‘Resorting to racism is a low blow’
Christie speaks out on abuse he’s suffered from online trolls
CYRUS Christie has described the racist online attacks he suffered after the World Cup playoff loss to Denmark as a ‘low blow’ and is adamant not enough is being done to root out racism in football.
Where black players were once taunted primarily from the terraces — and still are to a certain degree, according to Christie — it is now social media platforms, specifically Twitter, which allow racist trolls to vent their bile.
‘They wouldn’t say it to your face. When they’re hiding amongst the crowd, that’s when they get brave,’ said Christie.
Articulate and thoughtful, Christie shone a light into a dark place for football and called on the relevant governing bodies, including the Gardaí, to get their act together in the war against racism.
‘The “Kick It Out” campaign with the PFA can do more, the FA can do more, and I think Twitter and social media can do more as well,’ said the Fulham and Ireland full-back.
Christie, 25, was targeted on social media after the 5-1 loss to Denmark last November. ‘I think it came out that I was crying about it, which wasn’t true,’ he said.
‘We were hurting in the dressing room just as much as the fans but for them to resort to that [abuse] is a low blow. It [abuse] happened in the four previous games as well, the Georgia and Serbia games, it happened over the course of a couple of months.
‘The police [Gardaí] were in contact but whether something will get done or not I don’t know. A lot of the time when stuff like this happens, nothing really gets done. A lot of these people are hiding behind different profiles.’
Christie, who has made 17 appearances, has no issues with the rank and file Irish supporter. ‘From day one I have felt welcome,’ he stressed. ‘I cannot hold the whole country to certain people’s beliefs, you cannot judge everyone by that same cover.
‘Whether or not something gets done, who knows? I think that’s why a lot of people don’t speak out when it does happen. I have experienced it a lot and it is kind of normal for me. And you kind of think that it’s going away from that but then it comes back.
‘I think if you spoke to a lot of the black lads who have played, they have had racial comments come their way. But not a lot has been done about it and you feel that it’s almost normal. I’m not sure how long it will take to be eradicated from the game, but a lot more needs to be done.’
Christie doesn’t flinch easily. He grew up in a working-class estate in Coventry at a time where racism hung around most corners. ‘I’ve had a lot worse growing up, when I was in school for example, so for me it [the online abuse] was water off a duck’s back.’
As an apprentice at Coventry City, he recalled another incident which has stayed with him. ‘A massive fight kicked off because someone had been called the “N” word and that was from one of the other lad’s parents. ‘Other than that, I did not experience it [racism] from any of the coaches at Coventry. They were all fantastic and the people at Coventry were fantastic. ‘It used to be bad, it changed, and we have moved on from that. But some people have not and that’s is.’just the
way that it ‘Something needs to be done because a
They only get brave hiding in a crowd
lot of the young lads coming up they might not have experienced certain situations that maybe I’ve been in and won’t know how to deal with it.’
Christie is unsure of the merits of trawling through Twitter accounts as the FA did recently with Mason Holgate after he engaged in verbal sparring with Roberto Firmino.
From a charge of racism made by Holgate, suddenly the Everton defender was on the receiving end of an investigation when homophobic tweets he sent at 15 were unearthed.
‘They go through his (Holgate) tweets from the age of 13 and 14 and he gets disciplined. So, from the whole racism thing, they set a precedent there. And I think that’s why a lot of people don’t speak about it.’
But Christie does, and will continue to do so, with intelligence, candour and a dignified resolve, for he is keen to make a difference.