I really hope that he hasn't deliberately made up the allegation to get himself out of trouble. That would be almost as bad as racially abusing someone, as it completely undermines any genuine cases of racial abuse and the work done to educate people and eradicate racism.
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The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved. -
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"Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." Bob PaisleyComment
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It is the FA we are dealing with so who knows what nonsense they conclude but Firmino should not be getting banned and certainly should not for any racist angle.
We can all see the point at which Holgate loses it and the ref is right by Firmino so for them to claim it was racial means that they have to hang the ref out to dry for not doing anything about it. Clearly there is no evidence for that. Holgate almost certainly does not speak Portuguese so let's rule that out too.
The only way he is banned is for abusive language with no characteristic element. And that is setting a precedent for players to get bans every game.
And I'll give Holgate the benefit of the doubt he genuinely misheard rather than wilfully lied to shift blame. I don't think he is a good enough actor to replicate that reaction.
He should still be banned for the shove. Snide coward moveFootball without Origi is nothingComment
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Isnt everything recorded on the refs mic? If it is surely they'll be able to hear exactly what he said.Comment
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There is something odd about the whole situation. As I see it there are 3 options:
1. Firmino racially abused Holgate in English/Portuguese
2. Holgate misheard or misinterpreted something that Firmino said
3. Holgate made it up in an attempt to get out of a booking/sending off
The implications of these would be:
1a) Firmino gets sent off because the referee is right by it and hears it. - Didn't happen can be ruled out.
1b) The referee hears it and does nothing. - Seems very unlikely.
1c) The referee hears it but does not understand it because it is in Portuguese, but Holgate does understand, Ref can't send him off and subsequent outcome depends on whether referee or anyone else heard and can remember what was said or if the cameras picked it up - Possible but I imagine it is unlikely Holgate understands Portuguese, or that other players can remember exactly what was said in a language that they don't understand.
1d) The referee doesn't hear/understand it but other players nearby do - meaning the referee can't send him off but there is evidence from other players or TV cameras which would be enough to find Firmino guilty in an FA investigation - Possible but again it seems unlikely that the referee didn't hear it given he was stood between the two of them, more likely that the referee didn't understand, but I also imagine it to be unlikely that any of the other players nearby (Lallana, Kenny, Robertson, Davies) would speak Portuguese.
2a) Holgate mishears something in English - Possible, referees statement and that of players nearby and possibly the TV camera footage should clear this up.
2b) Holgate misinterprets what is Firmino says in Portuguese for something racist - Possible although again it seems unlikely that Holgate speaks Portuguese, unless someone else nearby or TV cameras picked up what was said it seems unlikely that there would be enough to charge Firmino
2c) Holgate doesn't understand what Firmino is saying but assumes it's racial abuse - Seems unlikely that you would assume something you don't understand is racist.
3) This would be a very uncomfortable situation as he would not only be risking damaging Firmino's career and reputation by making such an allegation, but he is undermining all the work done by a lot of people to get racism out of the game. No real implications for this regarding FA charges as there would be no evidence that Firmino racially abused him because he didn't, also unlikely that there would be enough evidence to prove that Holgate made it up. - Possible but I would have to say it should be very unlikely that a professional player would do something like this.Last edited by Exiled_red; 06-01-18, 08:41 PM.The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved.Comment
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He didn’t say ****....****ing abused the pleb Holgate in Portuguese and that’s it. Racism my ****ing arse...."Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." Bob PaisleyComment
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I can't believe he said anything racist but the whole thing is such a shame after Brewster's revelations.Really?Comment
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