Portsmouth News

Does it matter what was said?

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Following the European Football

Cup Final, I have heard and read reports of ‘torrents of racial abuse ’leveled at the lads who were unable to score from the penalty spot.

While I personally condemn such abuse however it is perpetrate­d, I think that the question must be addressed.

How many of us know what was actually said or written, not that it makes any difference to my opinion, but given the media coverage and accusation­s being made, you would have thought that some words may have been put up for the wider public to make their own judgement on.

I suspect that overall condemnati­on would be swiftly forthcomin­g, but covering the page while pointing the finger is not acceptable.

Try as I may, I cannot even find out what the two words were that appeared on the Marcus Rashford mural.

Whatever they were, I am glad to see the British public stepped up and did the right thing, but how can I personally ‘stand up against racism’ if I can’t see it, and the offence is only served up to me in some oblique form?

Shouting any accusation at me

My opinion and comment is in the order of, twerp, that really was a rubbish attempt

B NEVILL

with no evidence, and no definition is little help, just what exactly do I have to do to stand up.

Consider this if you would. A young lad steps up to take a penalty, the run is staggered and seems halfhearte­d, and the kick suffers on power.

My opinion and comment is in the order of, twerp, that really was a rubbish attempt.

For the manager, the question is, why did you choose somebody who was only just in the game, possibly

not fully warmed up, and of course at such a crucial time, somebody with so little experience? In my opinion the manager made a very poor decision.

The problem here is that I have criticised two people, one white and one black, so am I racist on the one hand and not the other, even though no such language was used?

What I am absolutely offended by is the notion that because of my own colour and heritage, by some, I am automatica­lly branded as a nasty person.

There are two sides to a coin, and this needs to be accepted by all, because the situation seems to be fast getting beyond ‘words will never hurt me’.

B Nevill Gosport

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