Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has insisted that despite Luis Suarez's 'conviction' last night, racism is not major problem in English football.
In a press conference earlier today, Redknapp was asked if he thought racism was prevalent in football, to which he responded:
"No I've never thought that, no [that racism is a problem in football].
"I don't know if there can be. You come into a dressing room, I've got as many black players here as white players so I don’t see where there should be a problem.
“They are all mates. They all play together, they all get on great together. It's not in my mind that those things happen anymore."
However, Redknapp agreed that anyone found guilty of racism should be punished, and indirectly suggested that people should not be so quick to judge Suarez:
"There's no place for racism in sport or in life so I’ve got no time for it, and if somebody is definitely guilty then they have to take the consequences that's for sure, but I wouldn't be sitting here judging Suarez as I don't know what he said"
Suarez received an eight-match ban and fine of £40,000 for making racist remarks to Patrice Evra.
Jaimie Kanwar
In a press conference earlier today, Redknapp was asked if he thought racism was prevalent in football, to which he responded:
"No I've never thought that, no [that racism is a problem in football].
"I don't know if there can be. You come into a dressing room, I've got as many black players here as white players so I don’t see where there should be a problem.
“They are all mates. They all play together, they all get on great together. It's not in my mind that those things happen anymore."
However, Redknapp agreed that anyone found guilty of racism should be punished, and indirectly suggested that people should not be so quick to judge Suarez:
"There's no place for racism in sport or in life so I’ve got no time for it, and if somebody is definitely guilty then they have to take the consequences that's for sure, but I wouldn't be sitting here judging Suarez as I don't know what he said"
Suarez received an eight-match ban and fine of £40,000 for making racist remarks to Patrice Evra.
Jaimie Kanwar
So we are going to see Mr Kanwar bring a whole load of articles tending to the pro-Suarez angle I suppose
ReplyDeleteBut fair play, it is a liverpool site after all. Rose-tinted is the way on such pro sites.
How is this pro-Suarez? He is publishing popular figures' opinions on the sensitive matter.
ReplyDeleteWhat research have you put into this? What is your stance?
Baggies as in WBA?
ReplyDeleteNow South American countries are going to block British flag bearing ships from the Falkland Islands docking at their ports are the two things connected???? Uruguay weren't playing ball with Argentina last week now they are!
ReplyDeleteCan you blame them? England has labelled the entire country (and region) racist. Negro is a perfectly acceptable word in Uruguay and other Latin American countries. The FA approved it, now the Entire British press are running with it.
ReplyDeleteYou have no 'locus standi' or legal standing to comment on Suarez. Just shut up, you former West Ham player.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder if some europeans and Americans even know what racism is any more. We have been harping on about it so vociferously for so long that some people seem a little confused. Racism is the belief that people of some races are inferior to others. Thanks to the racists in our society, certain words have become associated with this concept. In places where racism is not seen as an issue the language hang ups are much less extreme.
ReplyDeleteFor instance this discussion about referring to people by an aspect of their appearance. Where I am from I have been regularly in my life called things like Morenito (brown), el negrito (as a young tanned beach bum) and even el ebreo (the jew) but none of these names were used with malice. By the way, I am caucasian although I do tan pretty dark :)
I saw the comment from Botswana expressing outrage and I understand that coming from that area of the world where racism was a defining issue for so long. But. . .in my opinion we need to learn the difference between racists (who need to be educated or at least prevented from causing harm) and people to whom race is such a non issue that it does not occur to them that offence might be taken.
Personally I find the whole racist issue a distraction from what I see as the real issue here - discrimination. Discrimination can be done on any difference between people of which skin colour is but one. I dont believe Suarez discriminated against Evra, and wish Evra had manned up and played on rather than try to seek an off field advantage over a fellow proffesional who even Evra states he does not believe is a racist