Racism in Football

[Kenneth]

Well indeed, but the Boyle case isn't any kind of precedent. You can't defame someone with basis. It's clearly more debatable in Luis's case. He could try if he wanted. They'd just argue that they were paraphrasing with FA judgement.

[chadrtc]

Well indeed, but the Boyle case isn't any kind of precedent. You can't defame someone with basis. It's clearly more debatable in Luis's case. He could try if he wanted. They'd just argue that they were paraphrasing with FA judgement.

The FA's judgement did state that Luis wasn't racist but was guilty of using racially offensive language... At least that is my memory from the time.

[TheElephantMan]

Are you suggesting that Suarez had no reputation to damage?

[Fivex]

So now that Frankie Boyle has successfully sued the Mirror, presumably Suarez could do the same?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20033097

I thought exactly the same. But whether Luis (or the club) would want to bring it all up again is another matter.

The media pricks would make it their front page news for a week, and would then bury it on the 23rd page if he wins.

[Exiled_red]

So now that Frankie Boyle has successfully sued the Mirror, presumably Suarez could do the same?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20033097

It's probably best to just let it lie, stirring it all up again would make things worse IMO.

[Kenneth]

Are you suggesting that Suarez had no reputation to damage?

No, just that the Mirror's case is stronger with Luis than Boyle.

[Red_Polo]

Today, tomorrow, when there is an incident to talk about, whenever if its given suitable perspective. Jason Roberts not wearing a tshirt in the warm up to a Reading game just doesn't warrant being the top sports story imo.

It's a statement that suggests a number of prominent black players feel the FA and Premier League sponsored anti-racism pressure group is not fit for purpose. That hints at a systemic problem that needs to change. Is that really not worth talking about? To the point where people should be mocked for having an opinion on the matter or taking any kind of stance on it?

You're MASSIVELY shifting the goalposts saying it doesn't warrant being top sports story - that was not your initial stance at all. You basically came down on those still talking about racism as related to football as bandwagoners, careerists, self-promoters, of only being interested in easing their own guilt etc.

Some people might just be talking about it because it matters to them. It's one thing to feel bored and disinterested by the coverage, but I think it's a bit out of order to suggest everyone else should just shut the hell up about it all now.

I'm not talking about the world at large, I'm talking about football in England as I said. And I don't equate thinking that the topic is being given undue precedence in the football related mass media with simple boredom.

You kinda give the impression you're bored of it when you say you're 'sick of it' and 'wish the noise would stop'.

Racist abuse or sexual assault; which is the biggest problem amongst footballers in England. Over the past few years I can think of far more cases of the latter. Many times more. Where is the kick it out campaign for that? Where is the blanket coverage of each incident with speils of copy linking them all to one overriding narrative? Where are the tshirts, the football charities, the awareness campaigns? No, lets not worry about the victims of actual serious crime involving footballers and put all of our efforts into stopping players calling each other names.

Wow. What an absolute shocker of a post

Songs glorifying sexual assault don't get sung at grounds on a regular basis. Players are not accused of committing sexual assault on the pitch. It's a farcical comparison.

Let's face it, this part of your post has nothing to do with you feeling other issues should get coverage. It only has to do with you wanting racism to have none.

[Red_Polo]

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20028316

Who boycotted the Kick It Out T-shirt?

Everton: Victor Anichebe, Sylvain Distin, Steven Pienaar
QPR: Anton Ferdinand, Djibril Cisse, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nedum Onouha and Junior Hoilett
Man City: Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott
Man Utd: Rio Ferdinand
Reading: Jason Roberts
Stoke: Kenwyne Jones
Swansea: All players
Wigan: All players

Lord Ouseley, chairman of the Kick It Out group, said he understood the frustrations of players but urged them to speak out if they encountered racism in the game.

"The issue is that the T-shirts have become the story whereas the actual grievances of black players, both current and former, have not come out in the open," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"We need to be talking about what their legitimate grievances are and how they can be tackled and resolved.

"The black players who have expressed themselves by saying they are not going to wear the T-shirt are doing so because they genuinely believe there are grievances that have not been addressed.

"Those grievances can only be addressed if we confront them, not by gestures of not wearing a T-shirt, but I understand why people don't do that."

Talking more sounds like a decent idea to me, certainly compared to thinking "every arsehole's got an opinion" and just wanting the 'noise' to stop.

[Kenneth]

It's a statement that suggests a number of prominent black players feel the FA and Premier League sponsored anti-racism pressure group is not fit for purpose. That hints at a systemic problem that needs to change. Is that really not worth talking about? To the point where people should be mocked for having an opinion on the matter or taking any kind of stance on it?

You're MASSIVELY shifting the goalposts saying it doesn't warrant being top sports story - that was not your initial stance at all. You basically came down on those still talking about racism as related to football as bandwagoners, careerists, self-promoters, of only being interested in easing their own guilt etc.

I'm not at all. My initial stance was that what I see as over-exposure was due to such issues, or that was my intention when referring to "the coverage". That doesn't mean shutting down the issue completely. The opinions of those in and surrounding the game who have nothing meaningful to say being given prominence (Harry Redknapp on MOTD for a random example) and Jason Roberts being headline news. All cases of disproportionate media reporting have a basis in something, it's the media whipping up of a frenzy that I take issue with, and I think this is an example.

Some people might just be talking about it because it matters to them. It's one thing to feel bored and disinterested by the coverage, but I think it's a bit out of order to suggest everyone else should just shut the hell up about it all now.



You kinda give the impression you're bored of it when you say you're 'sick of it' and 'wish the noise would stop'.

I still don't think they equate to boredom, and again, I don't think we're talking about the same 'it'.

Wow. What an absolute shocker of a post

Songs glorifying sexual assault don't get sung at grounds on a regular basis. Players are not accused of committing sexual assault on the pitch. It's a farcical comparison.

Let's face it, this part of your post has nothing to do with you feeling other issues should get coverage. It only has to do with you wanting racism to have none.

Proportionality. One issue was given zero priority despite a number of serious incidents involving players, another has top priority. Nothing more than that.

[Kenneth]

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20028316



Talking more sounds like a decent idea to me, certainly compared to thinking "every arsehole's got an opinion" and just wanting the 'noise' to stop.

I know that you know that the comment "every arsehole's got an opinion" is not the same as saying that everyone with an opinion is an arsehole. And yes, when the views of Robbie Savage on said talks is the BBC leader I will want the noise to stop.

<insert predictable come back about noise here>

[dww]

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20028316



Talking more sounds like a decent idea to me, certainly compared to thinking "every arsehole's got an opinion" and just wanting the 'noise' to stop.

Interesting that the entire Wigan and Swansea teams joined the boycott. Wonder what made them take that stance as a group rather than individuals.

[Red_Polo]

Kenneth, you're re-framing the argument to hinge solely on coverage being disproportionate when this is really not the point I've taken issue with.

You basically denounced people who've continued to have something to say or do when it comes to racism in football as hysterical idiots who really ought to just shut up. My point is they shouldn't, and it's them along with the media coverage that might actually see things change.

Just because an issue stops being interesting to someone doesn't mean it has to for all, and more importantly doesn't mean it ceases to matter. People that are genuinely motivated to change things shouldn't have to put up with others telling them they're hysterical or accusing them of being self-promoters.

[Red_Polo]

Interesting that the entire Wigan and Swansea teams joined the boycott. Wonder what made them take that stance as a group rather than individuals.

Interesting...

Who are their captains?

[dww]

Interesting...

Who are their captains?

Caldwell at Wigan I think.

A quick search suggests Garry Monk as Swansea club captain.

I'd forgotten that they played each other at the weekend. Must have been a joint decision.

[Vermilion]

Wigan followed Swansea's lead apparently, it was they who wanted to boycott, so Wigan said they would back them and do the same.

So they said.