oldskyblue58
CCFC Finance Director
Let me be quite plain i abhor discrimination of any sort but i find the report from the Society of Black Lawyers simplistic, divisive, arrogant and unrealistic. But the issue needs to be dealt with certainly
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20229332
Their plan has some merit certainly in so far as it raises the issue further but some of it just wouldnt work.
The plan calls for:
Discrimination has no one direction it isnt just "white" calling "black" it happens in reverse for example ( experienced it in my playing days, have seen it in the work place and no i didnt accept it from which ever direction it came) it happens "black" to "black" or "white to white". Dont divide further, unite to fight it
positive discrimination is still discrimination .......... it isnt judging someone simply on their merits (where colour of skin is not seen)
to create a seperate niche of society or the game should never be the objective.
it is the intent that makes it a crime. where does it stop and become a crime?
havent we created enough divides in our country/society without creating more?
should we not see the person not the colour, be inclusive not seek to exclude ?
Isnt this an issue of education and not tolerating all forms of discrimination?
kick racism out .......... dont hide behind ideals, sound bites and clever words to actually create more under another name.
Thoughts anyone ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20229332
Their plan has some merit certainly in so far as it raises the issue further but some of it just wouldnt work.
The plan calls for:
- a minimum six to nine-month ban for racial abuse, rising to a five-year ban for a third offence would hope it never got to 3rd offence but by why limit it, and it is likely to tie up the authorities and courts in long legal process centering around proof. BUT it must be addressed
- any fines going directly to Kick It Out to fund grassroots anti-racism initiatives nice idea but very little actually gets to the level at which i coach. Initiatives like the respect campaign the clubs have to contribute to buy equipment themselves. More likely the money would be lost in policing, monitoring and legal process
- the creation of representative associations for black players, managers and coaches isnt that divisive and dare i say it racist ? a player is a player not a black, pink white or red one ! Perhaps i am seeing it wrongly but i dont view a person by the colour of their skin..... isnt that the point ?
- guidance for referees to send off players using racist abuse and the power to call off games where the crowd is using such abuse surely the refs have powers to deal with such behaviour already and have to actually witness/hear it to be able to act. As for calling games off there are all sorts of issues involved in that, not least of which would be public safety and policing. Prosecute the culprits certainly but penalise the large majority that dont promote or foster racism why ?
- a 20% quota at all levels of the FA, PFA, clubs as well as football agents and referees from what i understand there is 9% ethnic minorities in this country (not all black) so why 20% quota. Just a thought how many white lawyers will be in the society of black lawyers? how many non black players would be in a black PFA. Better still what is black? is it a minimum shade is it by origin or birth is it actually black or some shade of brown?
- racial abuse to be a matter of gross misconduct incorporated into players' contracts surely most contracts of employment refer to equality laws ? Misconduct is misconduct and having the power wont work unless there is a will to use it. Would Suarez be sacked by Liverpool, hell Terry didnt even lose the captaincy!
- clubs to invest in the personal education of all players, including university or college education should be the case but not just for racism..... what about disability, gender, sexuality, religion etc What about the way we refer to other nations, Scottish, Irish, French, German, American etc etc ? what are the limits to this where do you draw a line ..... do you draw a line?
- recording referees and assistants during matches to pick up any possible abuse by players. wont work though will it because the officials cant be next to every player every second of the game, so we are back to one word against another.
- a system for reporting racial incidents to be set up with details of such incidents, both on and off the pitch, published each year isnt this what the County and National FA is for ? Take it seriously dont make more bureaucracy that overlaps. Are we not just asking for the powers that be to take it seriously and to use the powers they have, not create something that divides still further?
- who gets to fight the day in court ? who seems to be making a name for themselves by so called positive discrimination and seperate organisations? why create further discrimination and to what purpose? Sorry i am a little cynical because it detracts from the points i am making
Discrimination has no one direction it isnt just "white" calling "black" it happens in reverse for example ( experienced it in my playing days, have seen it in the work place and no i didnt accept it from which ever direction it came) it happens "black" to "black" or "white to white". Dont divide further, unite to fight it
positive discrimination is still discrimination .......... it isnt judging someone simply on their merits (where colour of skin is not seen)
to create a seperate niche of society or the game should never be the objective.
it is the intent that makes it a crime. where does it stop and become a crime?
havent we created enough divides in our country/society without creating more?
should we not see the person not the colour, be inclusive not seek to exclude ?
Isnt this an issue of education and not tolerating all forms of discrimination?
kick racism out .......... dont hide behind ideals, sound bites and clever words to actually create more under another name.
Thoughts anyone ?
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