FA to change penalties after John Terry and Luis Suarez incidents

Posted on December 9, 2012 by adminsports

FA ready to stamp on racists with new punishments for abuse

UPDATED:

21:54 GMT, 8 December 2012

The FA is ready to introduce mandatory eight-game bans for any racial abuse in the wake of the John Terry affair.

And clubs whose players are repeat offenders could also be charged and fined under new guidelines being drawn up to revamp the FA regulations on combating racism.

The FA's independent disciplinary commission were criticised after only imposing a four-game ban on Chelsea captain Terry after he was found to have racially abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand

Controversy: Chelsea's John Terry (right) was banned for four matches after being found guilty of abusing Anton Ferdinand (centre)

Liverpool's Luis Suarez only received an eight-game ban after he was ruled to have repeatedly abused Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra.

However, from next season any incident of proven racial abuse will result in at least an eight-game ban, with the possibility of those found guilty missing 10 or 12 matches under discussion.

And a rule which would allow the FA to charge and fine clubs for the actions of their players is a further attempt to ensure clubs communicate the importance of the issue.

Steven Gerrard demands UEFA take action over racists

Posted on October 18, 2012 by adminsports

Gerrard demands UEFA take action over racist thugs who abused English youngsters

UPDATED:

22:59 GMT, 17 October 2012

England skipper Steven Gerrard believes football's battle to overcome racism is 'back to square one' after the scenes surrounding the Under-21 clash in Serbia.

England Under 21 player Danny Rose complained of being racially abused and enduring monkey chants before violent scenes broke out at the end of the Euro 2013 play-off game in Krusevac.

Tottenham's Rose, on loan at Sunderland, was sent off for his reaction to what he clearly felt was racist abuse, something the Serbian FA have denied.

Demands: Steven Gerrard (right) wants action taken against racists

UEFA announced charges against both the Serbian FA and the English, for improper conduct of their players, and against the Serbs for 'alleged racist chanting' by fans.

Gerrard, speaking after England's 1-1 draw in Poland, is calling for the footballing authorities to act and hand out severe punishments.

He said: 'The disappointing thing with what happened last night is it means you are back to square one.

'We seemed to be making great strides forward to get it (racism) out of our game.

Turning ugly: Violent scenes broke out during England's game in Serbia

'With a situation like last night, it brings it back to square one.

'It is very disappointing but a lot of people above me need to take control of the situation.

'The authorities have to get tough. It is the only solution. No-one else can do anything about it.

'They are the people in control, who can give out massive huge fines and ban people. Why wait Do it now.'

Disgraceful scenes: Players of both Serbia and England clash on the pitch

England striker Jermain Defoe echoed Gerrard's sentiments.

He said: 'I've had a few texts and, from what I understand, it was tough out there for the boys.

'Under 21s and seniors are such big games to play in and all you want to do is to be equal to everyone else.

'If you are getting those sort of chants, it is not nice. It is not nice to experience anything like that.'

Serbia v England Under 21s: Danny Rose called for Serbia ban after mass brawl and racist abuse ruins night

Posted on October 17, 2012 by adminsports

Ban these racists! After suffering deplorable abuse, Rose
calls for Serbia to be kicked out (but UEFA don't even report it on website…)

UPDATED:

10:58 GMT, 17 October 2012

Danny Rose has demanded that Serbia be given a ban from international football after he was subjected to 90 minutes of racist abuse in Tuesday night's Under-21 European Championship play-off.

The England youngster said monkey chants were directed at him even during the warm-up in Krusevac and continued throughout the game.

/10/17/article-0-1588C274000005DC-191_634x453.jpg” width=”634″ height=”453″ alt=”Reaction: Danny Rose (right) made a monkey gesture to the crowd after allegedly receiving racist abuse” class=”blkBorder” />

Reaction: Danny Rose (right) made a monkey gesture to the crowd after allegedly receiving racist abuse

Dismissed: Rose is shown a red card by referee Huseyin Gocek after kicking the ball into the crowd in reaction to being subjected to racist abuse

Consoled: Jack Butland comforts Danny Rose as the England team leave the field

Sportsmail Comment

How much longer do we have to put up with the sickening racism that accompanies so many of England’s games against eastern European opposition

The shameful scenes in Serbia were depressingly familiar – vile chants and racism from the fans and disgraceful provocation and punch-ups on the pitch.

The last time this happened to England’s Under 21s five years ago, Serbia were fined a pitiful 16,000 by a spineless UEFA. What a pathetic deterrent that turned out to be. This time, though, there has to be a punishment to fit the crime.

And that must mean expulsion from international football for Serbia. Nothing else will do if this night of shame is not to be repeated yet again.

Stuart Pearce's team won 1-0 on the
night courtesy of a stoppage time Conor Wickham goal and reached their
fourth consecutive European Championship finals.

But violence erupted at the final
whistle as Serbian players, coaching staff and supporters confronted the
England team in 'disgraceful' scenes.

Rose was sent off after the end of the
game for a second bookable offence after kicking the ball into the
crowd and he made gestures to the Serbian fans as he walked off.

The Tottenham Hotspur winger,
currently on loan at Sunderland, said he had been subjected to racist
abuse every time he went near the crowd.

Rose told Sky Sports News: 'They
started the monkey chanting straight away. I asked the lads if they
could hear it and they said they could hear it.

'Halfway through the warm-up I went to 'Wigs' [Steve Wigley], the assistant manager, and told him what was happening.

Video of the sickening monkey chants at the final whistle

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Brawl: The fight breaks out between England and Serbia Under 21s on Tuesday night

'He said I had to try my best to get through it and they would deal with it straight away after the game.

'Every time I went to get the ball for
a throw-in, the fans started monkey chants. I was hit in the head by
two stones thrown from the crowd.

'After 60 minutes, my mind wasn't really on the game. I was so angry and it was so hard to concentrate.

'I could have cost the lads the game by making mistakes through not concentrating.'

Disgraceful scenes: Players of both Serbia and England clash on the pitch after the final whistle

Rose said his emotions boiled over at
the final whistle, seconds after England has secured their passage to
the finals in Israel 2-0 on aggregate.

He added: 'We'd scored and after 90 minutes of racist abuse I just expressed my emotions when we scored.

'The next thing I know, the Serbian players have run over, surrounded me and they're pushing me.

'I remember getting slapped twice and then I got ushered away. I've kicked the
ball and he's sent me off even though the game has finished by then.

'As I walked off there was monkey chanting again. They have to be banned – I don't understand how they can run from it.'

But in an ominous sign, a UEFA website report of the match failed to mention either the racist abuse or the brawl at the final whistle.

Rose's dismissal was given a fleeting mention but the reason wasn't provided and quotes from Pearce didn't allude to the disgraceful events at all.

No mention: UEFA's official online match report didn't talk about the incidents at all

TODAY'S POLL

Should shameful Serbia be thrown out of football

Yes

VOTE

Serbia

POLL RESULTS

All polls
Click to view yesterday's poll results

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In horrendous scenes at the end, a mass brawl erupted between players and coaches.

England goalkeeping coach Martin
Thomas was butted and assistant head coach Steve Wigley was kicked in
the stomach. England goalkeeper Jack Butland also had a seat thrown at
him.

The FA will demand
UEFA take action and head coach Pearce was appalled. He said: ‘It was
quite disgraceful. The scenes at the end were very sad.

Assault: England coach Martin Thomas is headbutted by a member of the Serbian coaching team (right) as Stuart Pearce looks on

Twitter reaction

RIO FERDINAND @rioferdy5
England and Man United defender

'Let's see if UEFA are serious or will they just treat this U21 incident as a minor… as they have before with their laughable punishments..'

ANTON FERDINAND @anton_ferdinand
QPR defender

'I wonder if Blatter is gonna say they should just shake hands!'

STAN COLLYMORE @StanCollymore
talkSPORT presenter

'Seen 3 runs of post match scenes in Serbia now. Verdict. Ban them from competitive football for 12 months,let them stew.Fines not working. A tournament ban would be acceptable.We know that won’t happen though. Expect Serbian FA to raid the shrapnel from their sofa for the fine.'

BENIK AFOBE @Afobe
Bolton striker

'Horrible scenes by Serbia players, staff and fans at the end of the England u21 game. Their nation should be ashamed. #Disgraceful'

JASON ROBERTS @JasonRoberts30
Reading striker

'DRose, well done! I propose next time everyone walks STRAIGHT OFF THE PITCH!!! Then we will see how quickly “authorities” take to sort it… I am FULLY condoning ALL Players picking up the ball and walking off the pitch..at ANY LEVEL..GAME DONE!! See how quickly things change…'

TITUS BRAMBLE @19tmb
Sunderland defender

'Its a disgrace the way the serbians have acted in the u21 game. Uefa will look into it and fine serbia virtually nothing. Its embarrassing'

'One
or two of the technical staff from the opposition, and I don't include
their manager in that, didn't cover themselves in glory on the pitch at
the end.

'Punches, headbutts were thrown, and God knows what else. We will let the authorities deal with this at UEFA.

'I’m very proud of the way my players
behaved. It got very volatile very quickly. But you could see the
collectiveness among the staff and the players in the way we all looked
out for each other.

'All we know is we have given a good
account of ourselves over two matches, we have won nine out of 10
matches in qualification and I am very proud of my team.'

Pearce added: 'It is very sad, but we are united as a team and a staff. A
lot is happening in our country with regard to stamping out racism and I
am very proud of the reaction of our players towards the end.

'It is a real shame because over two
ties, it was a really close game – two good teams going hammer and tongs
at each other.

'It is just a shame it was soured in the last few minutes
of the second leg of the tie.

'The important
thing, when the dust settles, is we are going to a championship because
we deserved to over two legs.

'Our players have put a lot of hard
effort and sweat to get there. There is a real collectiveness here. We
will let the authorities deal with this.'

An FA statement said: ‘The FA
condemns both the scenes of racism and the confrontation at the final
whistle during which time our players and staff were under extreme
provocation.

'The FA has reported a number of incidents of racism to
UEFA. These were seemingly aimed at a number of England’s black players
by the crowd.’

The FA's stance was immediately supported by Kick It Out chairman Lord Herman Ouseley.

He said: 'First and foremost, the thoughts of everybody at Kick It Out are with the England under-21 players and coaching staff, and our colleagues at The FA, in Serbia.

'These are ambassadors for our game and to see them treated like this is a disgrace. Tonight's events must be acted upon and the campaign praises The FA for taking swift action in reporting a number of racist incidents to UEFA.

'It is now down to UEFA as the regulatory body governing this fixture to investigate the matter fully, and is an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring incidents like this don't happen again.'

On Wednesday, Downing Street strongly condemned the ugly incidents and called for Serbia to face tough sanctions.

Sports Minister Robertson wrote directly to UEFA President Platini calling for action to be taken.

The minister said: 'The scenes at the end of the game last night were disgraceful. I have written to UEFA president Michel Platini, in support of the FA, urging them to investigate immediately.

'Racism in any form is unacceptable and must be stamped out. We would expect tough sanctions from UEFA on anyone found guilty of racist abuse.'

Prime Minister David Cameron was also 'appalled' by the ugly events.

A Number Ten Downing Street spokesman said: 'He was appalled by the scenes that we have seen in Serbia.

'We are determined to stamp out racism internationally and at home and we are giving our full backing to the FA's complaint on this issue.

'Clearly it is for UEFA to investigate this issue but we would expect tough sanctions. If we are going to stamp out racism from football, then it is no good giving derisory fines, as have been handed out in the past.

'It is not good enough to say that people should shake hands and forget about it.'

Ganging up: England coach Steve Wigley (centre) is thrown to the ground by Serbia players and coaches

Turning ugly: Wigley fights back as the situation escalates at the Mladost Stadium in Krusevac

If UEFA listen to the calls, they
would ban Serbia from the next Under 21 European Championship and
impose stringent sanctions available on their senior team, such as
making them play every home game for the next four years behind closed
doors.

This is not a knee-jerk reaction.
Serbia are repeat offenders. In 2007, when England and Serbia met at
this level at the finals in Holland, Nedum Onuoha was subjected to
racial abuse.

Serbia players also brawled with England at the final
whistle, charging at England’s bench when Matt Derbyshire had made it
2-0. What was the punishment A 16,000 fine. That sends out a message
that these thugs can continue regardless. And they do.

UEFA'S SOFT STANCE ON RACISM

The governing body has an awful track record when making a stand against racism.

In October 2002, the Slovakian football federation received a paltry 18,000 fine after Ashley Cole and Emile Heskey suffered abuse from supporters during a Euro 2004 qualifier in Bratislava.

Cole and Heskey were also abused in Macedonia later in the same qualification campaign, alongside Sol Campbell, but the fine was just 16,500.

When the Croatian FA were reprimanded after their fans were found guilty of racist abuse in a Euro 2008 quarter-final with Turkey, the fine was 10,000.

Racism surfaced once again on England's travels in Bulgaria in September 2011, the local FA received a 34,320 punishment. Ashley Young, Cole and Theo Walcott were targeted.

And at the finals in June, UEFA clamped down on both Russia and Spain for 'improper conduct' and racist abuse, but the combined fine was 40,335.

To put this into perspective, UEFA fined Nicklas Bendtner was fined 80,000 and banned for one match after revealing the logo of a betting company on his underwear while celebrating a goal at Euro 2012.

Trouble starts: A fireman removes a flare thrown onto the pitch by Serbian fans

Tempers frayed: Serbia and England players come together in ugly scenes after the match

The FA's statement in full

'The FA
condemns both the scenes of racism and the confrontation at the final
whistle during which time our players and staff were under extreme
provocation.

'The FA has reported a number of incidents of racism to UEFA following the fixture.

'These were seemingly aimed at a number of England black players by the crowd. The matter is now with UEFA.'

Walking outside the stadium before
kick-off, this did not have the feel of a normal Under 21 game. Groups
of men prowled, casting suspicious, threatening glances at those who
were clearly not locals.

Inside, fireworks were frequently set
off after the game began and at one point, the stadium announcer made a
plea to the Serbian crowd ‘not to throw any more pyrotechnics’.

Still
they continued. Bangs here, little explosions there, they threw a seat,
lighters and coins at Butland and similar at Rose.

Worse would follow in the form of
racist chants. Marvin Sordell appeared to be subjected to them when he
went down for treatment towards the end of the first half and spoke with
referee Huseyin Gocek as he left the field at the break.

The FA reported unspecified
incidents of racism to UEFA at that point. None, it should be noted,
came from any of the Serbia players, just some of the morons in the
seats near to the touchline.

Sadly
it got worse. ‘There was a lot of racist abuse from the stands and a
lot going on after the game, which is hard to take,’ said England
captain Jordan Henderson. ‘It’s not nice but we kept our heads. I don’t
understand why Danny was sent off — I didn’t see he did anything wrong,
other than get abused.’

Fury: England striker Marvin Sordell (right) gives his Serbian counterparts a piece of his mind

Peacemaker: Andros Townsend (centre) separates Danny Rose (left) from Sasa Markovic

Wickham secured England’s passage,
tapping in to give England a 2-0 lead on aggregate. Serbia’s goalkeeper
Branimir Aleksic was up the other end of the field as his side chased
the goal that would have levelled the tie and Tom Ince broke to set up
Wickham.

Unable to take any more abuse, Rose
celebrated in front of Serbia’s fans at the final whistle. At that
point, all hell broke loose. Thomas and Wigley were attacked and punches
were thrown in England’s direction.

Former
England midfielder Paul Ince, father of Tom, fumed: ‘If it was me,
they would be kicked out for the next five tournaments. This takes us
back to the dark ages.’

Punch: Serbia goalkeeping coach Srdjan Maksimovic (centre) raises his fist during a scuffle

Rage: Serbia assistant coach Dejan Govedarica (centre) attempts to keep the opposing players apart

Professional
Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle backed calls for
Serbia to receive a 'significant' international ban.

'You should not have to experience
those scenes in this day and age. It was utterly deplorable behaviour,'
Carlisle told BBC Radio Five.

'It's quite farcical. A guy is racially abused and then he gets punished for containing his reaction to that.

'We
saw how the whole debacle progressed into punching, kicking… We saw
photos of headbutts going on in the staff. But Danny Rose for kicking a
ball away ends up getting himself sent off. This is just wrong.

'UEFA
need to make a standpoint here and more importantly FIFA, I feel,
because it was a FIFA qualification tournament. The message has to come
from the top down that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

‘There were one or two other incidents
which were quite sad that came from the technical staff, not just the
players,’ said Pearce. ‘The authorities will deal with that hopefully.
The one thing I can do is be very proud of our players. Under
provocation, we held our dignity.’

After defending stoically on the field, it would have been easy for England to start swinging back when red shirts came charging. That they stood firm was to their credit. Amazingly Serbia Under 21 coach Aleksander Jankovic refused to accept his squad’s role in the brawl.

He said: ‘For a fight it takes two sides. It is a big question to say it was provoked from our bench. We will analyse it tomorrow. A riot on the pitch It looked a good game to me.’

Yet Pearce had praise for his opposite number. ‘I must commend (former Aston Villa striker and now Serbia technical director) Savo Milosevic, who came to our dressing room and apologised,’ said Pearce. ‘Their manager also conducted himself in a right and proper manner.’

Too few did not. To see Rose march from the pitch and make gestures to those who taunted him, out of sheer heartbreak and rage, was one of the saddest incidents this observer has ever witnessed.

Yet, until UEFA act, these events will continue. Rather than talk about re-jigging tournaments and wondering how much more money they can make, let’s see them take a stand. Do you think they will Draw your own conclusions.

VIDEO: Danny Rose gets sent off after the brawl…

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Euro 2012: Mario Balotelli suffers racist abuse

Posted on June 11, 2012 by adminsports

Balotelli suffers racist abuse as Spaniards aim monkey chants at Italy striker

UPDATED:

09:04 GMT, 11 June 2012

Mario Balotelli was racially abused during his side's Euro 2012 opener as hundreds of Spain fans made monkey noises at the Italy striker.

Just days after reports of the Holland team being on the receiving end of vile abuse during a training session in Krakow, the latest race storm has overshadowed Italy's 1-1 draw with the reigning champions.

Balotelli, who had a frustrating hour on the pitch before being substituted, threatened before the tournament to walk off if he was abused during a match.

Singled out: Mario Balotelli (right) suffered racist abuse before he was subbed as Italy drew with Spain

And shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander has advised England players to leave the field in protest if they are targeted by racists when they face France.

He said: 'I support referees taking the strongest possible action in the face of racist abuse from the terraces. They have the power to stop the game. However, if a referee ignored blatant racist abuse, and the England players or their management felt they were justified in walking off, they should be supported in their action.'

Photographer Chris Brunskill, a 35-year-old from Liverpool, witnessed the abuse in the 40,000-seater Arena Gdansk in Poland.

Frustrating: Balotelli punches the ground after failing to get the better of the Spanish defence

He said: 'I was sat behind the goal with all the Spanish fans behind me and they were involved in monkey chanting and laughter and mockery whenever Balotelli was on the ball.

'The ringleaders were two fans who were in fancy dress as Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal. But the stewards just seemed to think it was a laugh, and they did nothing. They seemed to think it was a giggle.

'These two were at the centre of it in my view but there were hundreds in the Spanish section joining in. I would say there were around 200-300 who joined in at times. It was especially bad when Balotelli was involved in any kind of trouble or altercation, for example when he was booked.'

Bad day at the office: Balotelli struggled to make his mark before he was replaced by Antonio Di Natale

Another photographer, Getty's Michael Steele from Wells, Somerset, said: 'I could not see who was involved but it was obvious they were monkey chants. It was disgusting. There is no excuse for it. I am pretty sure Balotelli knew what was going on and heard it as he was close to that section of the crowd when he was booked.

'There were also what sounded like derogatory chants in Spanish with his name involved, but I do not know what they meant.'

Greek freelance photographer Yiannis Kourtoglou, 31, who lives in Cyprus, told the Daily Mirror: 'The monkey whoops were from the Spanish end. I could not see how many people were involved but they were clear.

That's how you do it: Di Natale beats Iker Casillas for the Italians' goal

'They were designed to put him off his game and they clearly worked – he had a terrible match.

'It was terrible for him and for me as well. He is a human being not a monkey.' It is still unclear if Balotelli or the Italian bench heard the abuse but manager Cesare Prandelli previously said he would back his player in walking off.

Manchester City star Balotelli, 21, has already been singled out for abuse online with Italian neo-Nazis claiming he should not be playing for the national team.

UEFA have vowed to investigate any racism at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine and Labour's Mr Alexander insists the players should take a stand.

He added: 'If either host country's fans misbehave, the teams could be taken off by the referee with the home team forfeiting the points. 'Hopefully something like that might encourage players to challenge their supporters.'

Euro 2012: Ruud Gullit exclusive – don"t take racism like I did

Posted on June 9, 2012 by adminsports

Ruud Gullit: Players who are racially abused should not keep quiet and play on, as I did

UPDATED:

21:08 GMT, 8 June 2012

The monkey sounds that greeted the Holland team at their training session this week were an embarrassment to the Polish authorities.

The problem of racial abuse of footballers is now on everyone’s radar and it has to be dealt with. There is no place to hide here at Euro 2012.

I was in Poland on Friday and walking around Warsaw you could see that UEFA are trying to educate people on racism. There are fans’ parks everywhere with information on tackling racism.

Speaking out: Ruud Gullit has slammed the racists who are threatening to disrupt Euro 2012 in Poland

Euro 2012 email button

But it is the responsibility of the countries’ governments to act, too — it can’t all be down to UEFA, even if football is such a powerful medium.

I hope the authorities are ready to act because the eyes of the world are on this tournament.

It is a chance to send out a powerful message and it is good that the tournament is in Poland and Ukraine because it gives those countries a chance to fight racism.

It is up to those of us who know better to teach right from wrong. If that means players walking off the pitch if there is racist abuse, then so be it. UEFA have given referees the power to stop a game and I am behind that.

The problem needs to be tackled straight away, so players shouldn’t just keep quiet and play on like in my day. Tolerance breeds ignorance and the authorities must support black footballers.

Shocking scenes: Holland players heard monkey noises during an open training session at Wisla stadium in Krakow, Poland

It has been suggested by the UEFA president Michel Platini that players would be booked for leaving the field as an act of retaliation and defiance. That, in my opinion, is the wrong message.

If a player is racially insulted, he should have the right to leave the field. I would like to think we can trust referees to take everyone off but, if the officials are not supporting the players correctly, then the individual should act. The message this would send out: we will not tolerate this abuse.

In some ways it is good that the problem is in the public domain. The BBC Panorama programme and comments from Sol Campbell mean people are aware of it and we go into the tournament ready and prepared.

Controversy: UEFA chief Michel Platini sparked outrage by suggesting players might be booked should they leave the field of playing protest against racism

The Holland captain, Mark van Bommel, was correct to speak out and draw attention to the incident at the Dutch training ground.

When I played, I received racial abuse but I was just one of a few black players and we weren’t backed up by the authorities. Now there are so many at the top of their profession and they have the backing of important people.

Targetted: Gullit was subjected to abuse during his playing career

I used to ignore the abuse and felt powerless to change attitudes.My only weapon was my performances on the pitch and I am proud to have played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, as well as winning the European Footballer of the Year and World Footballer of the Year awards.

Players won’t take that type of abuse anymore. We had to because we had no backing, so I told myself that it was just happening because I was different. I felt I could tackle it by playing well. I looked different but, if I played well, I was accepted.

I used the racist abuse in a positive way. I thought people were afraid of me so I used it as my motivation.

We are beyond that now though. We just have to hope that racism doesn’t haunt this tournament but that, if it does, the response is strong. We want to remember Euro 2012 for great football.

The players need the support of UEFA and the football authorities need the support of the police.

Mario Balotelli warns racists: Throw bananas and I"ll kill you – EURO 2012

Posted on May 30, 2012 by adminsports

Throw bananas and I'll kill you, warns Man City striker Balotelli ahead of Euros

UPDATED:

23:47 GMT, 29 May 2012

Warning: Balotelli has threatened to walk off the pitch

Warning: Balotelli has threatened to walk off

Mario Balotelli has threatened to walk off the pitch if he is racially abused at Euro 2012 and said he would 'kill' anyone who dares to throw a banana at him.

Manchester City's volatile Italian striker spoke out amid increasing concerns that black players will be targeted by racists when the tournament kicks off in Poland and Ukraine next week.

The families of England players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott will not travel to Ukraine because of fears for their safety but Balotelli, of Ghanaian descent, said: 'I will not accept racism at all. It's unacceptable. If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to jail, because I will kill them.'

Balotelli has been the victim of racist abuse on several occasions – most recently in February when Porto were fined over the behaviour of their supporters in a Europa League tie against City.

'Let's see what happens at the Euros,' added Balotelli. 'I hope it will pass without a problem. I really couldn't deal with that.'

Balotelli, 21, was targeted by Juventus and Roma fans while playing for Inter Milan in 2009, which resulted in Juve having to play a match behind closed doors.

In June of that year, he was racially abused and pelted with bananas in a Rome bar while out with Italy teammates in the build-up to the European Under-21 Championships.

He added: 'It was lucky that the police arrived quickly because, I swear, I would have beaten them. I would have really destroyed them. I hope it never happens again.'

Centre of attention: Balotelli has been given the No 9 shirt ahead of this summer's tournament

In an interview with France Football, the striker insists he is a misunderstood 'genius' and said he hopes to stay at City despite a series of controversies.

'It's not easy when ''call girls'' talk in the newspapers or when people say they have seen me here or there during the evening,' he said.

Mario Balotelli

Misunderstood: Balotelli hopes to stay at Manchester City beyond this season

'But I would like to stay at City, because here I have affection. Will I stay I don't know. I think so. You have to ask Mino (Raiola, his agent).

'It's good luck that Roberto Mancini appreciates and understands me. Mancini always gives me confidence. Those who know me, love me. Those who don't know me, love me, too, or they hate me.

'It's said that geniuses are misunderstood. But maybe it is because the genius is so different that people are not capable of understanding them. Yes, I think I'm a genius. But I don't think I'm a rebel. I have my life, my world, I act how I want, without bugging anyone.'

Ukraine said a BBC Panorama documentary was 'xenophobic' after it showed their fans giving Nazi salutes and taunting black players with monkey noises. Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate, broadcast on Monday, also showed Asian students being attacked in Kharkiv, a Euro 2012 venue.

Government spokesman Oleh Voloshyn said: 'It portrayed eastern Europe as mentally not equal to the rest of Europe. We believe this report is outrageous, done in the best traditions of Soviet journalism. Ukraine is one the leaders in Europe in terms of religious and racial tolerance.'

Martin Samuel: Don"t preach, try to teach

Posted on February 14, 2012 by adminsports

Don't preach, try to teach… make racists Kop a lesson

It is a beautiful bit, Chris Rock on the OJ Simpson trial. ‘Black people too happy,’ he says. ‘White people too mad. I haven’t seen that many mad white people since they cancelled MASH.’

English football may recognise itself in that sentiment. Everybody is too mad about race these days; even the white guys. Not that the issue should be brushed over; but when racist abuse of black players on social media is actually rising, it may be time to look at the hammer being used to crack a few nuts.

John Terry’s trial for a racially aggravated public order offence against Anton Ferdinand sums up our confusion. It is widely presumed that, if found guilty, Terry’s professional life will effectively be over.

He has already lost the captaincy of his country, but his place in the England team, his position as captain at Chelsea, any future hopes of managing the club, all would be placed in jeopardy. It would be hard to imagine Terry pursuing a high-profile career in football, certainly for a good few years, with the stigma attached to his name. And we understand this.

Anxious wait: John Terry heads to court in July

The maximum penalty for his offence,
however, is a 2,500 fine. So something is wrong. When the punishment
and the consequences are so completely out of whack, the process must be
flawed. Either a financial penalty is too weak or the ruination of a
life too great. Both circumstances cannot be correct.

The resolution, as ever, is probably somewhere in the middle.

Racism could easily carry a brief custodial sentence, but in that time there should be a programme of education, one with contributions from the victims of racism, so that the offender could return to the community having grown, or learned, and would not be presumed to be the same person that stood in court. There has to be hope of rehabilitation if racism is not to be a crime that affords no escape. This is where we are now.

First, nobody would say sorry over Luis Suarez’s insult to Patrice Evra, then apologies poured from on high. The New England end of the Anfield operation appear to have woken up to the fresh wave of toxic effluent about to wash on to their shore and then Suarez, his manager Kenny Dalglish and the Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre all expressed contrition for Saturday’s disgrace.

We know Liverpool’s denial played a part in creating the Suarez monster, but the FA had a role, too. It is a giant hole in their process that a player found guilty of racist behaviour is not made to address his conduct in a constructive way, as happens when a player is found guilty of substance abuse.

There should be counselling. Not in a touchy-feely way, but in a way that makes the perpetrator face up to the realities of race, and the harmful spill from his actions.

If Suarez had attended sessions with
race relations experts, particularly former footballers, he would not
have been allowed to continue seeing himself as the injured party –
which was clearly the case prior to Saturday’s match at Old Trafford.

Hung out to dry: Suarez wasn't offered redemption by the FA

Had he met and talked to the real
victims of discrimination, it is almost unthinkable that he would not
have moved to the next stage of rehabilitation, by saying sorry to Evra.
Had Evra then seen an achievement in personal growth, given his
conciliatory gesture, one presumes an apology would be accepted. And we
move on.

That is the problem in our game right now. Nobody grows.

In our desire for a searing public judgment, the condemned stay condemned and the offended remain offended. It suits the news agenda. There is far less fun to be had on Twitter if we try to affect social change rather than the next appearance in the stocks.

Take the incident between Stuart Pearce and Paul Ince in 1994, exhumed the day Pearce was announced as England’s caretaker manager. We are told the reason the matter was long forgotten was that society was different then.

No it wasn’t: 1994 is not 2012 but it is not 1949, either. Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party in 1994. Bill Clinton was President of the United States. Kurt Cobain died. The first episode of Vicar of Dibley aired. We knew right from wrong on race in 1994.

And there were four black players on the field that day, Ince of Manchester United, plus three from Nottingham Forest: Des Lyttle, Bryan Roy and Stan Collymore.

Rolling television news was in its infancy, however, and there was no such thing as a firestorm on social media. Neither is particularly helpful in bridging the racial divide, only adding to the controversy and tension, helping to quickly create entrenched positions when more measured reactions are needed.

Forgiven: Stuart Pearce offered Paul Ince a swift apology back in 1994

In Pearce’s case, Gordon Taylor, the head of the Professional Footballers’ Association, was instantly involved as mediator.

Pearce recognised he was wrong and apologised. Ince, an England team-mate on 13 occasions after the event took place, accepted.

Nobody is arguing that racism is cosily settled with a handshake, but a swift confession, apology and sincere attempt at reconciliation goes a long way.

The worry being that the more
strident the zero tolerance approach has become, the worse the situation
appears to get. There have always been racists lurking on Twitter – and
its administrators should have done more to outlaw them a long time ago
- but the recent controversies seem to be bringing extremists out in
greater number, judging by the amount of complaints and account closures
from black players. Micah Richards is the latest to withdraw.

This is not right. There is no point having an admirable, progressive policy if it achieves the opposite of what is intended.

Either football’s message on racism isn’t getting across, or it has become horribly skewed if white folk think they are the ones being persecuted, and the worst in their ranks are lashing out.

Yet without a proper avenue for rehabilitation, this false sense of injustice will spread. We make racism the only taboo at our peril.

The exchange between Suarez and Evra is believed to have started with a sexist remark about a member of Suarez’s family, although little was made of it at the time or subsequently.

Patrice Evra, Luis Suarez

PFA chief executive Taylor fears the racists are winning

Posted on February 12, 2012 by adminsports

Taylor fears the racists are winning

Gordon Taylor is seeking top-level
talks to stamp out the game's reignited racism problem after claiming
the Respect campaign had been 'shredded'.

The PFA chief executive believes
Luis Suarez set back the fight against racism on Saturday by refusing to
shake Patrice Evra's hand.

Shredded: Gordan Taylor thinks the Respect campaign has failed

He wants discussions with the FA, Liverpool, Manchester United, the Premier League and the League Managers' Association.

'The Respect campaign is tainted and you could say it has been shredded,' Taylor said.

'We were very much hoping there would be handshakes in a proper manner and we could draw a line under it.

'But, if anything, the manner in which it was refused exacerbated and inflamed the situation.

Snub: Luis Suarez (left) refuses to shake hands with Patrice Evra (right)

'It is particularly disappointing and upsetting. It is something we cannot afford to ignore if we are going to succeed with our battle against racism.'

Taylor added: 'We need to have some respect for players between each other, respect for the laws of the game and, above all, respect for a social battle against racism.

'Football, because it achieves such publicity, needs to set the right example to the next generation and to society as a whole. At the moment, it is plainly not doing that.'

Sir Alex Ferguson says Liverpool are Manchester United"s real rivals

Posted on January 28, 2012 by adminsports

Never mind City… this is still the big one, insists Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson cut short any talk about Patrice Evra’s return to Liverpool on Friday, but there will be no avoiding the issue at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime and what the Manchester United manager acknowledged is ‘unparalleled interest’ in a fascinating FA Cup tie.

Not after what has happened. Not when Evra, his team-mates and a global television audience will be subjected to a deafening chorus of ‘We’re not racists, we only hate Mancs’.

Ferguson has been at pains in recent months to stress that the Frenchman’s race row with Luis Suarez was a dispute between the players and not their clubs.

This is the one: Sir Alex Ferguson knows the importance of the Manchester United and Liverpool clashes

But the way Liverpool fans and manager Kenny Dalglish mounted such a passionate defence of their Uruguay striker — ruled out today by the eight-match ban he received for referring to Evra as ‘negro’ when the teams met here in October — has made that impossible.

It is now very much a club issue; a ‘tribal’ matter, to borrow a word Ferguson has used so often. On Friday he was a little less forthcoming when the Evra issue was brought up: ‘I’m not getting involved in that, right!’ was the response. Although Ferguson and his assistant Mike Phelan have indicated that Evra will play, consideration has been given to taking him out of the firing line.

Old rivals: Ferguson and Dalglish are both up for the cup

A lack of left-back options would seem to make it unlikely, however. Fabio da Silva has not played since he was injured a month ago, and it is almost unthinkable that 19-year-old Ezekiel Fryers would be pitched into a game of such emotion and intensity. Playing Jonny Evans or Ryan Giggs out of position are other options, but not great ones.

If Evra does lead out the team, he will face arguably his biggest personal test since being substituted at half-time on debut in the Manchester derby six years ago.

‘You have to recognise that Manchester City has become more than it ever was in terms of the intensity of the games,’ said Ferguson.

Set to play: Patrice Evra is in line to start for United

‘There may come a time when we won’t be able to separate the two. But, at the moment, Liverpool is still the one. Even the neutral would look upon this as the biggest so far. Just look at the interest. It’s quite unparallelled.’

For all the drama surrounding Evra’s return to Anfield, Liverpool — and probably Suarez — face a Premier League trip to Old Trafford in a fortnight.

Ferguson threw another scenario into the mix. ‘It’s interesting, there could be a replay,’ he said with a smile. ‘You never know. That would get the FA going!’

Manchester United and Liverpool became best of enemies

Posted on January 27, 2012 by adminsports

Their rich history reveals how United and Liverpool became best of enemies

Frank O’Farrell has good reason to remember Friday, August 20, 1971.

It was his first ‘home’ game as manager of Manchester United and it was at Anfield. O’Farrell led his players, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Brian Kidd and the rest, into the home dressing room at Liverpool’s ground, where United got changed into their red home kits and were sent out by O’Farrell with the words: ‘Obviously it looks different, but it’s a home game and it’s our fans out there. The enemy are down the other end: Arsenal.’

So much is made of the antipathy between Liverpool and Manchester United — Sir Alex Ferguson has written to each of the 5,319 travelling United fans, asking them to be on their best behaviour at Anfield on Saturday— that ties that bind can be overlooked.

Helping hand: Brian Kidd scores Manchester United's third goal against Arsenal in 1971

August 1971 is one. United were given a two-game ban from Old Trafford due to hooliganism and had to find other ‘home’ venues. Liverpool and Stoke City offered first.

It is the sort of detail smothered by a banner such as that seen at Anfield on Wednesday night during the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City: ‘We’re not racists, we only hate mancs.’
It would be obtuse to deny that tension between Liverpool and United carries threat, and has done for some time.

Nobby Stiles wrote cryptically in his autobiography about being hit on the arm by a dart at an unnamed club during his playing days.

‘I went to the touchline and had it removed and at half-time I was given an injection,’ said Stiles. In the book’s index, under Liverpool it says: ‘dart thrown at NS’.

Matt Busby was United’s manager. A former Liverpool player, Busby made no formal complaint.
That was four decades ago. In 2012 the Liverpool-United rivalry is heightened by the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra confrontation last October and its long, anxious fall-out. Anfield will be taut.

The banner-word ‘hate’ is part of everyday football now and football is so important in North West daily life that the broader culture can be infected. The banner at Anfield was a tangible sign of edge but there is the intangible ‘atmosphere’ too, a wariness that many feel exists beyond football, though some don’t.

Legend: Liverpool manager Bill Shankly stands in front of the Kop

There is a view that Suarez-Evra is the latest instalment of a much older civic feud, one that entails not just football but an inter-city enmity.

The day before October’s game at Anfield, Ferguson spoke of the intensity of Liverpool-United and touched on the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal in the 1880s as a source of civic discontent, the canal becoming an industrial competitor to the Port of Liverpool.

There is something to this. Liverpool felt bypassed commercially; it is mentioned still on the Mersey Ferry tour.

A man of shipbuilding heritage, Ferguson would have increased awareness of this. But his Ship Canal reference in October came only after he mentioned football and ‘the two most successful clubs in England, historically’.

It may be disconcerting for the advocates of the broadside, but there is a case for saying that the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester was born in football, lives in football and is fuelled by modern success, first Liverpool’s, then United’s.

It is tense, indisputably: it is striking that Phil Chisnall, who left Old Trafford for Anfield in 1964, remains the last player to be transferred directly between the clubs.

Admirer: Shankly was interested in signing Bobby Charlton for Liverpool

Manchester United v Arsenal 1971

There has been ugly hooliganism, and the chasing of the ambulance taking Alan Smith from Anfield six years ago remains a shocking echo of Nobby Stiles’s dart.

But there has also been co-operation; there is also August 20, 1971.

Football hooliganism had swept England in the late 1960s and in season 1970-71 a knife had been thrown on to the Old Trafford pitch. United’s two-game punishment meant that O’Farrell, who already had the forbidding task of succession after Busby’s second period in charge, now faced his first four United games being away from home.

‘At that time there was a lot of goodwill shown to United,’ O’Farrell, now 84, recalled from his Devon home this week. ‘There was only willingness to help. It was spontaneous. Most clubs had that attitude to United.

‘I had people really wanting to help and Bill Shankly and Liverpool were really helpful. They didn’t hum and haw, or say, ‘‘Can we ring you back’’ I’d like to stress that — they said, ‘‘We’d like you to play the Arsenal game at Anfield’’.

‘Everton did have a query about how much their gate would be affected. That’s probably why we played it on a Friday night.’

O’Farrell had been lured from
Leicester City and said he was ‘not really aware’ of any loathing
between Liverpool and Manchester as cities, nor did anyone at United
make him aware.

‘Being at Anfield wasn’t a big issue
for the players, they knew they were playing in a great stadium,’ he
added. ‘We wore our home kit. Arsenal were attractive opposition.

‘We won, of course. George (Best) was playing out of his skin. We were top of the league at Christmas.’

/01/26/article-2092364-1179D05E000005DC-812_634x413.jpg

United front: Sir Alex Ferguson and Martin Edwards made a secret donation after Hillsborough

In 1968, the Liverpool Echo’s reaction to United winning the European Cup at Wembley was this: ‘British football can be proud of the United team who gave their all to give Matt Busby the Cup he cherishes above all else. It’s been a long, long drive for United to reach the top in Europe — no one will begrudge them being the first English club to make it.’

Peter Robinson, who joined the board at Anfield in 1965 and left in 2000, was at Wembley that night in 1968 — as a guest of United.

‘It wasn’t the rivalry it is today,’ Robinson said. ‘Up until the 1980s Liverpool’s match of the season was Everton.’ And the civic, city rivalry ‘People said it existed.’

What Robinson recollects are strong club relationships — and United’s and Ferguson’s reaction to the Hillsborough disaster.

‘(Then United chairman)Martin Edwards called and said he and Alex would like to come over and see the flowers on the pitch privately,’ Robinson said. ‘John Smith, who was chairman, and I walked the pitch with Alex and Martin. We were alone. They did not want any publicity.

‘As they left Anfield they wrote a substantial cheque for the Hillsborough Appeal. Again, they didn’t do it for publicity. That’s never come out.’

Stirring it up: Wednesday's Anfield banner harked back to the Evra-Suarez spat

It is a revelation to make banner-wavers think. Liverpool-United might be more complicated than they want to know.

Yet, there remains what could be described as the Chisnall limit — 48 years without a direct transfer.
‘I think it was more or less accepted that you didn’t sign a United player,’ Robinson said. ‘I am sure there were United players we’d like to have signed. I don’t remember any conversations with United on it — but we’d have loved Bobby Charlton, Bill (Shankly) was particularly keen on Bobby.’

Robinson was present at Anfield in August 1971: ‘We offered. They said they would cheerfully have done the same for us had the roles been reversed. United were going to have the bigger following than Arsenal so it was decided to give them the Kop.’

In 2005, when the Manchester Evening News reported Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in Istanbul with the ambiguous but potentially flattering headline ‘Beyond Belief’, the paper was inundated with Mancunian complaints. The mood had changed.

Why Because of football, because United had displaced Liverpool and red Manchester did not much like the idea of vice-versa. But what else had changed

‘It’s very difficult to draw a straight line between historical incidents and modern football rivalry,’ Mellor said.

‘It’s used to bolster the myth. There is a desire for depth, to find historic justification for a modern football rivalry. It’s what’s called ‘‘invented traditions’’.

‘Pronounced inter-club rivalries such as Liverpool-United or Blackburn-Burnley are modern, without historic validity. References to historical stuff, that’s what people want to be the truth.’

Frank O’Farrell’s autobiography, All Change at Old Trafford, is published by Backpass.

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