By Haider Ali.
It certainly has been an eventful week within the world of football with the media gaze focused on Luis Suarez and John Terry. Both have been languishing in the mire having had their reputation tarnished with charges of racism. Luis Suarez who was involved in a spat with Patrice Evra, going back to the hotly contested North-West derby between Liverpool and Manchester United; has been charged with misconduct. The charge has been based on the grounds of violating one of the Football Associations most stringent laws in regards to race.
Despite the details remaining rather sketchy in the statement released by the Independent Regulatory Commission, no clear abusive term has been outlined or cited. It’s created an ambiguous feel to the charge hence the immediate appeal by Suarez and Liverpool.
According to an Independent Regulatory Commission in a released avowal “Mr Suarez used insulting words towards Mr Evra during the match contrary to FA rule E3,” which also pertained references to his skin colour. This has all amalgamated into an eight match ban and a frivolous forty thousand pound fine.
Luis Suarez has also released a statement countenancing the accusation upon which he will appeal during a two week deadline. Liverpool Football Club have fully backed Mr. Suarez and illustrated their unity via donning white t-shirts with Suarez’s face on the front and famous number seven on the back during the match against Wigan Athletic yesterday at the DW Stadium.
The club cite a lack of video evidence or concrete proof that players actually heard a conversation of the sort taking place. This could certainly provides grounds for a sturdy defence bearing in mind Patrice Evra has accused a former Chelsea steward of projecting racial slurs against him last year, though the statements bore no prosecutions. What it may come down to is Evra’s word against Suarez’s though detractors may feel this is frolicsome taking into consideration the hefty nature of the ban “bestowed” on Luis. This has certainly opened up a can of worms for the Football Association with the John Terry’s case still pending.
Where there was a lack of video evidence in Suarez’s case, John Terry has not been so fortunate. He was caught on camera actually calling Anton Ferdinand a “Black C**t*.” As an integral part of the English national team and as captain, the Football Association has to tread carefully. A precedent has been set following the punishment that Suarez has endured, although his outcome is still awaiting an appeal, football neutrals may expect him to experience a similar fate if not worse.
Terry’s case seems to have struck a far aggressive more chord following a complaint to the police by a member of the public regarding his demeanour on the pitch. Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London, said: “I have today advised the Metropolitan Police that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offence.” She continued to add “He is now summonsed with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. “It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice his trial.” And so this should be the case but it seems that the public has already judged him. After every touch of the ball at away football grounds he seems to get demonstrably abused.
The Chelsea and England international has expressed his disappointment at the outcome in a statement of his own. In the short but concisely worded letter he said “I am disappointed with the decision to charge me and hope to be given the chance to clear my name as quickly as possible. I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends. I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence.”
Both cases will certainly take time to conclude but it’s worth bearing in mind how far the English game has come in cleaning up its image from the days when John Barnes was flicking banana skins off of football grounds. One dubious incident and another pretty clear cut case should not dismantle the excellent work many people have done behind the scenes over the years to make the Premier League a household product around the world appealing to families of all backgrounds and creeds. Hopefully both cases will be resolved as swiftly as possible in order to help the game progress further an enjoy what has already been a fruitful season full of excitement and vigour.
