments to be sent off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can (8) ____ a 10-match ban. Mr Infantino spoke to reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the comment could be racist, so that player has to be sent (9) ____. He added that players who cover their mouths must have said something they shouldn't have, (10) ____ they wouldn't have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is happy that FIFA is (11) ____ about a new red-card rule. It said it would also "continue working, in collaboration with all institutions, to get rid (12) ____ racism, violence, and hate in sport and society".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     control     (b)     controlling     (c)     controls     (d)     controller    
    2. (a)     give     (b)     send     (c)     take     (d)     out    
    3. (a)     other     (b)     another     (c)     others     (d)     othered    
    4. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     suspension     (b)     suspended     (c)     suspends     (d)     suspender    
    6. (a)     joins     (b)     join     (c)     joint     (d)     joining    
    7. (a)     daring     (b)     enduring     (c)     during     (d)     endearing    
    8. (a)     cheek     (b)     skull     (c)     head     (d)     face    
    9. (a)     off     (b)     on     (c)     out     (d)     in    
    10. (a)     wisely     (b)     otherwise     (c)     wise     (d)     wisdom    
    11. (a)     thinks     (b)     thinking     (c)     thought     (d)     think    
    12. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     on

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the nirnigozoata that controls world football
    2. It wants freesere to give a red card
    3. leave the football thpic
    4. there have been arevesl cases
    5. The match was eesdusdpn for ten minutes
    6. 20 cases of lraiac abuse

    Paragraph 2

    1. cover their mouths during armtsgneu
    2. a red card for mtinriiadonics
    3. otehieswr they wouldn't
    4. continue working in tolracnioalbo
    5. oneceliv and hate
    6. sport and etscyoi

    Put the text back together

    (    )   be racist, so that player has to be sent off. He added that players who cover their mouths must have said
    (    )   Champions League. The match was suspended for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica
    (    )   collaboration with all institutions, to get rid of racism, violence, and hate in sport and society".
    (    )   FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during arguments to be sent
    (  1  )   FIFA, the organization that controls world football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule to stop
    (    )   happy that FIFA is thinking about a new red-card rule. It said it would also "continue working, in
    (    )   international Vinicius Junior, 25, was playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the
    (    )   off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a 10-match ban. Mr Infantino spoke to
    (    )   pitch. Recently, there have been several cases of players being racist. Last month, Brazilian
    (    )   player had racially insulted him. Vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse since joining Madrid in 2018.
    (    )   racism. It wants referees to give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say
    (    )   reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the comment could
    (    )   something they shouldn't have, otherwise they wouldn't have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is
    (    )   things to other players. If a player is shown a red card, they are sent off and must leave the football

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   Make   new   racism   rule   stop   to   .
    2. a   card   give   It   red   referees   to   wants   .
    3. other   players   say   they   things   to   When   .
    4. been   being   cases   have   of   players   racist   There   .
    5. for   match   minutes   suspended   ten   The   was   .
    6. arguments   cover   during   Footballers   mouths   their   who   .
    7. a   Any   card   discrimination   for   player   receiving   red   .
    8. be   has   off   player   sent   That   to   .
    9. a   about   FIFA   is   new   red-card   rule   thinking   .
    10. collaboration   continue   in   institutions   It   with   working   would   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    FIFA, the organization that controlling / controls world football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule to stop racist / racism. It wants referees to give a red card to players who cover their mouths what / when they say things to other players. If a player is showing / shown a red card, they are sent off / on and must leave the football pitch / patch. Recently, there have been several cases / case of players being racist. Last month, Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, 25, was play / playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League. The match was suspend / suspended for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had racially insulted him. Vinicius has faced / headed 20 cases of racial abuse since joining Madrid in 2018.

    FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during argument / arguments to be sent off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a 10-match bin / ban. Mr Infantino spoke to / for reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the meant / comment could be racist, so that player has to be sent off. He subtracted / added that players who cover their mouths must have said something they shouldn't have / do, otherwise they wouldn't have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is happy / happily that FIFA is thinking / thought about a new red-card rule. It said it would also "continue working, in / on collaboration with all institutions, to get rid of racism, violence, and hate in / at sport and society".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    F_F_,  th_  _rg_n_z_t__n  th_t  c_ntr_ls  w_rld  f__tb_ll  (_r  s_cc_r),  w_nts  t_  m_k_  _  n_w  r_l_  t_  st_p  r_c_sm.  _t  w_nts  r_f_r__s  t_  g_v_  _  r_d  c_rd  t_  pl_y_rs  wh_  c_v_r  th__r  m__ths  wh_n  th_y  s_y  th_ngs  t_  _th_r  pl_y_rs.  _f  _  pl_y_r  _s  sh_wn  _  r_d  c_rd,  th_y  _r_  s_nt  _ff  _nd  m_st  l__v_  th_  f__tb_ll  p_tch.  R_c_ntly,  th_r_  h_v_  b__n  s_v_r_l  c_s_s  _f  pl_y_rs  b__ng  r_c_st.  L_st  m_nth,  Br_z_l__n  _nt_rn_t__n_l  V_n_c__s  J_n__r,  25,  w_s  pl_y_ng  f_r  R__l  M_dr_d  _g__nst  B_nf_c_  _n  th_  Ch_mp__ns  L__g__.  Th_  m_tch  w_s  s_sp_nd_d  f_r  t_n  m_n_t_s  _ft_r  V_n_c__s  J_n__r  cl__m_d  th_t  _  B_nf_c_  pl_y_r  h_d  r_c__lly  _ns_lt_d  h_m.  V_n_c__s  h_s  f_c_d  20  c_s_s  _f  r_c__l  _b_s_  s_nc_  j__n_ng  M_dr_d  _n  2018.

    F_F_  b_ss  G__nn_  _nf_nt_n_  w_nts  f__tb_ll_rs  wh_  c_v_r  th__r  m__ths  d_r_ng  _rg_m_nts  t_  b_  s_nt  _ff.  _ny  pl_y_r  r_c__v_ng  _  r_d  c_rd  f_r  d_scr_m_n_t__n  c_n  f_c_  _  10-m_tch  b_n.  Mr  _nf_nt_n_  sp_k_  t_  r_p_rt_rs  _t  Sky  N_ws.  H_  s__d  _f  _  pl_y_r  c_v_r_d  th__r  m__th  _nd  s__d  s_m_th_ng,  th_  c_mm_nt  c__ld  b_  r_c_st,  s_  th_t  pl_y_r  h_s  t_  b_  s_nt  _ff.  H_  _dd_d  th_t  pl_y_rs  wh_  c_v_r  th__r  m__ths  m_st  h_v_  s__d  s_m_th_ng  th_y  sh__ldn't  h_v_,  _th_rw_s_  th_y  w__ldn't  h_v_  h_d  t_  c_v_r  th__r  m__th.  R__l  M_dr_d  _s  h_ppy  th_t  F_F_  _s  th_nk_ng  _b__t  _  n_w  r_d-c_rd  r_l_.  _t  s__d  _t  w__ld  _ls_  "c_nt_n__  w_rk_ng,  _n  c_ll_b_r_t__n  w_th  _ll  _nst_t_t__ns,  t_  g_t  r_d  _f  r_c_sm,  v__l_nc_,  _nd  h_t_  _n  sp_rt  _nd  s_c__ty".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    fifa the organization that controls world football or soccer wants to make a new rule to stop racism it wants referees to give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things to other players if a player is shown a red card they are sent off and must leave the football pitch recently there have been several cases of players being racist last month brazilian international vinicius junior 25 was playing for real madrid against benfica in the champions league the match was suspended for ten minutes after vinicius junior claimed that a benfica player had racially insulted him vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse since joining madrid in 2018

    fifa boss gianni infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during arguments to be sent off any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a 10match ban mr infantino spoke to reporters at sky news he said if a player covered their mouth and said something the comment could be racist so that player has to be sent off he added that players who cover their mouths must have said something they shouldnt have otherwise they wouldnt have had to cover their mouth real madrid is happy that fifa is thinking about a new redcard rule it said it would also continue working in collaboration with all institutions to get rid of racism violence and hate in sport and society

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    FIFA,theorganizationthatcontrolsworldfootball(orsoccer),wantstom
    akeanewruletostopracism.Itwantsrefereestogivearedcardtoplayers
    whocovertheirmouthswhentheysaythingstootherplayers.Ifaplayeri
    sshownaredcard,theyaresentoffandmustleavethefootballpitch.Rece
    ntly,therehavebeenseveralcasesofplayersbeingracist.Lastmonth,Br
    azilianinternationalViniciusJunior,25,wasplayingforRealMadridagai
    nstBenficaintheChampionsLeague.Thematchwassuspendedforten
    minutesafterViniciusJuniorclaimedthataBenficaplayerhadraciallyins
    ultedhim.Viniciushasfaced20casesofracialabusesincejoiningMadridi
    n2018.FIFAbossGianniInfantinowantsfootballerswhocovertheirmou
    thsduringargumentstobesentoff.Anyplayerreceivingaredcardfordis
    criminationcanfacea10-matchban.MrInfantinospoketoreportersatS
    kyNews.Hesaidifaplayercoveredtheirmouthandsaidsomething,thec
    ommentcouldberacist,sothatplayerhastobesentoff.Headdedthatpla
    yerswhocovertheirmouthsmusthavesaidsomethingtheyshouldn'tha
    ve,otherwisetheywouldn'thavehadtocovertheirmouth.RealMadridis
    happythatFIFAisthinkingaboutanewred-cardrule.Itsaiditwouldalso"
    continueworking,incollaborationwithallinstitutions,togetridofracism
    ,violence,andhateinsportandsociety".

    Free writing

    Write about racism red card for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All sports players should get a red card and a long ban for racist comments. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. RACISM: Make a poster about racism. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RED CARD: Write a magazine article about giving sports players for making racist, exist, homophobic, and other hurtful comments. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on racism. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can end it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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