One of the worst things about this whole saga is that everybody involved has come off badly. It's funny how everyone including journalists slag off the FA and then based on their decision (having had no further evidence explained to them) everyone assumes Suarez IS actually guilty. Liverpool fans who have also heard no evidence to suggest contrary to what they already thought (and spurred on by a club statement that suggests there is much evidence to be heard) defend him, and now both the club and fans are getting slated. Meanwhile people who know Suarez and with ties to South America are defending him, and the FA have succeeded making the public example of Suarez some think they were looking for. Finally Evra himself is getting a fair share of abuse and it's all become very nasty. Now I don't speak Spanish but there are big problems with translation, as you can never explain an expression exactly (just look at Benitez' 'priest on a mountain of salt' saying). We don't have an exact translation for 'Negrito' (if that's the term he did indeed use), so it basically looks as if the mere fact the word has our equivalent of 'black' making up an element of it then it is racist. I've been trying to think of comparable situations, because if you call your mate a SeeYouEnTee then it might be friendly but you still know it's an offensive term. Closest i can think in my vocabulary is something like Manc. Now I've got a mate who is from Warrington and depending on whether we're winding him up or not we call him a Manc. The term itself isn't offensive, it's used in the context of having a go, but it doesn't really (football aside) have any sinister connotations. Does that make me a biggot? My mate wouldn't say so. Now coming from someone who playfully gets abuse for having mixed heritage (which I don't mind as my stance is that I'd rather me and my mates could joke about anything) but is still white and born in England, it maybe means i'm not in a position to understand, but as far as i can tell there is something hypocritical about making an example by cracking down on racism without seemingly taking into account these cultural differences at all/ Your reasoned thoughts ladies & gentlemen?
2 major issues spring to my mind: Firstly, the whole issue of racism is just far too emotive to be contained with rules and regulations. Nobody can agree on what is and is not racist unless the statement/action is at the extreeme. Secondly, the whole FA administration process has been shown to be flawed both in its operation (time taken) and it's political/power influences. A decision of this nature based upon opinion and not fact has to be flawed. Before others start, this statement would hold true even if Suarez was not involved.
I don't think any of us have been privy to what actually happened and why the FA found him guilty or not, or why they decided on the 8 match ban and fine. Before all this began, IF Suarez did indeed call Evra 'negrito', how many of us have heard this term before? It could be mistakenly taken to be racist of someone who doesn't understand the term. IF the FA banned him because of this, IMO it seems to me they are trying prevent such excuses in the future. This doesn't seem fair but the FA are hardly consistent. You could look at the drug bans & fines issued to Kolo Toure, Rio Ferdinand, Mutu and Christian Negouai. What I do know is one player accused the other. That is all I know to be fact. Everything else is just based on emotional responses *and hearsay* really. Edited part: *and hearsay*
quite simply the FA have not yet published any evidence and unitl they do this is just going to rumble and get worse and worse publicity. Right now LFC have issued a formal statement remarking that the sole evidence i nthis case is one person who made the accusation... Incidentally i ncourt on eye witness can be enough if they swear an oath. Did evra swear an oath? We now have a precidence that ANY player of a different ethnic origin cna make an accusation, testify in an FA hearing and the accusee must get 8 matches. I think its pretty clear that straight away the lower form of life would be thinking to get top players banned as fast as possible from thier rivals.... maybe pay a player from oh i dunno utd's next opponents to claim (and make it known to the ref) that rooney racially abused him. We only need look at the ridiculous cheating done in rugby over the blood sub rule (harelquins wasn't it?) to see that people would stoop so low. The FA must get todays game out of the way them publish thier evidence and case file fully and openly.... then if there's appeals let the public know why.
As mentioned above, we must wait until the Commission releases the report so LFC can understand what 'evidence' was used to base the verdict on. Racism is a sensitive case in that I could have a joke with a black colleague and he may not take any offence to it however a white colleague could overhear the conversation and report me. LFC issued a very strong statement which implied that there is no evidence and that also Evra abused Suarez in the build up. Evra allegedly referred to Suarez as 'South American' which is just as bad what Suarez said to Evra. I find it astonishing that people seem to think racism is bad but are quick to dismiss other insults against fat people, gingers etc. All of these insults are discriminatroy yet we only take offence to racism.
I agree with most of what you said but I don't agree with the bit in bold. Do you think Evra be equally offended if Suarez had referred to you as 'European' rather than Negrito - if that is what has been said, as you pointed out all the evidence isn't available yet.
No, I don't think he would be equally offended but this is what's wrong with society. Why is it acceptable to call people fat, ginger, ugly, etc but racism is the only one that isn't not allowed? Any form of discrimination is equally as bad as one another. Furthermore, IF Evra said that to Suarez, he would have used it in a derogatory manner, just as Suarez was seen to use the N word in the same way. Either way, Evra allegedly insulted Suarez based on where is from, something Suarez has no control over. Some may argue that Suarez is from South America and what's wrong with that? Well, Evra is black isn't he? So what's wrong with calling him a negro? IMO - discriminating anyone based on their appearance or where they are from or anything else is plain wrong.
I suspect the ban and fine will be decreased on appeal. The FA just want to make an example, lets see what happens to Terry, nobody except Era has heard what Suarez has said there is video recording of Terry being racist. Also I suspect the FA is sticking a finger up to Blatter, so politics are involved
This whole Suarez / Evra saga has the worse combination of attributes; Emotive (does't get much more emotive than racism) Unclear (we don't know much at present - this has led to lot's of rumours and speculation) Political (the FA are up to their eyeballs in politics both at home and from a FIFA standpoint) Divisive (the battle lines are already drawn here with the rival fans) Public (the press are loving it) It's a shame it's gotten to this pantomime, however justice needs to be done. If Suarez is proven guilty he deserves the ban and needs to get his act together to remain a Liverpool FC player. If the evidence is not compelling however... well we had better strap ourselves in for the long haul because if I ever was wrongly accused of something (never mind being branded a racist) I would fight to the bitter end to clear my name - who wouldn't?
The fact that the FA have put in the statemant that Suarez has been charged with USING racist language makes the 8 match ban seem, shall we say, well over the top. This dos not in any way make Suarez out to be a racist, but it is saying that the language he used in the heat of the moment was directed to Evra in a racist way... We must wait to see exactly what was said in the FA meeting and then we can maybe see the full story af how they have come to this decision...
I like most fans think that Suarez is a very talented player and a good goal scorer (yes would love him in my team). However he is remembered as with Terry Henry for a handball and in the EPL and for for diving and waving imaginary yellow cards and now of course this. He is going to have a tough time at away matches never mind 'the finger' away supporters are going to goad and go for him all the time. This is all a pity cos' he undoubtedly has talent. Also of course it means you may have to rely on the very expensive Caroline to lead your line....
problem is, Evra is an African, not a European. He was born in Dakar, Senegal, not in France. I think most people would interpret African to mean Black (well, in the UK anyway) What you're saying is that Discrimination by geography if fine and dandy, but ethnicity is not acceptable. However, this just does not follow. Ethnicity is no more a choice than location of birth. Why therefore, is it more acceptable to discriminate by country or continent of birth?
I'm not saying it's fine at all - I'm simply saying what would offend more? This may be due to the stigma attached to racism and the history surrounding it. I'd prefer to find out the full facts and evidence before damning either player to be honest.
So it matters about the level of offence - something that is less offensive is better than something more offensive? No, I know you don't mean it like that, but this is what its going to come down to in the end. Nothing will be acceptable, and we'll just have to get used to players refering to each other by name alone, because using any physical characteristic is going to be considered sensitive - Race, Height, Hair(or lack of), eye colour, knock knees, pigeon chest, and all will be covered under FA Rule E3(1) and should therefore be punished. But the FA doesn't do consistency. Kick the dirty foreigner, be it Suarez or Blatter, cos they aren't English, they don't understand Football, its an English game...
2 many people basking in false glory of 'backin punishin racism'. No real interest in discussing IF JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE. It reeks of the FA saying, " We must find someone guilty of racism,to look strong against racism, WHETHER they are guilty or not"
I can't believe how ambiguous and scarce the evidence has been to publicly brand Suarez as a racist and attach this stigma to him. The FA's punishment to Suarez goes further than an 8 game ban, all bar LFC fans will just remember him as a racist with good feet - the case itself and it's shabiness will be forgotten but the stigma will remain when, I feel, it is totally undeserved.
