I've unwillingly developed somewhat a of a reputation on this board as a sensitive snowflake according to some but I really don't see much in this one. The fact he didn't know his name is pretty unprofessional and it could have been avoided if he'd done his homework. I think it is a massive shame such a high profile walk off, which should send such a clear message, has been wasted on this clumsy nonsense. I'm disappointed no one but Barnes has come out and clarified things. It just gets muddier by the day.
I agree that he's unprofessional for not knowing his name, but if people are looking for offence they'll find it wherever they look, and if they aren't prepared to admit that they are wrong it's only going to cause more problems and devalue genuine action later. It plays into the hands of the more militant racists who'll just accuse them of blowing things out of proportion.
On the name thing, it boils my piss when the officials are too familiar with the players. Consciously or not they treat the bigger players differently.
I don’t think it can be called out as unprofessional for not knowing the name of the assistant coach of a Turkish side mind. They aren’t even expected to know players names bookings are listed by number.
My, then 5 year grandson, had seen 2 older boys from his school when he had been out shopping with his Mam. He saw one of the boys at school a few days later and said to him that he had seen him along with another boy. This boy asked who that was and because my grandson didn't know their names he described him as "the boy with brown skin". This boy went and told his friend and they went to tell the teacher. This resulted in my grandson being brought in front of the deputy head and told he had done wrong and the parents of the boy informed. His name was then put in a book for future reference. Anyway, after various meetings with the school by my son, his name was taken out of the book but they told my son that the parents don't like being described as brown but black and that anyone who isn't white should be referred to as black!!!! The really strange thing is that their skin colour is no darker than Jennifer Lopez
