Roberto Firmino

[Nicey]

As far as I remember a red card punishment has been increased from 3 games many times for many different reasons and it's within the power of the FA to do that.

I suspect the referees mic is not recorded but the mic and proximity of the referees means that all 4 officials should have heard everything, not just that referee.

Moving forward I hope they do start recording the referees mic if it's not already and even consider putting mics on all the players.

Let's be clear, if Firmino did utter any racist language and as a club we know he did then WE should throw the book at him and help the FA in every way possible. We should not cover it up and we should not defend him.

However, based on the information currently publicly available I don't think he did and obviously hope he didn't.

Regarding Holgate, I would like to think that he misheard or misunderstood what was said and he only gets retrospectively punished for the second push, which clearly should have been a straight red.

I think it's impossible to know or prove he intentionally made a false accusation and it would not help in the fight against racism to accuse him of doing so. So overall I think it is in everyone's best interest to just drop that line of attack.

I disagree ... you cannot go around accusing people of people racist unless you are 100% sure, if you are not and you go ahead and make the accusation anyway, you should be in serious trouble. You are damaging a persons reputation. Bobby will have this ****ing shadow over his head now regardless. Two wrongs do not make a right. He pushes someone into the advertising boards at speed, then falsey accuses him of racism, throw the book at him.

[Alex]

The way Holgate reacted it was clear something was said, or more likely he 'thought' something was said.

I think itll turn to something and nothing tbh.

[RichC]

Holgate has lost his head and I’m hoping he has just misunderstood what was said by Bob, his reaction clearly thinks something along the racist lines has been said but hopefully he’s wrong and he was confused in the heat of the moment.

The lack of reaction by players around them and officials makes me think this might be the case but until its been fully investigated we just don’t know, one things for sure though after the Suárez debacle we should certainly wait and see how this unfolds.

What’s the betting Bob gets a ban anyway for abusivie language

[Nicey]

He heard Puta ... and thought he just called me N !! then told the ref ... He called me N !!! the referee obviously did not hear that because he would have to send him off and knowing that an allegation has occurred he told the 4th official.

I am sorry I am not buying this its a misunderstanding line ... thats very serious accusation and one which lingers you better be dam sure the person actually called you that otherwise, you should have the equal amount of punishment coming your way for a totally baseless accusation.

[RedReet]

Has Firmino ever even picked up a red card for us? I know he's got a few yellows for removing his shirt, but has he ever been punished for any form of violent behaviour?

[Rigadon]

Holgate has lost his head and I’m hoping he has just misunderstood what was said by Bob, his reaction clearly thinks something along the racist lines has been said but hopefully he’s wrong and he was confused in the heat of the moment.

The lack of reaction by players around them and officials makes me think this might be the case but until its been fully investigated we just don’t know, one things for sure though after the Suárez debacle we should certainly wait and see how this unfolds.

What’s the betting Bob gets a ban anyway for abusivie language

Wouldn't be surprised but then all payers should be banned. Firmino's angry reaction was quite natural and reasonable (I'm assuming Holgate wasn't racially abused).

[Zapater]

I’d be really surprised if there is anything in this.

The young lad was clearly fired up, aware that he might be about to be sent off and confronted by Fiirminos shiny teeth and his big new do.

Firmino just doesn’t seem like the sort of player or person to be calling other players “******”. Particularly given the skin colour of many of his team mates. Suárez was a different personality, played on the edge and took chances he used a word that he new to be provocative but (so far as I remember) culturally to him one that was not racist. Firmino seems a lot cooler, so to believe Firmino was capable of chucking out an ‘N’ bomb just stretches credulity a little too far.

I’m calling at best crossed wires and a mix up, at worst an attempt on a another players reputation.

It's not just the teammates. Both Firmino and Suarez are dark skinned themselves and are definitely considered people of colour in large portions of the world. There is very little difference between Holgate and Firmino. Obviously just because someone is dark skinned doesn't mean they are allowed free reign re racism (a la Ferdinand), however the media is portraying it in a completely different way - as they did in the Suarez case, overlooking that fact.

[Alex]

He heard Puta ... and thought he just called me N !! then told the ref ... He called me N !!! the referee obviously did not hear that because he would have to send him off and knowing that an allegation has occurred he told the 4th official.

I am sorry I am not buying this its a misunderstanding line ... thats very serious accusation and one which lingers you better be dam sure the person actually called you that otherwise, you should have the equal amount of punishment coming your way for a totally baseless accusation.

Case closed then. Nicey thinks its all bollocks so no need to check.

Isnt it possible a misunderstanding has happened? At all? Its not like Holgate has gone to the press and sold a story on it. Its been dealt with properly and not the authorities have to deal with it.

It is a serious accusation, which is why it cant be dismissed as bollocks.

[Kenneth]

It certainly can be by us. For me, all things considered, the most likely explanation is that it's bollocks. I could be wrong of course, but that applies to pretty much all things that any of us form an opinion on. Obviously the FA aren't going use the same reasoning and nor should they, but then neither I or Nicey have said that they don't need to check.

[Exiled_red]

As far as I remember a red card punishment has been increased from 3 games many times for many different reasons and it's within the power of the FA to do that.

I suspect the referees mic is not recorded but the mic and proximity of the referees means that all 4 officials should have heard everything, not just that referee.

Moving forward I hope they do start recording the referees mic if it's not already and even consider putting mics on all the players.

Let's be clear, if Firmino did utter any racist language and as a club we know he did then WE should throw the book at him and help the FA in every way possible. We should not cover it up and we should not defend him.

However, based on the information currently publicly available I don't think he did and obviously hope he didn't.

Regarding Holgate, I would like to think that he misheard or misunderstood what was said and he only gets retrospectively punished for the second push, which clearly should have been a straight red.

I think it's impossible to know or prove he intentionally made a false accusation and it would not help in the fight against racism to accuse him of doing so. So overall I think it is in everyone's best interest to just drop that line of attack.

[Darkon]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fa-probe-mason-holgates-allegation-11813218

"Mirror Sport understands Madley has included the incident in the report he has submitted to the FA, saying that he did not hear Firmino use the N-word during the exchange between the players."

[Kenneth]

The reaction to this accusation has been rather muted I think, ignoring the rabid masses on twitter. Has Clarke Carlisle gone missing again?

[Big-Red-Ed]

Presuming the FA find no evidence that the N word was used I don't think Holgate will get a ban for that. Simply because I think it would send out the wrong message. They will accept his word that that's what he thought he heard.
****er should get a ban for violent conduct for the push.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Kenneth]

He won't get a punishment, no. It would send out the right message imo, but that's only because I don't think his claim was genuinely made, but anyone giving him the benefit of the doubt would see an accuser punished which could indeed deter others from coming forward, which would be a bad thing obviously. And he won't get punished for the push either as an extension of that.

[EwarWoo]

Pretty much, if that's the case. 1 match ban for the push, benefit of doubt he believed what he heard, Firmino cleared, everyone move on.