Ian Wright says criticism of Raheem Sterling is racist

Ian Wright says criticism of Raheem Sterling is racist

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Jefferson Steelflex

1,442 posts

99 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
The thing is football clubs could go a long way to reducing many of these issues by just making it 'illegal' to stand up and rush down at players. I doubt people would be so aggressive if they were sitting down.

Standards of behaviour are bad in general, but at football stadiums they are just on a different level and I don't get it. As someone who has to endure the wrath of crowds every week as a referee/lino (although not racist), it really is out of control. The number of times I've wanted to jump in the crowd and start windmilling as someone wishes my daughter raped or my wife dead over a fking throw in decision has depressed me more and more.

I get passion and wanting your team to win, but these sorts of people should be rooted out and made examples of. There's no excuse for racist behavour, it's just a skin colour ffs, but it goes much deeper as the abuse is not limited to just race. Something needs to change.

jcremonini

2,099 posts

167 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
I've been to loads of Chelsea games and not once heard racist abuse either in or outside the ground.

However, it's clear from incidents in the last few years that we still have a problem and it is something I know the club are trying to tackle head on. Maybe half the problem is the unwillingness of other people to report racism. After all, if it is really so bad it will be heard by someone every week so why aren't they doing something about it too ? - the club can only manage what is put in front of them. It really is up to the 99.9% of decent supporters to ensure that 0.1% don't have a voice.

Alpinestars

13,954 posts

244 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
jcremonini said:
I've been to loads of Chelsea games and not once heard racist abuse either in or outside the ground.

However, it's clear from incidents in the last few years that we still have a problem and it is something I know the club are trying to tackle head on. Maybe half the problem is the unwillingness of other people to report racism. After all, if it is really so bad it will be heard by someone every week so why aren't they doing something about it too ? - the club can only manage what is put in front of them. It really is up to the 99.9% of decent supporters to ensure that 0.1% don't have a voice.
I agree that peer pressure is the best way to control such things. Clubs obviously have to take some responsibility too, by ensuring they stamp down on it.

Melchett1905

442 posts

64 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Alpinestars said:
wjb said:
Missing the point a bit guys, it's not the racist fans that was being discussed tonight.

This is worth a watch if you didn't see it earlier.

https://youtu.be/YF3jTYjXEe8
It’s not missing the point at all. It’s about racism directed towards Sterling. Of course the press has a role to play in it, and it should be discussed as an issue. But these things should not manifest themselves in the way they did. My observation is that I see Chelsea, rightly or wrongly, as a problem. And there’s a tangible difference in the “athmosphere” at Stamford Bridge, versus anywhere else in London. They have been involved in a number of high profile incidents, including with their players. That’s not to say it doesn’t exist at other clubs, but I can hand on heart say I’ve never heard anything like that low life scum was shouting at Sterling from a United fan. Not because we don’t have racist fans, but because I think they’d get called out, and we know that.

Neville started touching on it, there’s a problem in society that’s simmering, and in some cases boiling over, with anger being vented at people who are different. I think some people feel more empowered to be explicitly racist at the moment - where they’ve probably hidden those views in the past. It’s become more acceptable to be explicitly racist over the last couple of years, no doubt linked to political events, and media reporting. It’s good that it’s being discussed, and John Barnes is also worth listening to.

https://youtu.be/b3oojs_JmKw
I'm not denying there isn't a problem and I suppose it's more at young English players than anything else. Everybody loves N'Golo Kante. Why? That smile, humility, humble on and off the pitch.

Raheem, sometimes doesn't help himself with the gun tattoo, laughing gas and he's also been vilified a lot from the media darlings that are Liverpool and their fans (and other fans) for his big money move to City.

I go to Chelsea regularly and don't often see too many problems. The main problem is the anti-Semitic chanting which the club have done a lot to tackle. I also go to some away games where we're always greeted with the 'Chelsea rent boys' song. This isn't acceptable but most the media make nothing of this. The only media person I hear bemoaning it is Dan Levene.

Alpinestars

13,954 posts

244 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Melchett1905 said:
I'm not denying there isn't a problem and I suppose it's more at young English players than anything else. Everybody loves N'Golo Kante. Why? That smile, humility, humble on and off the pitch.

Raheem, sometimes doesn't help himself with the gun tattoo, laughing gas and he's also been vilified a lot from the media darlings that are Liverpool and their fans (and other fans) for his big money move to City.

I go to Chelsea regularly and don't often see too many problems. The main problem is the anti-Semitic chanting which the club have done a lot to tackle. I also go to some away games where we're always greeted with the 'Chelsea rent boys' song. This isn't acceptable but most the media make nothing of this. The only media person I hear bemoaning it is Dan Levene.
I’m sure you’re not condoning the Sterling abuse....

A lot of players “don’t help themselves”, but there’s a different level of abuse and reporting that black players are subject to.

wjb

5,100 posts

131 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Alpinestars said:
wjb said:
Missing the point a bit guys, it's not the racist fans that was being discussed tonight.

This is worth a watch if you didn't see it earlier.

https://youtu.be/YF3jTYjXEe8
It’s not missing the point at all. It’s about racism directed towards Sterling. Of course the press has a role to play in it, and it should be discussed as an issue. But these things should not manifest themselves in the way they did. My observation is that I see Chelsea, rightly or wrongly, as a problem. And there’s a tangible difference in the “athmosphere” at Stamford Bridge, versus anywhere else in London. They have been involved in a number of high profile incidents, including with their players. That’s not to say it doesn’t exist at other clubs, but I can hand on heart say I’ve never heard anything like that low life scum was shouting at Sterling from a United fan. Not because we don’t have racist fans, but because I think they’d get called out, and we know that.

Neville started touching on it, there’s a problem in society that’s simmering, and in some cases boiling over, with anger being vented at people who are different. I think some people feel more empowered to be explicitly racist at the moment - where they’ve probably hidden those views in the past. It’s become more acceptable to be explicitly racist over the last couple of years, no doubt linked to political events, and media reporting. It’s good that it’s being discussed, and John Barnes is also worth listening to.

https://youtu.be/b3oojs_JmKw
Sorry, "missing the point" was wrong, but what I'm trying to say is that It's not just the chelsea fan from Saturday, or the banana at the Emirates. Racism hasn't gone away, it's still ingrained in our society.

I'd love to see it die out with this next generation, for my sons sake, I hope it does, but I doubt it. Unfortunately the hate gets passed down from generation to generation.

Neville made points that I've said for years about black players, as did Durham on the radio. Talking about people in the media who single out and label Lukaku and Pogba as "lazy", are feeding racist stereotypes, he's right, because if he was genuinely lazy he'd be at home playing football on PlayStation not at Old Trafford.

Lewis Hamilton is arguably one of the best F1 drivers Britain's ever seen, would he have his own thread on PH with 1000's of snide comments if he was white with blond hair and blue eyes?

You see it on here all the time, people can't write "the n word" or similar because they'll get banned, so they write "promising footballer" instead. Then they'll deny being racist, arguing that the typical words society associates with racism aren't there.

I saw someone complaining on here about a mixed race family on a TV advert, he/she was angry that it was "being rammed down their throat" imagine having that sort of hate?

Mini rant over smile

Brave Fart

5,724 posts

111 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Alpinestars said:
I’m sure you’re not condoning the Sterling abuse....
A lot of players “don’t help themselves”, but there’s a different level of abuse and reporting that black players are subject to.
It would seem from that Twitter link that The Sun, in particular, have an agenda with Raheem Sterling. I doubt it is racist, it's more like "he's a highly paid player who's been rubbish in an England shirt; let's target him 'cos it'll sell more papers...."
Do black players get "a different level of abuse"? Yes, but only from a small minority of racist bigots who are, well, just bigots.
The majority of fans, indeed of society, really do not care about a player's skin colour - and nor do journalists in the media. I listen to 5 Live, Talk Sport and Radio Solent all the time and I have never, ever, heard any remotely racist comments by any presenter, commentator or pundit. Same applies to television and broadsheet newspapers. Honestly, do you really think that Gary Lineker, Henry Winter or Chris Sutton (say) are racist in any way?

wjb

5,100 posts

131 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Brave Fart said:
Alpinestars said:
I’m sure you’re not condoning the Sterling abuse....
A lot of players “don’t help themselves”, but there’s a different level of abuse and reporting that black players are subject to.
It would seem from that Twitter link that The Sun, in particular, have an agenda with Raheem Sterling. I doubt it is racist, it's more like "he's a highly paid player who's been rubbish in an England shirt; let's target him 'cos it'll sell more papers...."
Do black players get "a different level of abuse"? Yes, but only from a small minority of racist bigots who are, well, just bigots.
Have you considered that he's targeted by the media because he's black, and it will sell more papers, (or get more clicks) from the people who love to read negative non-stories about successful black people?

People make excuses about how Sterling "brings it on himself" they said the same about Ashley Cole, it's not the case.

London424

12,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
wjb said:
Brave Fart said:
Alpinestars said:
I’m sure you’re not condoning the Sterling abuse....
A lot of players “don’t help themselves”, but there’s a different level of abuse and reporting that black players are subject to.
It would seem from that Twitter link that The Sun, in particular, have an agenda with Raheem Sterling. I doubt it is racist, it's more like "he's a highly paid player who's been rubbish in an England shirt; let's target him 'cos it'll sell more papers...."
Do black players get "a different level of abuse"? Yes, but only from a small minority of racist bigots who are, well, just bigots.
Have you considered that he's targeted by the media because he's black, and it will sell more papers, (or get more clicks) from the people who love to read negative non-stories about successful black people?

People make excuses about how Sterling "brings it on himself" they said the same about Ashley Cole, it's not the case.
I'd be willing to bet that if you looked back on Rooney or Beckham stories it would be similar. Famous people sell papers. That's why no one cares about the less high profile ones.

Pogba = stories = Clicks. Rooney = stories = Clicks.

I've no doubt that there is plenty of racism out there and at football grounds, but don't think it's this massive issue in the industry.

I saw that link from TS on Twitter yesterday and made the comment that they should be naming and shaming their colleagues. If they all now believe that 'the media' is racist, they should be publicly calling out their colleagues and rivals at other papers so it can be eradicated. Of course that won't happen.

Type R Tom

3,864 posts

149 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
wjb said:
Have you considered that he's targeted by the media because he's black, and it will sell more papers, (or get more clicks) from the people who love to read negative non-stories about successful black people?
Do you believe there is sufficient number of racist in the UK that a newspapers profits will increase by running a negative story on a black player opposed to a white one?

FredClogs

14,041 posts

161 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
The numbers don't lie, Raheem Sterling has been one of the most effective footballers in world football for a number of years, absolutely top drawer, look at his goals and assist stats, this season he's virtually second to none.

So if he's being criticised for his ability on the pitch it's either moronic partisan nonsense or motivated by something else.

wjb

5,100 posts

131 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Type R Tom said:
wjb said:
Have you considered that he's targeted by the media because he's black, and it will sell more papers, (or get more clicks) from the people who love to read negative non-stories about successful black people?
Do you believe there is sufficient number of racist in the UK that a newspapers profits will increase by running a negative story on a black player opposed to a white one?
All I'm saying is that some media outlets love to print a negative story on black people, if you're saying that we as society don't want to read such stories, then maybe someone should tell them...

wjb

5,100 posts

131 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
London424 said:
I'd be willing to bet that if you looked back on Rooney or Beckham stories it would be similar. Famous people sell papers. That's why no one cares about the less high profile ones.

Pogba = stories = Clicks. Rooney = stories = Clicks.

I've no doubt that there is plenty of racism out there and at football grounds, but don't think it's this massive issue in the industry.

I saw that link from TS on Twitter yesterday and made the comment that they should be naming and shaming their colleagues. If they all now believe that 'the media' is racist, they should be publicly calling out their colleagues and rivals at other papers so it can be eradicated. Of course that won't happen.
Similar to what Neville was saying, Laura Woods made a good point this morning (while trying not to get shouted down by Alan Brazil) in that although Rooney and Beckham got slagged off in the media, they had the opportunity to turn it around and be the golden boy again, Raheem hasn't had that opportunity and is likely never to get a chance to be that hero to England fans.

Believe me, it's a massive issue in the Industry, no matter how many people want to say that it isn't, it is.

London424

12,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
wjb said:
London424 said:
I'd be willing to bet that if you looked back on Rooney or Beckham stories it would be similar. Famous people sell papers. That's why no one cares about the less high profile ones.

Pogba = stories = Clicks. Rooney = stories = Clicks.

I've no doubt that there is plenty of racism out there and at football grounds, but don't think it's this massive issue in the industry.

I saw that link from TS on Twitter yesterday and made the comment that they should be naming and shaming their colleagues. If they all now believe that 'the media' is racist, they should be publicly calling out their colleagues and rivals at other papers so it can be eradicated. Of course that won't happen.
Similar to what Neville was saying, Laura Woods made a good point this morning (while trying not to get shouted down by Alan Brazil) in that although Rooney and Beckham got slagged off in the media, they had the opportunity to turn it around and be the golden boy again, Raheem hasn't had that opportunity and is likely never to get a chance to be that hero to England fans.

Believe me, it's a massive issue in the Industry, no matter how many people want to say that it isn't, it is.
But it took years and years for that to happen. And you only have to look at the crap Rooney took recently for his 'charity cap' that it's hardly gone away for him and he's some media darling!

Pothole

34,367 posts

282 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Ascayman said:
I have also seen it more and more in day to day life, Just last week i was queuing for a tube and a black lady was blocking the door a big white guy barged her out the way and then as the doors were closing spat right in her face, it was unbelievable! in 20 years of commuting i ave never seen that.

I hope you at least reported the incident.

wjb

5,100 posts

131 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
London424 said:
wjb said:
London424 said:
I'd be willing to bet that if you looked back on Rooney or Beckham stories it would be similar. Famous people sell papers. That's why no one cares about the less high profile ones.

Pogba = stories = Clicks. Rooney = stories = Clicks.

I've no doubt that there is plenty of racism out there and at football grounds, but don't think it's this massive issue in the industry.

I saw that link from TS on Twitter yesterday and made the comment that they should be naming and shaming their colleagues. If they all now believe that 'the media' is racist, they should be publicly calling out their colleagues and rivals at other papers so it can be eradicated. Of course that won't happen.
Similar to what Neville was saying, Laura Woods made a good point this morning (while trying not to get shouted down by Alan Brazil) in that although Rooney and Beckham got slagged off in the media, they had the opportunity to turn it around and be the golden boy again, Raheem hasn't had that opportunity and is likely never to get a chance to be that hero to England fans.

Believe me, it's a massive issue in the Industry, no matter how many people want to say that it isn't, it is.
But it took years and years for that to happen. And you only have to look at the crap Rooney took recently for his 'charity cap' that it's hardly gone away for him and he's some media darling!
So you dont believe that Sterling has been treated differently by some sections of fans and the media because he's black?

Scootersp

3,167 posts

188 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
But I have watched quite a few games in Shed Upper, and Shed Lower at Stamford Bridge, and if you were to compare it unfavourably with Mos Eisley space port you'd be doing it too great a service. It truly is a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", and racism is quite openly at home there among the fat Mockneys with body odour issues. Oops! Am I being "working class football fan-ist" now? I don't really care. What is truly bizarre is the fact that there are still racists bothering to go to football matches when, at the highest level of the game, and even down into non-league football, there are some extremely talented non-white players and in many cases they form a much larger proportion of their team's squad than they do as a proportion of the wider population. Surely the bigots should all be off watching field Hockey or Polo, where the representation of non-white faces is far lower as a proportion of participants? Most ridiculous of all, I find, is the racist abuse of black players on the opposing team when c.50% of your own team is the same colour. It's utterly bonkers, really.
This is where racism 'just' (to them) comes under general abuse, some fans are more than happy having Black players on their side helping them win, but the fans will also try and help in any way to get their team to win. So they hurl abuse/projectiles at the players to rile them, they can be ginger/tubby/lanky/black if it will upset them it will used against them. Fans used to pelt team buses with projectiles to smash windows and generally intimidate teams before they've even got changed! It's all tribal/clan like (a massive reason for some to be a committed 'fan') the football can almost be secondary!


TwigtheWonderkid

43,356 posts

150 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Racism is definitely a problem but let's also remember that people, regardless of their colour, are sometimes just not very likable, or are likable.

Lewis Hamilton and Raheem Stirling v Anthony Joshua and N'Golo Kante. 4 young, rich, successful black men, 2 or whom are unpopular and 2 that are liked.


Melchett1905

442 posts

64 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Racism is definitely a problem but let's also remember that people, regardless of their colour, are sometimes just not very likable, or are likable.

Lewis Hamilton and Raheem Stirling v Anthony Joshua and N'Golo Kante. 4 young, rich, successful black men, 2 or whom are unpopular and 2 that are liked.
I kinda made that point further up. There probably isn't a more popular player in the Premier League than N'Golo.

Alpinestars

13,954 posts

244 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
wjb said:
Sorry, "missing the point" was wrong, but what I'm trying to say is that It's not just the chelsea fan from Saturday, or the banana at the Emirates. Racism hasn't gone away, it's still ingrained in our society.

I'd love to see it die out with this next generation, for my sons sake, I hope it does, but I doubt it. Unfortunately the hate gets passed down from generation to generation.

Neville made points that I've said for years about black players, as did Durham on the radio. Talking about people in the media who single out and label Lukaku and Pogba as "lazy", are feeding racist stereotypes, he's right, because if he was genuinely lazy he'd be at home playing football on PlayStation not at Old Trafford.

Lewis Hamilton is arguably one of the best F1 drivers Britain's ever seen, would he have his own thread on PH with 1000's of snide comments if he was white with blond hair and blue eyes?

You see it on here all the time, people can't write "the n word" or similar because they'll get banned, so they write "promising footballer" instead. Then they'll deny being racist, arguing that the typical words society associates with racism aren't there.

I saw someone complaining on here about a mixed race family on a TV advert, he/she was angry that it was "being rammed down their throat" imagine having that sort of hate?

Mini rant over smile
Sounds like we’re in total agreement.