Hodgson - I dont know why I'm here; smint?

[Cormack74]

The reaction to this is so depressing. The professionally offended should **** right off as they're doing more harm than good.

Well put.

[Gibbo]

Wilshere

[Cormack74]

I remember when Gary Lineker said about Ian Wright....

"He's a very good player but he does have a black side"

That reminds me of a comment by Geoff Hurst when he was a studio guest during the 1986 WC (at least I think it was that one but it might have been 1990).

Anyway sitting next to a black player (and for the life of me I can't remember who) he described one of the opposition players as the "****** in the wood pile".

Whoever the black player was he came back with some half decent comment which moved the conversation on but I've never seen anyone look as genuinely mortified as Hurst did nor have I ever cringed quite so hard on someone else's behalf.

[Lee]

Leaking of the actual story by a player to the press doesnt say much for team morale really

Yeah it seems strange that someone (presumably a player) would leak this info.

Why? Would it be someone who is disgruntled about not being in the team?!

[Fivex]

Hodgson for England!!!!

The next step in fakegate.

Fake forum posters, fake bidders, fake agents and now fake footballers.

[ChesterDave]

The next step in fakegate.

Fake forum posters, fake bidders, fake agents and now fake footballers.

Ali Dia was a pioneer :candle:

[Shaggy]

Yeah it seems strange that someone (presumably a player) would leak this info.

Why? Would it be someone who is disgruntled about not being in the team?!

Maybe the FA spin on events is BS (after all, the 'joke' explanation doesn't really stand up to any kind of scrutiny) and Hodgson said something genuinely offensive and the numerous black players in the team were offended? Maybe.

[Chazza]

Just maybe

[Gazzla]

I don't for a minute think Hodgson had or intended to say anything with a racist undertone however I would still sack the old **** for no other reason that it's Roy Hodgson.Owl Faced ****er

[EwarWoo]

Regardless of if he offended anyone or not it's a pretty stupid joke to make in the current climate and shows just how out of touch with reality he is. And that's just not good enough when he's representing the FA who are trying (pretty badly, but trying) to be seen to make a stance on the issue.

Anyone with an ounce of observation skills knows racism is at the top of the agenda after the Terry and Suarez incidents. And anyone with any sense should be avoiding anything which could in any way be taken out of context.

So best case he's a clueless old fool giving the FA a PR disaster, worst case he's a racist.

[chadrtc]

Regardless of if he offended anyone or not it's a pretty stupid joke to make in the current climate and shows just how out of touch with reality he is. And that's just not good enough when he's representing the FA who are trying (pretty badly, but trying) to be seen to make a stance on the issue.

Anyone with an ounce of observation skills knows racism is at the top of the agenda after the Terry and Suarez incidents. And anyone with any sense should be avoiding anything which could in any way be taken out of context.

So best case he's a clueless old fool giving the FA a PR disaster, worst case he's a racist.

Plus, in addition... He's a wobbly faced puddle of dick snot.

[AnfieldForever]

Regardless of if he offended anyone or not it's a pretty stupid joke to make in the current climate and shows just how out of touch with reality he is. And that's just not good enough when he's representing the FA who are trying (pretty badly, but trying) to be seen to make a stance on the issue.

Anyone with an ounce of observation skills knows racism is at the top of the agenda after the Terry and Suarez incidents. And anyone with any sense should be avoiding anything which could in any way be taken out of context.

So best case he's a clueless old fool giving the FA a PR disaster, worst case he's a racist.

Roy Hodgson: Football Association backs England manager


The Football Association has given its "full support" to Roy Hodgson after claims a comment made in a team-talk by the England manager caused offence.

Hodgson was criticised for referring to a joke about a monkey and an astronaut at half-time in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Poland.
"He has and deserves the full support of the Football Association," FA chairman Greg Dyke said.

Anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out praised the FA's "swift" response.
It had called for an investigation into Hodgson's comments but, after the FA confirmed it had not received any complaints from the England players, it now considered the matter closed.

BBC

[Fosterbloke]

Heaven forbid they might have appointed a racist as Engerlund manager.

[Alex]

If a player genuinely was offended, and feels he cant report it to the FA its pretty damning on them. On the other hand, this could be just a storm in a tea cup that a Journo has read to much into and blown out of all proportion.

[RichC]

I sort of feel sorry for Hodgson here, I've no idea as to why he's telling jokes at half time to be honest and his choice of joke to get his point across was poorly chosen but there was no agenda, malice or intent to cause offence just another in line of daft comments he's made over his career.

The FA on the other hand show themselves to be the inconsistent self serving group that they always seem to come across as, they seem to want to look into things when it suits them, when it doesn't we move on. I'm not saying moving on is the wrong thing to do here however it does seem they do so when they're directly or indirectly involved