My shock at former pro demanding £800 to condemn racism
Sadly, the lawyer’s big red pen prevents the naming and shaming of the anti-racism campaigner who asked for a fee to condemn a recent controversy.
A call had been placed to a highprofile former footballer who had suffered his own share of abuse during a successful career.
But when I phoned him to ask for a comment over the latest racial outrage in Scottish football, he insisted it would have to come at a price and that figure would be £800.
It was a jaw- dropper of a statement but it was no joke. “That’s what it’ll cost you,” he said.
The phone was slammed back on the receiver and I’d love nothing more than to reveal his identity but these lips will have to remain sealed.
What it provided was further proof of the toothless approach sport has towards the issue of racial or sectarian abuse. This writer’s experience of Show Racism The Red Card has been equal ly depressing.
A charity which should be at the forefront of condemning incidents of intolerance doesn’t function as it should. It’s a War and Peace of a wait to receive any statements over issues as the chain of command grinds through the gears to get them signed off.
Talk about getting blood out of a stone. You can hear the fear in their voices that heaven forbid they find themselves having to actually call the racists out without a press release to hand.
Sport is merely a conduit for anti-social behaviour, racial and sectarian abuse and a whole range of outrages for the intellectually challenged. The prejudices about the Scottish game are fuelled by the recent increase in the simpleton in a scarf causing pubic disorder
Hearts issued indefinite bans to fans after Motherwell ’s Christian Mbulu was racially abused and it followed Celtic’s Scott Sinclair being targeted by an Aberdeen fan during the League Cup Final.
We also had Falkirk’s Dennon Lewis being abused during a match with Stenhousemuir at the end of November.
It’s an extension of the everyday racism which is filtering back into society due to the rise in right-wing nationalism. It ’s an increase in this populism which has t he knuck l e - draggers feeling able to voice their rhetoric and pol lute our game. Some people have alway s relished bringing their brand of fascism to football, it’s a curse amongst so many clubs in Eastern Europe.
It’s a feeling of belonging for the inadequate, the weak of mind and those of an underclass who display an ignorance of Champions Leag ue proportions.
Football must fight back. Life bans, self-policing and people of profile to shout out against racists without a demand for some payment.
Our game deserves better from those bodies who are more than happy to take the funding grant and go through the motions.
It ’s a simple equat ion, diversity and decency walk hand in hand, morons are morons and anyone of a racist disposition should be shouted down and banned for life.
They’ll know who they are even if you can’t offer a cryptic clue.