If you're implying me, then at no point have I stated that I found it personally offensive. However, it is an issue, no matter what you feel, and it is potentially offensive, for the very reasons that I have mentioned. Just because something is not directly offensive to you, does not mean it isn't innappropriate. Many people have said already that it wouldn't be heard on MOTD. Why the hell do you think this is? Please answer that for me. Also, you ask what defines him from anyone else up front?... Mmm, let me see, he is Nigerian. Last time I checked, Nicola Jelavic was certainly not Nigerian. So there you go. Also, he is relatively young, so I guess you could refer to him as that too. Another, he grew up in Liverpool, so maybe you could even describe him as being local.
In an episode of Porridge once, a character told Fletch that he had hit another prisoner for calling him a black Scottish bastard. Fletch pointed out to him that a) his parents were unmarried b) he was born in Scotland and c) he was "of a coloured persuasion". Thus, Fletch decided, the term was not insulting but merely descriptive. Innocent days? Yes, but also a time of rampant racism. Merrington's comment is, at best, lazy journalism. I would be annoyed if someone referred to any of our black players in this way or if Rickie became referred to as the "big Scouser" up front. The players have names on their shirts, ffs! Each player should be named, not described. What next on the "let's resurrect a stereotype"? If Morgan surrenders the midfield then clearly reference should be made to the fall of France in 1940. Oh and of course, we should check out the manager's position the future of the Malvinas. Any others?
BREAKING NEWS Dave Merrington is covering the Africa Cup of Nations: South Africa v Angola today! This might get confusing!
Put another way, would you defend his right to refer to Yoshida as "the big yellow guy at the back"? Technically exactly the same thing. I personally think that it is definitely weird, defiantly old-fashioned, and probably in this day and age wrong. The way he did it contains an implication that he can't remember his name, or can't pronounce his name, or whatever, and compounds that lack of respect with using his colour as the key descriptor - as if he has no other defining characteristics. And defining someone purely by their skin colour is what basically counts for most of the horrors committed against the African race throughout history. Added to the countless reasons mentioned by others, if someone referred to Anichebe (let's assume off TV, because of course calling anyone a bastard on TV would cause furore) as a "black bastard" for example, even in a casual and unthreatening manner, this would be deemed offensive. Almost undoubtedly more offensive than just calling him a "bastard". That is purely because of the use of skin colour as defining feature. Definitely am not offended by Merrington, and Anichebe will undoubtedly get way worse from fans and other players. Just agree that it might raise an eyebrow for the above reasons alongside some of the others mentioned.
No! It is NOT correct to refer to Japanese people as "yellow". "Black" is an accepted term to describe Anichebe's ethnicity, in the same way that "white" is an accepted term to describe mine. It's only offensive if used in an offensive way. Merrington did not use it in an offensive way, though it could be said it was unnecessary.
Taken my comments completely out of context. I never stated you, or anyone else has severe issues or that you found it offensiv,e what i said, and emphasized in several comments after this, is that if you were offended by him using the correct term to describe Anichebes ethnicity, then you must have issues with Merrington.
You didn't say OP had issues with Merrington, you said he had "severe issues". Now you're trying to pretend you meant something else, which I think is pretty pathetic.
And this is where the problem lies, since so many people may react in different ways and make different interpretations of the speaker's intentions. Some people may be offended even if the speaker meant no offence. Hence why I think programmes such as MOTD simply avoid it altogether. Anyway, my original point was simply to poke fun at Merrington's lack of professionalism, which I actually regard as his one endearing feature. There was no intention to drag everyone through a debate on social ethics. Apologies !!
No apologies needed, it certainly is an odd thing to hear on the air. As for worrying about how people may interpret it differently, you can only worry so much about causing offence. It gets to a point where if someone really claims to be offended by something like that, it's best to just say "well I don't give a **** if you're offended." Nothing unacceptable was said and no offence was meant, so anyone who claims to be offended by that should just strap on a pair.
The only problem I have with the lack of professionalism here is that Sylvian Distin is quite a lot bigger than Victor Anichebe. So it seems strange to refer to Anichebe as that in this case although I've not actually heard the audio. I'm sure he meant no harm anyway so it's not important
