As 2011 slowly drew to a close and 2012 emerged in its wake, it looked as if we could be in for a year of progression and groundbreaking changes as physicists pondered over particles that have the potential to change the way we view the world. Then, to mar the budding revolution, an old foe, racism, began to rear its ugly head once again, and sent us back decades.
Unfortunately, most of this racism was born out of sport, more specifically football, and if there is anyone who doesn’t need to stir up any more contempt, it is the players of our national sport.
The stance of Liverpool Football Club on the Luis Suarez case is beyond absurd. How a club can continue to give their unbridled backing to a man found guilty of racial abuse when they compete in such a multicultural league, residing in such a multicultural society, is beyond me. It gets worse too, as this racism is now spreading to the fans. Mere weeks after Suarez was found guilty and handed his ban by the Football Association, a supporter of the very same football club was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Oldham Athletic’s Tom Adeyemi from the stands.
As well as the court, Liverpool themselves now have a duty to deal with this man in some form, yet why should Suarez be worthy of their full support when this so called football fan is not? I’m not sure “because he’s their star striker and he’s paid a fortune every week” is a particularly valid answer.
The fact that this high profile racism case has seemingly led to these attitudes, once again, becoming prevalent in the crowds is extremely worrying. It is possible that Liverpool’s stance on Suarez has led this fan to feel his outburst is somehow acceptable. Now, I do not want this piece to become an outlet for bashing Liverpool FC (I can save that for The Courtyard at the weekend) but there is no excuse for racism in today’s society, and whilst they are far from encouraging racism, they are doing far too little to help kick it out.
Elsewhere there’s no surprise that our good friend Twitter, that online hot-bed of controversy, has also become a centre for this re-emergence of racism. Footballer turned pundit and anti-racism activist Stan Collymore found himself victim of racial abuse on the website in early January whilst Diane Abbott, the first black female MP, recently apologised for saying that “white people love playing divide and rule” with the black population.
I can’t help but feel sad at both of these particular cases. The fact that a man who is striving to remove an ugly form of hatred from our society is being subjected to it is nothing short of despicable. Collymore has done all of this work on something he is clearly passionate about, only to have it thrown back in his face. With regards to Abbott, I can’t help but feel hugely disappointed that she still harbours such views, but disappointed not only at her but at society for giving her such an impression.
It is clear, therefore, that in a time of advancing technology, a time at which we perch expectantly on the edge of a scientific revolution, that the problem of racism is still very much existent. If we can’t shed the mistaken attitudes of the past, it doesn’t really feel like we’re progressing at all.
“yet why should Suarez be worthy of their full support”
Because the Club reiterate their stance they do not believe him to be guilty. The ONLY evidence in the report (which I’m sure you haven’t read as Vision writers rarely bother to check facts) is the word of Evra. Liverpool have chosen to back their own member of staff ahead of the word of another. I’m sure you’d like your employer to do the same with the lack of evidence.
“It is possible that Liverpool’s stance on Suarez has led this fan to feel his outburst is somehow acceptable.”
Horseshit. Also this case is going through court, so be careful.
Well, to be fair, the FA had Evra’s evidence, camera footage, and most importantly Suarez’s admission that he used a certain phrase. Even the biggest Liverpool/Suarez fan can’t argue that he hasn’t said what the FA deem to be racist. The only case is whether the phrase can legitimately be passed as an innocent colloquialism based on suarez’s country of birth. Personally, the notion that you refer to the colour of someone’s skin because that’s normal where you come from is a pretty poor defence
There was no camera evidence.
I would like to amend the first comment… Suarez admitted that he said exactly what Evra accused him of. His only defence was that in South America the term he used would not be offensive and is a common phrase. Fact Police, you are a moron.
No he didn’t.
There was camera evidence. Read the report.
“[I kicked you (Evra)] because you are black”
“I don’t speak to blacks”
Horseshit?
He denies saying that. That was Evras claim.
Whether he did or nots another matter, but don’t say somebody has admitted to saying something they haven’t.