Far too common this season has the subject of racism largely overshadowed the actual playing of football matches. Like a terrible disease it looms ever present before every game played by a select few teams, causing a media frenzy where applicable. It's true to say that, as the supposed most popular league in the world, the Premiership is failing to justify its place at the top of the modern football word right now. It's also true that the select few individuals involved with the racist incidents have not only caused their teams anguish but have only tarnished their own name as players forever.
Once again, I find myself writing about what should be such a medieval issue, it's as if a whole generation has skipped back to the days of Luther Blisset where it was seen as 'a done thing' to call monkey chants onto a pitch and exclaim racist slurs towards anyone of other ethnic origins. We now have fans consistently being spotted doing very much the same, take one such recent Liverpool fan who thought they would project their views of racism in an albeit disgusting manner. I guess the real question here is, when does it end, or rather why has it suddenly re-started? Any footballer of different ethnic origin has probably experienced racism from grass-roots level all the way up, including myself. I treat it as a low blow, it's something that is all too easy to be picked at by the moron playing for the opposing team, something they somehow think will affect me deeply. They're wrong, yet that doesn't make racism any better.
Tom Adeyemi, an Oldham defender was reduced to tears when he was quite literally berated with racist abuse against Liverpool. I can empathise, imagine playing for a lower league team and fulfilling a dream of getting to a stadia such as Anfield only to be abused and picked apart by mindless imbeciles that could never even dream of being in your position? Unfair. Are Liverpool a scapegoat after the Suarez issue? Or has racism really returned that badly to football? If the second is the case then why do we not hear of Championship teams throwing racist remarks left right and centre? The fact of this is that racism affects people, from those who wish to enjoy the game to the players actually performing for the masses. As a spectacle in many respects part of the game is ruined. How devastating must it be to have to witness a team mate break down on the pitch in front of you, one cannot even comprehend.
I have no solution for this, how can we dispose humanely of those who wish to commit crimes against humanity whilst watching their favourite sport? It is impossible, surely to spot a racist from any other man, you can't spot check someone in case they carry a swastika or a white hood and therefore it makes the task seemingly impossible. Fortunately, and this is why incidents of racism are so well documented nowadays, offenders are shamed in newspapers and on television. The use of CCTV at matches amongst many other things allows Police and ground staff alike to find the devilish culprits and bring them to the attention of the world.
Players committing acts of racism however is a totally different matter. Luis Suarez was handed a tidy eight match ban for his foolish language towards Patrice Evra, something he has shown little, or rather no, remorse for. More disgusting still is a certain John Terry who in many's eyes clearly too performed a racist attack on Anton Ferdinand whilst still harbouring the honour of being the captain of the England football team. Something that now has been deservedly stripped away from him, may I add; for the second time. Racism contradicts everything a professional should be, not only a role-model but a respectful individual, for football is a team sport and thus the other twenty-one players on the pitch deserve the respect of you as a professional. If making the peak of your footballing career really means that little that you'd chose racism over football then surely you don't deserve a place amongst the other greats that stand beside you? It's ironic though that Ferdinand was never given his chance to respond to Terry's comment by way of the usual Premier League handshake when the teams next collided. Surely someone who has been abused in such a disgraceful manner deserves the chance to snub a handshake live on television too? After all Terry's lovely outburst was seen by all too.
There is no condolence for racism , it's prehistoric and proves the true worth of anyone who chooses to use it on a football field, or for that matter anywhere. To think that it was all but eradicated from the beautiful game and now has returned with a terrific vengeance is almost heartbreaking. There is no place for this abuse in football, not least from those who are called role-models. The FA is trying with it's bans and yet also contradicting themselves with the 'punishment' for John Terry, when Suarez was given his trial immediately. Everyone should feel the true force of the footballing law against racism immediately for any hope of getting rid of this torrid, backwards method of abuse. The only glimmer of hope is that at least the media seem to be on side with their continuous calls against the matter. Here's to a racist free game...
