Man City Manager Pep Guardiola said that "racism is everywhere" and "has to be fought each day," according to Jamie Jackson of the London GUARDIAN. He was speaking after Raheem Sterling was "allegedly racially abused at Chelsea." Guardiola, asked "whether Sterling suffers abuse because he is black," said, "Really, I don’t know. I spoke with him when I arrived and he was active on social media and Instagram and I told him to protect his private life, and he did it. He’s less active than when he was young, more mature, on and off the pitch -- he has two kids. I don’t know the reason why. Hopefully the criticism [only] is when he plays shit, he plays bad. But just for the color of his skin -- believe me that’s ridiculous and that’s why everyone ... we have to protect from that situation. The media, of course [has a responsibility] -- everyone and everywhere has." Guardiola’s view is that racism is "widespread." He said, "Racism is everywhere; people focus on football but it’s not just in football. How we treat immigrants and refugees, when once in our lives our grandfathers were refugees. How we treat them in society -- it’s everywhere. That’s why we have to fight every day" (GUARDIAN, 12/11). The BBC reported Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings "pulled out of an interview with Talksport in protest at its coverage" of the alleged racial abuse of Sterling. Former League Championship side Reading striker Dave Kitson said that Sterling had incited "jealousy" by "exhibiting a luxury lifestyle on his social media." Kitson added that there was "no excuse whatsoever" for any abuse. Mings tweeted, "Like someone or dislike them, there is no 'but' or grey area when it comes to racism. I'm fed up of broadcasting channels who have a huge voice allowing this" (BBC, 12/11).
'DEEPLY ASHAMED': The London TELEGRAPH reported the Chelsea fan accused of abusing Sterling "denied the insults were racist in nature." Colin Wing, 60, from Beckenham, said, "I'm deeply ashamed by my own behavior and I feel really bad. But I didn’t call him a black c---, I called him a Manc c---. I offer him an unreserved apology. Even if it wasn’t racist, it’s not right what I said. Even the swearing is bad -- but I got carried away. I was completely out of order, but I’ve lost my job and my season ticket now so everybody’s got what they wanted" (TELEGRAPH, 12/11).
COMMENTARY:
Kick It Out Education Manager Troy Townsend wrote in the LONDON TIMES that "progress on tackling racism in football has been snail-like."
Chelsea Supporters' Trust Chair David Chidgey wrote in the LONDON TIMES, "I haven’t heard racism at a football match in the past 20 years."
The London GUARDIAN's Musa Okwonga wrote "Raheem Sterling shouldn’t have to educate the media about racism."
