I've been so incensed by Liverpool FC's actions over the past weeks I had to start a blog, something I've had in mind to do for a while, in order to get my feelings "off my chest."
I am so tired of these Suarez apologists now. There is absolutely no need in general conversation to make reference to some ones skin colour or race unless 1) you are very close friends and it's used in a self deprecating manner or 2) you intend to cause offence by attempting to belittle the other person making them feel in some way inferior. To my knowledge Evra and Suarez were not 'best buddies' so I have to conclude that the reason he decided to make reference to Evra's race was to cause offence.
I've been on the receiving end enough times (being of African-Caribbean decent) to know what is racist, and I most definitely do not need anyone to tell me what I should consider abusive.
If Liverpool FC and in particular Dalglish, who I have lost any respect for as a human being, had said nothing on the matter until the results of the official enquiry had been published there would have been no controversy and in my opinion this latest incident would never have happened. Now, you may wonder how I connect the two incidents? Liverpool FC's handling of the whole situation has resulted in a climate around the club where racism is seen to be condoned by the administrators of the club and people holding these bigoted beliefs have been given cart blanche to air their views at games. After all if the manager supports this kind of language in the dressing room and on the field of play he can hardly then go public and condemn the same actions by a fan, surely that would be total hypocrisy?
But yet here we are, and apparently hypocrisy if rife around the Anfield area of Liverpool! The clubs 'apology' to Adeyemi is the most cynical, empty piece of diatribe I have read for a very long time. Shorn of any hint of sarcasm or irony they state they are, "sorry for what happened on Friday night and our players and our club pass on our sincere regrets to Tom Adeyemi for the upset and distress he suffered as a result of the matter at hand." Wonder if those players include Suarez, sorry for what a fan may have said but no remorse for when he, Suarez, uttered similar words? if that is not the definition of hypocrisy then please tell me what is. Have they passed on "their regrets" for the upset cause to Evra? Deafening Silence so far on that one! As silent as the noise of the Kop was deafening as they chanted the Suarez song while Adeyemi was obviously in a state of upset on the pitch.
If you want to see how a club handles such issues with class and grace may I point you towards events at the Catalan derby last evening. Dani Alves, who I'm sure you know plays for Barca, was racially abused by some sections of the crowd, presumably Espanyol 'fans'. Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino has condemned the racist abuse aimed Alves during the Catalan derby and said it needs to be "eradicated" from football. He didn't shirk the issue, he didn't look at it through 'Espanyol tinted' specs. Now this man I can have respect for!
This issue is soo much bigger than football or any sport for that matter. It's just a shame that Liverpool failed to realise this fact immediately after the Suarez incident took place. Liverpool used to be a team I would happily cheer for, unless we were playing them of course, they dislike Man United and that's a plus point for me, the enemy of my enemy is my friend scenario. However these past weeks have made me realise they are no longer the great club with the great tradition that I thought they were. I know it will make no difference to them that they've lost my support, I just wonder how many of their own fans, especially those of colour, have been alienated by the clubs handling of this issue over the past weeks?
