[Thread] A joint letter from 20 Serie A clubs won’t eradicate racism from Italian football – but it’s a long overdue first step that is both necessary and unprecedented in European football.

Skepticism is natural and expected but here’s what the letter means and why it matters…

The letter comes from ALL 20 clubs. On Twitter, eyebrows were raised due to the inclusion of certain clubs, who have been accused of being most soft on racism. This is important. Our only chance of real change is if everyone is at the table – not just the most progressive clubs

The first step to addressing a problem is admitting it exists. This hasn’t happened before, not on this scale or this publicly. The fact that all 20 clubs have put their name to a letter that admits we have a ‘serious problem’ with racism is ‘unprecedented’ according to @farenet

A public confession that we are all guilty for not having done enough to combat racism. We are where we are because racism hasn’t been addressed seriously in the past. It’s easy to look at what still happens elsewhere or point fingers at those in change, but this is OUR failing.

M Balotelli, K Koulibaly, R Viera & J Jesus being racially abused in Italy is everyone’s issue – not just the club’s involved. Racism isn’t going to eradicate itself & staying silent is no longer an option. Not being racist is no longer enough, we need to be actively anti-racist

This initiative comes from the clubs – not Serie A or the federation – but nothing can be solved alone. Regardless of past failings, we have to start again & we need the help of the governing bodies, the fans & the guidance of experts. It’s not embarrassing to admit we need help.

Fans want actions, not letters. They’re right. That’s why the letter highlights the fact that Serie A HAVE to deliver a ‘robust anti-racism policy & stricter new laws and regulations’. Stricter new laws. Stricter new regulations. If there is a take-away from the letter, it’s this

We need clubs to be brave, the governing bodies to be strong, the police to dedicate resource to taking racism seriously & we need the vast majority of fans - great fans - to use cheers to drown out the racist noises coming from those abusing players just because of skin colour

Yesterday, every club in Serie A made itself publicly accountable for its FUTURE response to racism. It would be naïve to think racist abuse in Italian football will suddenly disappear but when each of our own fans next racially abuse an opponent, we must firmly address it.

Unfortunately, almost every club in the world has some racists within its fanbase. However, the only fair way to judge a club is by its own actions and whether it actively tackles those racists. We have stated we are united by a ‘desire for serious change’. Let’s see who means it