UEFA are not Russian in to kill off racism
WHEN the FA found there was no evidence to corroborate Mason Holgate’s allegation that Roberto Firmino had racially abused him, we all accepted those findings.
When UEFA found there was no evidence to corroborate allegations from Rhian Brewster (above) that Leonid Mironov had racially abused him, we all raised an eyebrow.
Unfair? Yes. But if UEFA would like to know why, they might want to reflect on their decision to “punish” Mironov’s club, Spartak Moscow, for fans subjecting Liverpool’s Bobby Adekanye to monkey chants earlier this season by ordering the club to leave 500 seats empty for its next Youth League fixture.
Brewster’s complaint might well have been given the fairest of hearings, but if there is any scepticism, it is UEFA’S record on tackling and punishing racism that has caused it. THE spin is that Rafa Benitez gave him every chance and that the striker was not putting in the hard training yards and wanted out.
The fact is that Aleksandar Mitrovic, on loan at Fulham, has scored five goals in his last four matches and Newcastle United, the employers who paid £15million for him, have scored five goals in their last six matches.
Even allowing for the difference between the Championship and the Premier League and for all the wordy explanations of why he was allowed to leave, Mitrovic’s form should be an embarrassment to Benitez.
It may even have some on Tyneside questioning Saint Rafa, but don’t hold your breath.