Heckling is part of the game.  Fans yelling sometimes witty (sometimes childish) taunts in an effort to throw off a rival team’s game or disrupt their concentration is something professional athletes are expected to deal with.  However, what happened in Barcelona, Spain this past weekend was not good natured heckling, it was racism.  It was ugly.

If fans in Spain want to believe that McLaren wronged Fernando Alonso and wish to direct their displeasure towards Lewis Hamilton, they are entitled to do so - to a point.  That entitlement does not extend to assaulting a young man with racist taunts while wearing black face paint.  The behavior of a few Spanish fans was a pathetic display of racism hiding behind sports partisanship.

Spain has the privilege of hosting two grand prix events this year (Barcelona and Valencia) - a situation many countries would like to enjoy.  Rewards like this come with expectations.  One of these expectations would be to not bring the sport into disrepute. The governing body is now, rightfully and properly, investigating this incident. The FIA have warned that one or both of the events may be canceled if the track organizers cannot control the fans and prevent an incident like this one from occurring again.  It would be unfortunate and even damaging to the sport in the short term to cancel races but would be nothing compared to the damage that could be inflicted on the sport if it was perceived to tolerate racism.

The FIA should be applauded for stepping in quickly to stop this behavior from continuing.  Tough decisions will need to be made in the next few weeks and hopefully commercial considerations will not come into consideration.  The issue is bigger than money.  If the Spanish people have to suffer for the actions of a few, it is a price worth paying to send a message to everyone that racism will not be tolerated in any form, in any place, at any time.

Now however, is the time for Fernando Alonso to step forward and speak to his fans.  The former World Champion’s voice has the power to halt the anger and hatred being directed to his former teammate, Lewis Hamilton.  Alonso needs to address his fans and demand the attacks on Hamilton stop.  The time has come for everyone to put the past behind them and it is the time for Fernando take the role of a champion and leader of the sport.

Spain is better than this.  Formula 1 is better than this.

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