Well, it’s been a while since I wrote, and once again it seems to be not about the football but about the crowd inside Anfield.
Before I go any further let’s remember, contrary to what the Daily Mirror published 30 minutes after the final whistle, no arrests or charges have been made by Merseyside Police in connection with racial abuse. Granted, like anyone who watched the match last night, the scenes involving young Tom Adeyemi, look at first glance to be racially related. The fact his friends came out on Twitter almost instantly after speaking to him seems to underline this.
Also though, let us remember Tom had his back to the crowd and heard something shouted at him from 30 yards away from a fan sat in the Kop, who were in full voice at the time.
Now, I’m not saying it didn’t happen, far from it, but what I am saying is that my wife told me, only half an hour ago (from 5 feet) that her friend was coming over for a cup of tea. When she left and the door shut, it was only then after I asked her out the window where she was going that she said she was going out to her friends. I had mistakenly heard what she said. It happens all the time (not just to me).
The fact is Liverpool FC in its defence of Luis Suarez has gained a ‘racist reputation’ from the media and when a young black lad heard someone shout at him from the Kop then maybe because of this media tag he misconstrued “You Manc bastard” to be “You black bastard”. Or maybe on the other hand one lone dickhead in the Kop did shout “You black bastard”. Whatever happened it was obvious it visibly upset Tom and he was right to report it to Merseyside Police, who in conjunction with Liverpool FC will investigate the matter seriously and I have no doubt, if found that this one fan did shout something racial, then he will receive a football banning order at the minimum as a result of his actions.
However, contrary to any investigation being started or finished, it seems that ALL Liverpool FC fans are now construed as racist and that it is an abhorrent problem that runs deep in the very veins of the club.
Although before Patrice Evra claimed Suarez called him a “Nigg*r” 10 times, which was rescinded to 5 then upped to 7 and changed to “Black” no racial problem has been seen at Anfield for many, many, many years.
The way the media are banging on it would appear that all Liverpool fans are inherently racist; something I’m sure players from Gayle to Babel would have heard and come out in protest at many times.
I deplore racism, as a father I have brought my children up not to see colour but the person beneath, the very children I take to the match at Anfield. I have also brought them up to not judge a society by the actions of one person.
It seems that those in the public eye, most associated to racial harmony are now prejudging all Liverpool fans also. This afternoon Piara Power, the head of European footballs anti racism group openly stated on Twitter:
“Are LFC fans going to do this at every game support the mistakes made by their own man by abusing others? 25% of PL players are black.”
This sort of generalisation against a group of people only this week landed Diane Abbott in mildly warm water. I would hate to think what would happen to me if I generalised on groups of people from one section of society based on the actions of one
All this stuff going on at the moment with Suarez just shows how sensationalising situations with little fact and almost all speculation actually inflames the situation rather than dowsing down the flames.
ReplyDeleteTo call Liverpool a racist club when the likes of John Barnes couldnt take a corner without being bombarded by bananas because the club was willing to challenge and take on the inherent racism in the game at that time is absolutely pathetic and shameful.
The incident involving Tom Adeyeme is still under investigation so I cant really comment on the outcome of that case other than to say 'if' anybody is found guilty then they will face the full wrath of the judicial system in due course.
Since I wrote this Merseyside Police have charged a 20 year old man from Aintree on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the outcome of this arrest, one man's alleged actions do not define a people, city or football club.
As abhorrent racism is, it is also abhorrent to label over 100 million people worldwide as racist.
The supporters are fully behind Liverpool Football Club and it's message displayed on the official website:
Racism has no place at Liverpool Football Club. We're bigger than that.
Interesting to note that Howard Gayle (who was fiercely confrontational when faced with overt racism) and John Barnes (whose stylish back-heel on the bananas thrown at him spoke volumes about what he went through) both came out in support of Suarez. There's obviously the LFC connection but at the same time I'd say they both did what the vast majority of LFC fans (& a minority of other club fans - including my Bluenose mate!) which is to read all the issues involved and decide for themselves that the FA's decision was farcical and led by their own agenda.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the knee-jerk reactionary and shit excuse of a free media this country has loves nothing more than moralising and lecturing us in their point of view, which has amped up the hysteria against us. It may well be that someone shouted something racial at Tom Adeyemi and if so then the person responsible needs to be arrested and banned from Anfield. But if Adeyemi was mistaken then the media needs to report this responsibly. This won't happen of course so it's up to all LFC fans to be vigilant....because no one's going to help us.