Strasbourg, 24/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - In view of the world conference against racism that will begin in Dublin at the end of the month of August, the ministerial committee of the Council of Europe calls on the States to fight more effectively against all forms of racism against sporting teams, players, trainers, spectators and arbiters. It reaffirms, in a recommendation, that all forms of acts or words inciting violence or discrimination against social groups should constitute penal crimes and be punished, with several penalties. Cameras installed in stadiums would help to identify the authors of infringements. At the level of sports organisations, the arbiters and other persons responsible could be provided with the power to impose sporting sanctions to participants, who make racist gestures and pronounce insults during a competition. The delegates also spoke in favour of the suspension of meetings if supporters show signs inciting violence. Finally, ethnic minorities should be represented within Federations and sports clubs.