Evra accuses Suarez of racism

[Neil Young]

How is it a concept? People have abused every possible angle in the past for selfish reasons and race is certainly one of those.

The number of times I have seen idiots losing an argument with someone immediately turn it from the original disagreement to a race issue is ridiculous.

Or do you not like the phrase?

I don't like the phrase or the concept or its application.

By all means express scepticism but saying someone is "playing the race card" brings along with it a history of denial about racism.

[Kenneth]

... to you.

[ChesterDave]

5. If the FA rules in Suarez's favour would Suarez then be within his rights to sue Evra for slander through the courts? Or do Premier League/FA/FIFA rules prohibit this?

The FA/League/FIFA can think their rules say whatever they do but what they seem to have a hard time grasping is that they can not trump the law of the land.

Assuming any rule is in place to prevent it and Suarez was facing a ban for taking legal action against another player then he could simply take the relavent authority to court for restraint of trade.

The FA cannot usurp somebodies legal right, no matter how much of a Billy Big Balls they think they are.

So if the rules do prohibit any legal action its pretty much moot as they are unenforcable.

[Kenneth]

No way Suarez would sue, and the club should one down their response imo. The point has been made with the denial.

[Arn]

The FA/League/FIFA can think their rules say whatever they do but what they seem to have a hard time grasping is that they can not trump the law of the land.

Assuming any rule is in place to prevent it and Suarez was facing a ban for taking legal action against another player then he could simply take the relavent authority to court for restraint of trade.

The FA cannot usurp somebodies legal right, no matter how much of a Billy Big Balls they think they are.

So if the rules do prohibit any legal action its pretty much moot as they are unenforcable.

Bosman is a good example of the above.

[Chrono]

I don't like the phrase or the concept or its application.

By all means express scepticism but saying someone is "playing the race card" brings along with it a history of denial about racism.

Like Kenneth says, perhaps to you. I don't see the race card as having any history to denial of racism, in fact playing the race card dilutes real racism by making light of something serious through a non-relevant application. Anyone that suffered serious racism would probably feel more offended by the use of the card than the phrase/concept/application.

I would agree that applying this flippantly doesn't help matters and that would seem to be the case with Evra given there is no evidence either way

[Liverpel]

pisstaker

For a minute I thought Neil had a stroke!

[Kronenburg1892]

The overall outcome of all of this, as no-one will be charged of anything I'm quite sure, will be when we go to Old Toilet, their fans will have something to chant about to disrail our star player, as we had plenty of amunition on theirs.

Albatross over his head? We just thought it was a wig.

[Kronenburg1892]

And more importantly, as no footage has come out since saturday. There is **** all to defend. It's all a load of bollox. A fabrication made up by gin soak to gain a home advantage.

[Chrono]

Suarez looks to me exactly the sort of person that wouldn't care less how the crowd react to him, he's a nutter and might actually like it.

[Lee]

That's a brilliant picture.

[Exiled_red]

[Alex]

Best thing about that picture is the 'Respect' logo he has printed on his arm

[Spanishfly]

Talking about Race cards, yesterday I went out to a 'member' who required my services. I did an ID check which he did not have... I asked to confirm a few details which he could not do. So I advised him the only way to get service will be to sign up on the spot. He then said it was because he was black that I was doing this, to which I replied 'no it's quite simply because your not a member'.
REAL racism needs to be kicked out of life in general, however when you have idiots like the above, it makes the whole subject less likely to be taken seriously

[Neil Young]

... to you.

Of course to me and also to others. And of course not to everyone, which is why I'm not accusing people who have used it here of being racist like those who have used the phrase elsewhere, at other times.

Just because you may not have an appreciation of the associations of a word or phrase though it doesn't mean it's neutral and I don't think there's any harm in taking account of sensitivities once you become aware. It simply means people aren't going to mistake your position on the issue by not confusing your views with those you yourself would find repellent.

Like Kenneth says, perhaps to you. I don't see the race card as having any history to denial of racism, in fact playing the race card dilutes real racism by making light of something serious through a non-relevant application. Anyone that suffered serious racism would probably feel more offended by the use of the card than the phrase/concept/application.

I would agree that applying this flippantly doesn't help matters and that would seem to be the case with Evra given there is no evidence either way

It's not the scepticism I find obnoxious, it's the phrase because of the historical baggage of which you were previously unaware. But now you are no longer unaware I don't know why you're persisting to use it.

I don't think a false allegation 'makes light' of anything but I'd agree it's clearly wrong and does not help the fight against racism. Whether a recipient of racial prejudice would feel more or less offended by it than something else, I don't know. But it's not either/or - it's easy to avoid using the phrase while communicating what you want to say.