Balotelli fed up with racist abuse

[Craig_H]

Yip that's exactly what I said

You said it wont change, so he should just accept it.

By the same token, we should've just accepted Hicks and Gillett then? And not protested against them?

It's amazing what you can change if you fight hard enough. There are loads of things that should never just be 'accepted' and racism is one of them.

[dom9]

If only Italians were as embracing of 'outsiders' as the Irish eh?

Tony Cascarino
Andy Townsend
Jason McCateer
Mark Lawrenson

[Drago]

You said it wont change, so he should just accept it.

By the same token, we should've just accepted Hicks and Gillett then? And not protested against them?

It's amazing what you can change if you fight hard enough. There are loads of things that should never just be 'accepted' and racism is one of them.

I never said he should accept it. I said he should stop playing for them. There's a difference in the two.

[Craig_H]

If only Italians were as embracing of 'outsiders' as the Irish eh?

Tony Cascarino
Andy Townsend
Jason McCateer
Mark Lawrenson

Dont forget Philip O'Babb and Seamus Aldridge

[dom9]

I never said he should accept it. I said he should stop playing for them. There's a difference in the two.

no there isn't.

[Craig_H]

I never said he should accept it. I said he should stop playing for them. There's a difference in the two.

"Why bother" you said - which basically means, just give up and accept that you cant play for Italy, because of racists. No?

[Drago]

"Why bother" you said - which basically means, just give up and accept that you cant play for Italy, because of racists. No?

Yes he should never play for Italy. He can collect his 150k a week and laugh at how ****e they are whenever sides like Germany embrace multiculturalism & reap the benefits.

[Craig_H]

Yes he should never play for Italy. He can collect his 150k a week and laugh at how ****e they are whenever sides like Germany embrace multiculturalism & reap the benefits.

Why should he never play for Italy?

Let the racists drive him out of international football then?

Crikey mate...

[Arn]

Yes he should never play for Italy. He can collect his 150k a week and laugh at how ****e they are whenever sides like Germany embrace multiculturalism & reap the benefits.

That is exactly what the racists want. They want a team with only white people in it.

You don't really get it do you.

[Drago]

Why should he never play for Italy?

Let the racists drive him out of international football then?

Crikey mate...

All I'm saying is there is no point in him moaning about getting abuse. That Italian mindset is not going to change any time soon. Stupidly as well, whenever you look at the success of the Germany team. well relative success.

[Arn]

All I'm saying is there is no point in him moaning about getting abuse. That Italian mindset is not going to change any time soon. Stupidly as well, whenever you look at the success of the Germany team. well relative success.

If you don't moan then it will never change. If more people did the same as him then it is a bigger chance that it will change.

[Tatterdemalion]

Unfortunately you're going to struggle to change the views of bigots like these. By all means punish them but sadly, they arent going to change.

A better course of action is to ensure that kids are educated properly, which will help make sure the future generations grow up without this kind of ignorance and prejudice.

I disagree. I work with a number of people who will quite openly admit that they were racist in the past (1970s etc) but have changed considerably. I wouldn't say (and neither would they) that they are now free of their previous views entirely, but they recognise that they were wrong and even if they still harbour racist views, they don't share them. Not perfect, but better than nothing.

[Tatterdemalion]

If you don't moan then it will never change. If more people did the same as him then it is a bigger chance that it will change.

Frankly, UEFA and FIFA need to take a tougher stance on things like this and in particular the violence that fans are subjected to when they go to Italy. But since when did anyone in UEFA or FIFA ever grow a pair ?

[Arn]

Frankly, UEFA and FIFA need to take a tougher stance on things like this and in particular the violence that fans are subjected to when they go to Italy. But since when did anyone in UEFA or FIFA ever grow a pair ?

Their Kick racism out of football campaign is a complete joke.

Make the captains speak out against it before every game, in every country. That would be a good start. Hammer in the message all the time until it sticks.

As you say, tougher punishment is also needed.

[Craig_H]

I disagree. I work with a number of people who will quite openly admit that they were racist in the past (1970s etc) but have changed considerably. I wouldn't say (and neither would they) that they are now free of their previous views entirely, but they recognise that they were wrong and even if they still harbour racist views, they don't share them. Not perfect, but better than nothing.

How did they change? Was it by being arrested and facing the power of the law, for racial hatred/incitement? Because i honestly dont think throwing the legal book at them will change them - if anything, it'll make them even more resentful as their surreal sense of logic will tell them to blame the person they initially had prejudiced views against, and make things worse.