Under 21 matches are not normally big news… especially in preseason, but the home page of the BBC website currently has a story about the Manchester City youngster being a victim of racial abuse.
I’m not commenting on the rights or wrongs of this particular case, but I wonder should there be a punishment for accusing a team of racism if it is unproven? The Croatian side have claimed the accusation is a cynical attempt to divert attention away from a bad foul.
There have been discussions in football about diving, and the apparent unfairness of punishment. If a player dives when through on goal the defender will be shown a red card, if the dive is noticed the striker will only get a yellow… that doesn’t seem fair.
If a team/club is accused of racial abuse and found guilty – they are rightly punished. If the claim is false… then what? Damage is done to a club with an accusation of racism, so should false claims or claims that are unproven face a sanction?
Punishment for false claims
posted on 24/7/14
The club should be punished if the accusations are false but judging by the reaction of the other players and Patrick Vieira in this instance, I doubt they are.
posted on 24/7/14
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posted on 24/7/14
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posted on 24/7/14
He'd already been sent off for the tackle so I don't see the need to make the stuff up.
The problem usually is that it is one word against another.
posted on 24/7/14
I remember when Porto tried to counter the racist abuse of our players with claims we abused hulk by singing "you're not incredible"
posted on 24/7/14
World Cup proves our song was in fact correct
posted on 24/7/14
I did think at the time of the Evra / Chelsea Groundsman incident that something should have been done about the false waving of the race card.
This did cloud my feelings about the later Evra / Suarez incident rightly or wrongly.
I am led to believe now, that it wasn't actually Evra who waved the race card but it does leave a nasty taste.
Racism is wrong but to falsely allege it is equally wrong
posted on 24/7/14
comment by Cityblagger (U19262)
posted 3 hours, 12 minutes ago
He'd already been sent off for the tackle so I don't see the need to make the stuff up.
The problem usually is that it is one word against another.
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I essentially agree. However, one argument could be that the player was upset about being sent off and made the story up.
The other argument could be that a Croatian player used a racial comment to rub salt into the wound at the time of sending off.
If there are no credible witnesses then this a waste of time, as was the case with one of our referees a couple of years ago.
posted on 25/7/14
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