lagos wrote:

I really don't know, I've never been in that sutuation exept as a kid in school but I'd like to think I'd keep my cool. I guess It would only bother me if it were someone I expect better of but I don't move around in the sort of circles where it could happen. People of a certain strata are smart enough to keep their racism to themselves or too be subtle enough for it to be open to imterpretation and if it happenned from a lowlife it's not worth responding too is it?

Well, footballers being abused by their peers is no joke. And that is exactly what Blatter was excusing with his latest batch of controversial statements.

Do I think Blatter is racist? probably not. Do I think he is incompetent and ignorant? Definitely. More pertinently, do I believe that a person in his position of influence should not have said what he did? 100% and like anybody else in such a position, he should fall on his sword and be gone. He won't though, and that is as sad as it is unfortunate.

Disagree with you greatly on that, but the conversation is done.

Lagos, I don't think it's just a matter of British media looking for a story or revenge for the World Cup fiasco. At the end of the day, Blatter runs an orgnization whose reach is as wide as any; a group that has had a very public 'kick racism out of football' campaign. At the very least, he should be consistent with FIFA's campaigns.

I think you're reactions to your racist adversary were the correct ones to take under the circumstances. You took care of your own interests and didn't let his bigotry deny you opportunity. However, if I was that man's boss or shareholder and learned about his behavior, I'd want him gone because I wouldn't want my company run on such principles.

lagos wrote:

Captain wrote:

Next time you are in a negotiation and somebody racially abuses you, I hope you save a handshake for the end of the meeting mate.

If I were to do business only with people I like I'd hardly ever live my house. You can't control people's thoughts or predujices so I don't bother, and just get on with the job, the one place you can't insult me is my house. I once led a team that did a deal with the chairman of a company in the states who was obviously had racial prejudices, he didn't like me and I didn't care for him either. People make a lot of noise because someone called somebody names, what about the silent racists that are condecending towards you and try to denegrate you, who grudgingly tolerate you because they don't have a choice, without actually crossing the racist line verbally? I was the most senior member from our side and I led the negotiations but he kept addressing a guy who was my subordinate but who was white or he'd say he'll have to speak to my CEO. But I had a job to do and was professional, I took his crap, he needed me and I needed the deal to be done. My company made a lot of money and I got a nice bonus. I've never seen the guy again since but that bonus bought me amongst other things 6 flats in a London development. The annual rental income from those flats today is more than 90% of the world's population earn at the peak of their careers, If I allowed his behaviour to get to me and pulled myself out of negotiations, I wouldn't have that particular income today.

Footballers earn a lot of money and live a lifestyle many of the ignorant people calling them names cannot aspire to in 2 generations why are they are bothered by what someone from a council flat in the stands calls them?

Living it up now! Hahahaha!

Why don't you buy an Arsenal season ticket?

lagos wrote:

This is all bullshit, It's only the English calling for him to go, this sounds like a witch hunt as payback for the world cup hosting fiasco.

And whats wrong with using this issue as weapon to rid world football of him?
Blatter is an utter disgrace as was the decision to award the World cup to Qatar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15744902.stm

He said: "When James Vaughan joined Norwich from Everton, I tweeted to say, 'Good luck to James Vaughan with his move to Norwich'. Someone replied to say, 'I don't want any more blacks at Norwich. We've got enough, if you want to watch blacks and foreigners, go to see Arsenal'."

Ive heard it said that Al Sharpton is a race pimp. When i first heard of it me and my friends laughed.

Everytime there is a race issue Al is there.

But to be fair from issue to issue he makes pertinent points.

Anyway it's their job to look out for their communities interests because many blacks don't have money or power. And just because US blacks are not oppressed like they were in the pre-1970s doesn't mean there is no discrimination now in modern day America.

Is your post in relation to Mark Bright's article?

The shake hands statement didn't really stir me, he apparently withdrew the comments and appologized.

The big problem with Blatter and FIFA is the blatant corruption.

Tony Montana wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15744902.stm

He said: "When James Vaughan joined Norwich from Everton, I tweeted to say, 'Good luck to James Vaughan with his move to Norwich'. Someone replied to say, 'I don't want any more blacks at Norwich. We've got enough, if you want to watch blacks and foreigners, go to see Arsenal'."

Great, all the more for us.

lagos wrote:

How many times have people said on this forum we don't want anymore Spanish players?

I've said that not because of any racial component, its because I believe they provoke a certain type of play (Arteta is different as he's played in the PL for some time) or like Fabregas will attract the Barca circus or like Almunia who is shit.

Heh heh Arteta might be a Spaniard but he he's our Spaniard.

Same here. No problem with Spanish players. Just don't want anything connected to those Catalan hypocrites

lagos wrote:

In my opinion he did because it keeps him relevant, this is the problem with black leaders, they play the race card for their own benefit, now there is a racial issue so a lot of sporting organisations will be scrambling to look pro-black and maybe one might want to extend the contract of a certain black punter or appoint a black ambassador for race issues. It's all about relevance and self preservation for most of them, in 100 years someone is still going to tweeting fuck blacks or fuck germans because you can't control these things.

I am not saying there aren't race issues but it's nowhere like what they are making it out to be, the whole race debate is in danger of moving from equality which has largely been achieved in England to thought control which you can never achieve.

You had a much better case with Al Sharpton.

Mark Bright is not a leader, he's just a football pundit with an opinion. And he's given his opinion on the race issue in football.

He may have been asked by the BBC or he may have volunteered to air his opinion. Who cares really? He's been writing articles and doing punditry for ages, most of which have nothing to do with race. He may be a poor, "irrelevant" pundit but that's just one view from one person. If he's an average journalist he was average before this article and will be after it. You didn't even know about it until I brought it up. It's not like he was decent before then fell off. He's always been at the same level and this article won't make him or the BBC more respected.

It isn't a crime and it's not strange for a former black footballer to make a statement about the state of racism in football when a race issue like Suarez or Terry pops up.

I say who cares whether he was asked to air his views or not. He may have volunteered or he may not have. Who cares.

His views on racism now is that it still goes on in football. He makes a point in his articles about Norwich or whoever and then someone insults him about something that has nothing to do with football.

If you don't like his view on that then fine but it's no big deal and it's not strange that he says something.

If he is irrelevant then he was irrelevant before that article. I don't think i've seen him write on racism before. It's mainly football and tactics or whatever and that is why he is relevant. If he is a crap pundit then this article won't change it and it won't make him any more relevant.

Anyway, if racism is largely gone from England as you say, then Bright was hired due to his talent and his ability to do the job well. Therefore he is relevant.

I sort of understand where Lagos is coming from, racism exists in all communities in all walks of life, I think the racism of the Anglo-Saxon countries which usually rears it's ugly head in the form of humour (anti-Black/Irish/French jokes etc) is probably one of the most benign, in many other cultures it manifests itself in pogroms and ethnic cleansing, if you're going to be an oppressed minority you're better off being one in an Anglo-Saxon country.
I was astounded to read advertisements for jobs and accommodation newspapers in Malaysia saying no Muslims or Chinese only etc......
Thats not to say its perfect, and we shouldn't continue to strive to marginalise this ancient practice.