In the last week or so, two footballers - Patrice Evra and Anton Ferdinand - have claimed they were racially abused by opposition players. In both cases, the accused have denied the accusation.
Here's Doughty's advice:
Things may not be perfect but, at the end of the day, Gary, there are worse things to complain about.
So, Mr Evra and Mr Ferdinand, I know you feel insulted. But perhaps in this case you could just put up with it and get on with the game.
He adds:
Every club seems to be promoting a kick racism out of football campaign, beyond the point of boredom.
And that campaign has responded to Doughty:
Show Racism the Red Card is appalled by Steve Doughty’s article...
It is ludicrous to suggest that players should simply “put up with” racist abuse.
Racism should never be tolerated – unless we want to return to the days where widespread racist abuse was a weekly feature of football, ‘putting up and shutting up’ is not an option. We cannot achieve equality by ignoring racism, equality is something that we must continually strive towards. This is something that football clubs clearly recognise through their ongoing support of anti-racism initiatives, such as the work of Show Racism the Red Card. The steps that have been taken to remove racism from the game are numerous and include: improved legislation, education, fans’ campaigns and bans for racist supporters; these combined actions have all had a positive impact on reducing levels of racism within stadia.
Doughty argues that football clubs are “promoting a kick racism out of football campaign, beyond the point of boredom.” It is revealing that Doughty sees anti-racism campaigns as tedious, as if he believes racism to be a thing of the past, a topic we no longer need to address.
(Hat-tip to Brett)
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This, after all, the Daily Mail, the epitome of white, middle-class self-importance, and newspaper of choice for reactionary bigots, xenophobes, and those sitting on a mountain of barely contained impotent rage.
ReplyDeleteyeah if your racially abused just get on with it if your house gets burned down by racist yobs just get on with it if racists march through your area then just get on with it if your attacked by racists then just get on with it. after all there are worse things that can happen
ReplyDeleteSo, I presume it'll be perfectly all right for me to turn up at Steve Doughty's work and hurl abuse at him as he goes about his daily business, then. Great!
ReplyDelete"There are worse things to complain about" – this is a total non sequitur and could just as well apply to almost anything.
ReplyDeleteThere are worse things to complain about ....... like bin collections *eye roll*
ReplyDeleteThere are worse things to complain about? Like political correctness, presumably.
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase: Every tabloid seems to be promoting a kick political correctnessout of Britain campaign, beyond the point of boredom.
Anton Ferdinand didn't complain about being racially abused, by the way. Evra did, but the Terry affair came out as a result of being caught on camera supposedly making a racist remark.
ReplyDeleteWhat an utterly disgusting article from a despicable human being.
ReplyDeleteThis part nails it for me: "It is revealing that Doughty sees anti-racism campaigns as tedious, as if he believes racism to be a thing of the past, a topic we no longer need to address." Within the last year, I've heard supporters at a Championship game use the N word to refer to a black opposition player who just scored against their team. Racism in football is still alive and disgusting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad fact of life that racism still exists on the football field and in the stands, but to suggest that players should "put up with it" is a highly dangerous suggestion.
ReplyDeleteRacist remarks should NEVER be acceptable, Mr. Doughty.
In the interest of balance the kick it out campaign is a bit of a farce. Several everton players complained about racist remarks during a game against newcastle. The fa did nothing about it and as a result the players subsequently stopped supporting the campaign.
ReplyDelete