Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Kicking racism out of football
The decision of Jason Roberts, Rio Ferdinand, the Swansea City Football team and other footballers not to wear Kick It Out T-shirts last weekend has certainly started a debate as to whether racism can ever be properly removed from the game as well as whether the work being carried out by a particular organisation is sufficient or not.
Over at the BBC, Richard Langley, an English-born Jamaican international who played for QPR, Cardiff City and Luton Town during a 12-year career in the Football League, writes about his experiences of racism in the game and discusses what should be done to stamp it out. He raises some important issues:
There have been too many high-profile people encouraging us to sweep the issue of racism under the carpet.
Even Sepp Blatter, the president of world governing body Fifa, has encouraged players who suffer racial abuse on the pitch to resolve it with a handshake at the end.
What has been most frustrating is that these opinions have been printed quite freely. Yet search for opposing views and they are not as visible.
The fact that this racist behaviour is wrong and should be punished has almost been silenced, perhaps through fear of legal ramifications.
Liverpool's decision to support Luis Suarez was both disappointing and foolish. Likewise, Chelsea were wrong to back Terry.
It appears some players are untouchable.
Following the incidents in Serbia, the Football Association urged Uefa, which governs football in Europe, to take action against the Serbian FA. I totally agree with this response. However, it also angers me. We do not seem to have our own house in order yet are quick to criticise others.
Let me explain.
In my view, the FA showed too much loyalty to Terry. It may have taken the England captaincy from him but he remained in the squad, until deciding to retire from international duty.
Yet look back and what happened when other England players transgressed?
Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer were suspended from the England squad while they awaited trial for the alleged assault of an Asian student.
Alan Smith was omitted from the England squad while he waited for an FA hearing into claims he threw a bottle back into the crowd during a match.
And Rio Ferdinand was dropped by England following allegations he missed a drugs test.
Why were the goalposts moved to accommodate Terry?
I think that explains why many players resented the pressure to wear T-shirts, however in my view there should have been other ways to make their perfectly valid point. That is because the T shirt demonstration was not just about reinforcing a particular campaign, it should also have been a statement of solidarity against those who demonstrate racist behaviour, especially amongst fans.
Those who do exhibit such unacceptable behaviour may take comfort in the fact that the campaign to tackle racism is divided in this way. Yes, the authorities need to act on their own statements in a more consistent way and show no tolerance of racist behavour, but the players too have to be united in this regard.
The FA must bring all the parties together and resolve this dispute as soon as possible before the campaign falls apart in acrimony.
Over at the BBC, Richard Langley, an English-born Jamaican international who played for QPR, Cardiff City and Luton Town during a 12-year career in the Football League, writes about his experiences of racism in the game and discusses what should be done to stamp it out. He raises some important issues:
There have been too many high-profile people encouraging us to sweep the issue of racism under the carpet.
Even Sepp Blatter, the president of world governing body Fifa, has encouraged players who suffer racial abuse on the pitch to resolve it with a handshake at the end.
What has been most frustrating is that these opinions have been printed quite freely. Yet search for opposing views and they are not as visible.
The fact that this racist behaviour is wrong and should be punished has almost been silenced, perhaps through fear of legal ramifications.
Liverpool's decision to support Luis Suarez was both disappointing and foolish. Likewise, Chelsea were wrong to back Terry.
It appears some players are untouchable.
Following the incidents in Serbia, the Football Association urged Uefa, which governs football in Europe, to take action against the Serbian FA. I totally agree with this response. However, it also angers me. We do not seem to have our own house in order yet are quick to criticise others.
Let me explain.
In my view, the FA showed too much loyalty to Terry. It may have taken the England captaincy from him but he remained in the squad, until deciding to retire from international duty.
Yet look back and what happened when other England players transgressed?
Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer were suspended from the England squad while they awaited trial for the alleged assault of an Asian student.
Alan Smith was omitted from the England squad while he waited for an FA hearing into claims he threw a bottle back into the crowd during a match.
And Rio Ferdinand was dropped by England following allegations he missed a drugs test.
Why were the goalposts moved to accommodate Terry?
I think that explains why many players resented the pressure to wear T-shirts, however in my view there should have been other ways to make their perfectly valid point. That is because the T shirt demonstration was not just about reinforcing a particular campaign, it should also have been a statement of solidarity against those who demonstrate racist behaviour, especially amongst fans.
Those who do exhibit such unacceptable behaviour may take comfort in the fact that the campaign to tackle racism is divided in this way. Yes, the authorities need to act on their own statements in a more consistent way and show no tolerance of racist behavour, but the players too have to be united in this regard.
The FA must bring all the parties together and resolve this dispute as soon as possible before the campaign falls apart in acrimony.
Comments:
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"Following the incidents in Serbia, the Football Association urged Uefa, which governs football in Europe, to take action against the Serbian FA. I totally agree with this response. However, it also angers me. We do not seem to have our own house in order yet are quick to criticise others."
The FA are the custodians of the English game. So the term 'WE' doesn't fit here at all.
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The FA are the custodians of the English game. So the term 'WE' doesn't fit here at all.
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