With the media circus still centered on the big “Racist debate” many Liverpool and general United haters have made it a point to let me know exactly what they thought about the debacle.
What’s surprising is that in a matter that deals with racial abuse there still remains such a divided standpoint by football fans. As many anti-United fans would quickly point out, “Racism aside”, this is about the handshake which Suarez was under no obligation to make. Racism aside???? How can you put the main cause of the incident aside? So I guess Anti-Semitism aside Hitler wasn’t that bad of a guy? Am I saying that Suarez is Hitler? Of course not, I’m merely suggesting that people must open their eyes and see that the situation at hand is deep rooted with racism and should not be overlooked.
Now the anti-united fans will be jumping up saying “But Suarez wasn’t racist, there was a miss communication or lost in translation type issue because he is Spanish, and has black friends and teammates.” Really? This is your defense? A statement made by Suarez with the obvious intent to abuse and upset Evra can be excused because he said it in Spanish? The loose translation of “tu es negro” is understood to be “you are black” and has been confirmed by Suarez. Does this now mean that what he said was not racist? If you believe so I think you should seriously rethink and do some readings on what racism is, and the effects and instances of racism in the past.
The problem here is that Trinidadians outlook will be slightly different to that of an Englishman. In Trinidad racism is expected and much more prevalent than in the UK. I myself being a minority in the country experience being called much worse than “white boy” on a daily basis. Do I let this bother me? Or become enraged with constant stereotyping that is associated with being white? No I do not, but that does not mean that such comments and remarks are not racist or are not wrong. They very much are. In this instance should Patrice maybe have kept quiet and not let something like those comments affect him? Should he have said nothing and went on about his day? Maybe, but I believe Evra’s decision to bring to light the racist remarks are justified, and in my opinion encouraged.
This causes another debate of how can we know if the racist claims are justified or not just a way for a footballer to seek attention and incite punishment on someone they may not particularly like? And for that I may not have an answer short of putting microphones on the player’s shirts. However, in the case of Mr. Suarez, he admitted to the allegations and confessed that he did say what was reported, be it that he meant it differently. That’s where most anti-united fans should have lost their defense much as Suarez did in the hearing.
Now I am aware that on field banter and mind games play a big part in the outcome of a game, and in a longstanding rivalry such as the case with Liverpool and United some form of rapport is expected and even encouraged by the viewers and fans who love the added competitiveness and combativeness. However a line must be drawn on what is said to a player. Those who are still reading this and believe “black” not to be derogatory or racist, when issued towards a person of said skin color in a way that made him feel inferior, needs a serious reality check.
The issue of the handshake is a long winded debate on sportsmanlike principles vs. personal choice. On one hand it’s not written in any rule book that each player must shake hands before the match, but it is understood, and is a tradition that must be respected. Suarez’s decision to avoid the outstretched hand of Patrice Evra condemned him to a life of ridicule and shame to Liverpool football club. Some have defended saying he was right because Evra caused him to receive an 8 game ban, and $40,000 fine. Really? Was this Evra’s fault? A man deciding to stand up to racism is at fault? Or is the decision of Suarez to attack Evra’s skin color wrong? If u side with Suarez still then I ask you to seriously consider what type of person you are.
Liverpool fans will now say that “Suarez’s ignored handshake is just as bad as Evra’s celebration at the end of the game” Really? A man who has been subjected to being called a “girl” for standing up to racism and then ignored a handshake by his offender who just so happens to play for his club’s biggest rivals? His celebrations at the end were unsportsmanlike? How?? At most I can admit his celebrations were a bit over the top, but by no means was it unwarranted.
To me, the bottom line here is that a racist remark was made. Weather you choose to support Suarez for his choice of words and decision to not shake hands, or support Evra for his decision to shake hands, and stand up to racism the point is, this could all have been avoided and ended if Suarez would have shook Evra’s hand. Hell, even throw in a hug and a gentle tap on the shoulder and Mr. Suarez could have avoided a hell of a lot of problems for himself and his club and manager and maybe even brought a much needed lighter side to the current situation.
Decisions come back to haunt us, and in the end, maybe some of the criticism for Mr. Suarez has been over the top. In the heat of the game, much worse has been said, and ignored, and this will continue in the future. Suarez already had a target on his back, and will always continue to, and as such maybe should have known better after living in England for over a year that comments such as that are deemed racist, and are outlawed in the modern game.
Do I think Suarez is a racist? Maybe not, but his racist remarks will always have him labeled as one and this is no one’s fault but his own, and something that he will have to live with for a long time to come. His punishment was just and deserved, and much as jail time should be a reflection period for those who commited a crime, that 8-game ban should have been more than enough time for Suarez to come to grips with what he did, and therfore be a Big man and shake the hand of who he offended.
Wayne Rooney seemed to have put it best with his twitter comment reading, “"It's not for us to comment on. It's for them to sort out” and maybe this is better left at that.
What’s surprising is that in a matter that deals with racial abuse there still remains such a divided standpoint by football fans. As many anti-United fans would quickly point out, “Racism aside”, this is about the handshake which Suarez was under no obligation to make. Racism aside???? How can you put the main cause of the incident aside? So I guess Anti-Semitism aside Hitler wasn’t that bad of a guy? Am I saying that Suarez is Hitler? Of course not, I’m merely suggesting that people must open their eyes and see that the situation at hand is deep rooted with racism and should not be overlooked.
Now the anti-united fans will be jumping up saying “But Suarez wasn’t racist, there was a miss communication or lost in translation type issue because he is Spanish, and has black friends and teammates.” Really? This is your defense? A statement made by Suarez with the obvious intent to abuse and upset Evra can be excused because he said it in Spanish? The loose translation of “tu es negro” is understood to be “you are black” and has been confirmed by Suarez. Does this now mean that what he said was not racist? If you believe so I think you should seriously rethink and do some readings on what racism is, and the effects and instances of racism in the past.
The problem here is that Trinidadians outlook will be slightly different to that of an Englishman. In Trinidad racism is expected and much more prevalent than in the UK. I myself being a minority in the country experience being called much worse than “white boy” on a daily basis. Do I let this bother me? Or become enraged with constant stereotyping that is associated with being white? No I do not, but that does not mean that such comments and remarks are not racist or are not wrong. They very much are. In this instance should Patrice maybe have kept quiet and not let something like those comments affect him? Should he have said nothing and went on about his day? Maybe, but I believe Evra’s decision to bring to light the racist remarks are justified, and in my opinion encouraged.
This causes another debate of how can we know if the racist claims are justified or not just a way for a footballer to seek attention and incite punishment on someone they may not particularly like? And for that I may not have an answer short of putting microphones on the player’s shirts. However, in the case of Mr. Suarez, he admitted to the allegations and confessed that he did say what was reported, be it that he meant it differently. That’s where most anti-united fans should have lost their defense much as Suarez did in the hearing.
Now I am aware that on field banter and mind games play a big part in the outcome of a game, and in a longstanding rivalry such as the case with Liverpool and United some form of rapport is expected and even encouraged by the viewers and fans who love the added competitiveness and combativeness. However a line must be drawn on what is said to a player. Those who are still reading this and believe “black” not to be derogatory or racist, when issued towards a person of said skin color in a way that made him feel inferior, needs a serious reality check.
The issue of the handshake is a long winded debate on sportsmanlike principles vs. personal choice. On one hand it’s not written in any rule book that each player must shake hands before the match, but it is understood, and is a tradition that must be respected. Suarez’s decision to avoid the outstretched hand of Patrice Evra condemned him to a life of ridicule and shame to Liverpool football club. Some have defended saying he was right because Evra caused him to receive an 8 game ban, and $40,000 fine. Really? Was this Evra’s fault? A man deciding to stand up to racism is at fault? Or is the decision of Suarez to attack Evra’s skin color wrong? If u side with Suarez still then I ask you to seriously consider what type of person you are.
Liverpool fans will now say that “Suarez’s ignored handshake is just as bad as Evra’s celebration at the end of the game” Really? A man who has been subjected to being called a “girl” for standing up to racism and then ignored a handshake by his offender who just so happens to play for his club’s biggest rivals? His celebrations at the end were unsportsmanlike? How?? At most I can admit his celebrations were a bit over the top, but by no means was it unwarranted.
To me, the bottom line here is that a racist remark was made. Weather you choose to support Suarez for his choice of words and decision to not shake hands, or support Evra for his decision to shake hands, and stand up to racism the point is, this could all have been avoided and ended if Suarez would have shook Evra’s hand. Hell, even throw in a hug and a gentle tap on the shoulder and Mr. Suarez could have avoided a hell of a lot of problems for himself and his club and manager and maybe even brought a much needed lighter side to the current situation.
Decisions come back to haunt us, and in the end, maybe some of the criticism for Mr. Suarez has been over the top. In the heat of the game, much worse has been said, and ignored, and this will continue in the future. Suarez already had a target on his back, and will always continue to, and as such maybe should have known better after living in England for over a year that comments such as that are deemed racist, and are outlawed in the modern game.
Do I think Suarez is a racist? Maybe not, but his racist remarks will always have him labeled as one and this is no one’s fault but his own, and something that he will have to live with for a long time to come. His punishment was just and deserved, and much as jail time should be a reflection period for those who commited a crime, that 8-game ban should have been more than enough time for Suarez to come to grips with what he did, and therfore be a Big man and shake the hand of who he offended.
Wayne Rooney seemed to have put it best with his twitter comment reading, “"It's not for us to comment on. It's for them to sort out” and maybe this is better left at that.
Would have loved to see this article written if Suarez was a Man Utd player. So different it would have been .
ReplyDeleteIt is ridiculous that people would defend Suarez. Of course, many footballers today grow up in circumstances and communities where racism is accepted and maybe even encouraged. However, as a professional, it is important that one be able to make a transition and be tolerant of all those around you, regardless of race, culture or nationality.
ReplyDeleteI defend Evra for his response to Suarez. Let us not forget that Evra grew up in Senegal and France, the latter being considered a very much "racist" society. As a black footballer out of France making it to this level, he would feel somewhat disrespected by Suarez's action. I think it is easy for people in Trinidad to forgive Suarez, as many of them have never experienced racism in countries such as France and Italy.
Evra took the right action by reporting the incident last year to the authorities. Suarez's action not to shake his hands only added to his predicament. But let also pay tribute to Rio Ferdinand who stood by Evra and refused to shake Suarez's hand after Suarez childishly walked pass Evra.
I am not a Manchester Utd fan, and although Evra's celebration may have been somewhat unnecessary, I see no other wrong doing on his part. If people in Trinidad wish to encourage sympathy for Suarez, let them travel to Italy and Spain where racial abuse on the field is a norm. England was once like this, but they have progressed. To sympathize Suarez only encourages regression.
suarez was too much of a punk in this game.. all that happened before should have been put to bed but HE chose to be unsportsmanlike and liverpool paid for it. Evra showed great character in that, despite the incident last year, he was more than willing to let bygones be bygones and shake suarez hand. Since suarez decided to snub evra, he deserved what he got at the end of the game. A flambouyant celebration from Evra and the manchester united fans.
ReplyDeleteWhoever write the 1st comment is retarded, I am not a fan of either team and know that that was completely wrong on Suarez's part. An I not afraid to hide behind the "Anonymous" badge, this is Keon writing. Man up and look past the football aspect of the situation.
ReplyDelete