Kick It Out Campaign Row

[Wonder Pigeon]

Maybe I'm just blind, but I couldn't see a thread on this, which is surprising. Reading striker Jason Roberts has said that he won't be wearing a Kick It Out t-shirt during their October campaign, because the organisation are not doing enough to combat racism in football. He's said a number of other players have said they're considering the same. SAF today questioned Roberts' stance:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20003368

Sir Alex Ferguson questions Jason Roberts Kick It Out stanceManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he disagrees with Reading striker Jason Roberts's decision not to wear a Kick It Out T-shirt.

Roberts said he will not wear the T-shirt in protest at what he perceives to be the campaign group's lack of action in combating racism in football.

"I think everyone should be united, I don't know what point he's trying to make," said Ferguson.

"He really should be supporting all the other players who are doing it."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger added that if black players did not back Kick It Out, then their actions would make the campaign "not credible".


Kick It Out's annual awareness drive started on Thursday and runs until 29 October.

Players have traditionally worn shirts promoting the work of the anti-discrimination group, but Roberts has told BBC Sport he will not wear one.

Referring to the high-profile incidents involving John Terry and Luis Suarez, he added: "I find it hard to wear a T-shirt after what has happened in the last year."

Chelsea captain Terry was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 by the Football Association for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match at Loftus Road on 23 October, 2011.

Liverpool striker Suarez received an eight-match ban and £40,000 fine for the same offence against Manchester United's Patrice Evra following a Premier League game on 15 October, 2011.

Roberts, whose Reading team travel to Liverpool this Saturday, said he knew of other black players who were considering not wearing the T-shirts this weekend.

The 34-year-old added: "I'm totally committed to kicking racism out of football but when there's a movement I feel represents the issue in the way that speaks for me and my colleagues, then I will happily support it.

"I think people feel let down by what used to be called 'Let's Kick Racism Out of Football'. People don't feel like they have been strong enough."

But Ferguson added: "If everyone believes in it you should do it together, we shouldn't have sheep wandering off, I think it gives the wrong message.

"All the players are wearing it. I have only heard that Jason Roberts is different. But he is very different: he plays a game and is in the studio 20 minutes after it. That is a great privilege."

I think Ferguson is being a little harsh. What say you?

 

[JB7]

Should be up to each individual player whether they wish to wear a t-shirt or not, don't agree with Fergie at all in this instance.

 

[Scrumpet]

That last line reads like a bit of a dig at Roberts that he's just trying to make a name for himself or something.

 

[Rood]

there is a rumour that Rio didnt want to wear it, I am sure he will after these comments from Fergie.

I can understand both Roberts' and Fergie's perspectives - neither is right or wrong really, just looking at it from different angles.

 

[SilentWitness]

While i agree with what Roberts is saying and protesting against, i'm unsure as to how much power the Kick-out campaign ctually has. If they have no authority to literally 'Kick it out' then he is taking out his anger on the wrong people by not wearing the t-shirt which i don't think should be compulsory anyway. Besides, he may have his own way of showing how he wants to Kick racism/homophobia etc out of the sport.

 

[Slevs]

I agree with Ferguson in this case.

Roberts is just mistaken in the sense that he think the campaign will kick racism out almost immediately. These things take time, and cannot be done on the spot. Roberts needs to have some patience. This campaign will take a couple more seasons to achieve its' goals.

 

[Tomalonge]

I'm with Fergie on this, it's a time where we need footballers to be unified.

 

[Drifter]

Don't agree with SAF on this.For me the Kick it out campaign is just a slogan , and i guess Jason wants it to be much more than that.

 

[Wonder Pigeon]

I don't think it's fair for Ferguson to talk about sheep wandering off and talking about Roberts being on tv. Roberts is allowed to feel that not enough has been done to combat racism in English football, he's certainly not the only one who feels that way.

 

[Nogbadthebad]

I have to say I think Fergie's wrong here.

Roberts is trying to highlight that the kick it out campaign that the FA prminently cheers on is a farce when just this summer, a man who woudl later be banned for racial abuse was chosen to represent the country. And the black man whos brother he abused was left at home as a result.

1 year for Terry to be dealt with, isnt kicking it out.

Its 'kicking it out when we feel it wont inconvenience us too much'.

The BBC rumours thing has said both Rio and Anton are supporting Roberts, and Rio tweeted as much himself.

Its a melodramatic protest that wont achieve anything, but I think its his right to say 'hang on this is a farce' when it clearly is. And I think its wrong to criticise him for it.

 

[The Black Pearl]

Apart from maybe handing out harsher punishments I'm not to sure what more can be done to combat racism. Did Roberts make any suggestions as into what he thinks isn't being done or anything?

 

[alastair]

If you're racist to a colleague in work, you'd probably be sacked. I imagine Roberts expects a similar punishment in football.

 

[Crustanoid]

I agree with Roberts

Whilst Kick It Out are not solely responsible for eradicating racism, they are the chosen vehicle by the authorities to do so. They could have lobbied the authorities harder after the farcical outcome of the John Terry case.

He's clearly angry about the general direction this is going in. It appears that racism is still being taken lightly and people like Terry are free to do what they like knowing they will get paltry punishment for doing so

 

[Forevergiggs]

Roberts is taking a stand because of an extremely lenient punishment handed out to Terry. Four matches and some 200K, is a joke when you consider the gravity of the charges against him. If you are serious about stemming out this crudely primitive form of collectivism from game then you have to start handing out harsher punishments. By refusing to be part of the campaign Robert is trying to highlight how preposterous the whole shindig is in light of Terry's ludicrous fine.

The whole saga was a joke TBH. The dillydallying by the FA during the whole episode was shocking. I am not sure why Fergie is complaining about it. I personally think it is a matter in which he should not be saying anything at all.

 

[Sam]

Once again I have to say I totally disagree with Fergie.

And what's with the cheap little dig at Roberts at the end? Just comes across as cheap and nasty.

 

[Liam147]

I agree. Fergie's annoyed me with this. It's not up him,it's up to Roberts; a black player who doesn't feel they're doing enough, and I understand where he's coming from. Racism isn't being kicked out of football, it's just being given fines and small bans.

 

[Blair]

This issue is a bigger deal than Sir Alex. If Roberts wants to protest then good for him, the campaign isn't doing shit.

 

[Antisocial]

I agree that the punishment for the two recent cases of racism have been far too lenient (it is such a serious matter that those bans should arguably have been counted not in matches missed, but in months) however I think there is more value in supporting groups such as this and trying to influence their policy and actions together rather than separately.

That said we probably wouldn't have this thread or discussion if Roberts hadn't made this decision, so perhaps there is value in his tactics.

 

[duffer]

This issue is a bigger deal than Sir Alex. If Roberts wants to protest then good for him, the campaign isn't doing shit.

Kick it out has been around for nearly 20 years. It has done an awful lot. Just because it has not completely eradicated racism does not mean it "isnt doing shit".

 

[nimic]

Yes, definitely agree with that, duffer.

 

[Blair]

Kick it out has been around for nearly 20 years. It has done an awful lot. Just because it has not completely eradicated racism does not mean it "isnt doing shit".

John Terry clearly couldn't give a feck about it. It's not doing enough if the England captain takes no notice.

 

[rednev]

Ferguson isn't saying that Jason Roberts shouldn't be allowed to refuse to wear the T-shirt, he's just saying he doesn't agree with his decision and that he strongly believes all players should be united behind the campaign.

 

[Striker10]

If Roberts is making a point, then what is he doing to change it, if he percieves nothing happening? Maybe Roberts is doing something but i've not seen it. I think Sir Alex is right - IF Roberts hasn't offered an alternative or atleast explained why. You have to be seen to do something and it has to be united- if he has a better suggestion he should give it.

If this is the only suggestion on the table, you have to go with it else offer an alternative. The irony is ofcourse if Roberts did nothing then that would be exactly the same as what he percieves this campaign is doing.

 

[Count Orduck]

Ferguson talking about Roberts being the sheep that wanders off... is he accusing him of being a...

black sheep?

 

[SteveJ]

Once again I have to say I totally disagree with Fergie.

And what's with the cheap little dig at Roberts at the end? Just comes across as cheap and nasty.

Many suspect that Roberts is a little publicity-happy - I can't imagine SAF making that comment if this weren't the case. However, it's (rightly) Roberts' decision whether to take part or nor; I suspect that JR feels unable to toe the party-line, as it were, on a campaign which often appears to be mere window-dressing. To an extent, black players may feel that British football authorities (and I include club managers in this) still, after all these years, expect them to 'just get on with it'.

 

[JazzG]

Is that campaign at kicking racism out globally or just in the UK? They have done a lot in this country to help with the racism in the past so it is harsh if he is deciding to stop supporting them over more recent incidents.

In this country I do not think if we have a problem with racism, a couple however abroad the problem is more wide spread. That is down to UEFA and FIFA who need to stop with the stupid little fines and impose more harsh punishments like games behind closed doors and even docking points or throwing teams out of the competition. That will make them take action, you hear about these

 

[SteveJ]

There's still, despite all the progress made, a great deal of outdated thinking in the British game. Personally, I was dismayed by Roy Hodgson's attitude regarding the Terry/Ferdinand/Cole situation...and he's the England manager.

 

[Woodzy]

So will Terry be wearing one of these?

 

[gooDevil]

Roberts is trying to highlight that the kick it out campaign that the FA prominently cheers on is a farce when just this summer, a man who would later be banned for racial abuse was chosen to represent the country. And the black man whose brother he abused was left at home as a result.

1 year for Terry to be dealt with, isnt kicking it out.

Its 'kicking it out when we feel it wont inconvenience us too much'.

If that's how he feels, and if 'Kick It Out' doesn't agree, then fair enough.

I hope he reminds everyone that it's the FA who let people down, though.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

So will Terry be wearing one of these?

Nope suspended.

 

[Spoony]

If that's how he feels, and if 'Kick It Out' doesn't agree, then fair enough.

I hope he reminds everyone that it's the FA who let people down, though.

It's funded by the FA, it's hardly an independently run organisation.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Kick it out has been around for nearly 20 years. It has done an awful lot. Just because it has not completely eradicated racism does not mean it "isnt doing shit".

Exaaactly and that's probably how Fergie views it as well. Let's not forget Fergie was a manager when fans were throwing Bananas at Barnes. He has seen the game as a whole progress a whole lot further and in his view a large proprotion of it goes down to Kick It Out. He probably wants everyone to remain behind Kick It Out so the game can progress further.

 

[Woodzy]

Nope suspended.

That's never stopped him getting involved in the past.

 

[SteveJ]

suspended

Over a volcano, hopefully.

 

[gooDevil]

It's funded by the FA, it's hardly an independently run organisation.

I meant that surely Roberts is more upset with the FA than how the head of Kick It Out has chosen to respond.

 

[Badunk]

Disagree with my sweet Frego over his comments about Roberts on a personal level. Very petty.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

I think there are grounds to suggest that we have become complacent of our earlier successes, and that the FA guidelines for punishment need to be better defined.

However, the decision to protest in this way and at this time i don't believe is helpful or productive, overshadows an otherwise unifying gesture. Make a stand on Kick It Out next week, the issue will still be a live one.

The crowd at St James' Park are going to cheer Danny Rose as he walks out onto the pitch i hear.

 

[Crustanoid]

That's never stopped him getting involved in the past.

He'll be in full kit with Kick it Out badge on Saturday. Probably simultaneously at each PL ground

 

[Crumpsall Red]

Roberts has got it wrong. His issue is with the FA for their failure to kick Suarez and Terry out of football. KIck it Out is a charitable campaigning organisation who have no say in the severity of the punishment. People need to keep the pressure on together on this issue.

 

[Crumpsall Red]

Ferguson talking about Roberts being the sheep that wanders off... is he accusing him of being a...

black sheep?

That's baaaaaad