In defence of Stan The Man

I never thought I would be championing Mr Collymore.

I remember his unhelpful remarks about Mr Drogba at Stamford Bridge, during the UEFA semi-final match against Barcelona.

But I do agree with what he has said The People newspaper yesterday about racism and football.

Regardless as to what John Terry and Anton Ferdinand claim, the Football Association must act in a decisive manner in dealing with this issue.

There was another incident a few weeks ago regarding Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez.

Mr Evra claimed he was racially taunted by the Liverpool ace.

Yet I have noticed in both incidents the Football Association have remained silent over the issue.

This, the silence, is what is unacceptable.

I will never condone violence of any sort in football but I’m aware it was only when a another (now retired) Manchester United player - Eric Cantona – did a kung-fu attack on a so-called Crystal Palace fan that racism in football was seen as the repulsive Cancer it is.

It’s not banter to insult someone because of their race or sexuality.

Perhaps we need Mr Cantona (now happily re-married and establishing himself as an actor) to speak publicly again to get something done about racism, sexism and anti-homophobic behaviour that’s still in this wonderful sport.

When I did some reporting at the demolition of the original Wembley Stadium, I was on the media bus and I can assure you, the racism I heard from the reporters, many of whom worked on national newspapers was horrible.

They said unprintable words about Jamaicans and Somalians, when after seven minutes of hearing this, I took off my glove (it was a cold day) and exaggeratedly lifted up my hand, revealing there was a black person on board.

All of a sudden, the room went silent. I then got off the bus, remembering I had to remove something off the table I had written on.

So I went back, removed the item of rubbish, looked at the reporters ( who were all male, middle-aged and British) who had said the remarks in their faces, turned back and left the media bus.

The reason? I had come to Wembley to do a job and that was to get the views and opinions of the residents of Wembley, which has a high proportion of people of many races.

In other words, I came to do a job and I left the area completing my job.

I could have just shrugged my shoulders at the incident and said oh well, I’m not a Jamaican or of Somalian origin, so those remarks don’t bother me.

But as a member of the human race, it does, as that is what it comes down to at the end of the day.

We have all got to live in this world together and whenever we all like it or not, unless you’re rich enough to buy the whole street, we will have interaction with people of different races and sexuality.

In other words, time must be called on unacceptable behaviour – meaning ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Not just racism, sexism and anti-homophobic behaviour but favouritism too.

As this also leads to the opposite of valuing people for their worth, on all aspects and sides.

Light and Peace

Andria

PS, don’t forget to visit my other site by clicking here.