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| Jason Roberts refuses to support the anti-racism campaign today |
He today followed through on his vow not to partake in the annual day of the support in which all the players competing are requested by the FA to wear the campaign t-shirt in their pre-match warm-up.
After high profile cases such as that of Saurez-Evra last year which resulted in an eight match ban for the Liverpool striker and more recently the John Terry scandal which has ripped the English game apart for the past 12 months. The latter in particular frustrating Roberts in the belief that a 4 game ban was not a strong enough punishment.
“The four-match ban was, for me, not a heavy enough sanction for what happened,”Roberts said.
“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’.
Roberts was not alone in his stance today, Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand also refused to wear the shirt today before his teams game against Stoke City.
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| Ferdinand joined Roberts in today's protest |
Ferguson yesterday made his own stance on the Roberts issue when he said, “Everyone should be united, with all the players in the country wearing the Kick it Out warm-up tops,”
“I don’t know what point he (Roberts) is trying to make. I don’t know if he is trying to put himself on a different pedestal from everyone.
“But he really should be supporting all the rest of the players who are doing it.”
| Boyce has condemned Serbian FA |
FIFA have condemned the Serbian's with vice-president Jim Boyce claiming "There's got to be very serious action taken, especially against the Serbian FA.
"There may even be a situation where Serbia aren't allowed to play in of the future competitions."
Northern Irishman Boyce is noted for his oppositon to football's controvesies having recently received the wrath of Uruguay's FA in the form of a written letter of complaint to the FIFA board after he condemned Saurez for his "simulation".
In a time when people of all races and nationalities play football at the highest level in football it is clear that racism is not tolerated at any level of the game. Though it is believed by some that unless the world's goverening body as well as UEFA come down hard on Serbia for the actions of their fans, then the Kick It Out campaign which run in England since the early 90's, will begin to slip into insignificance.
Despite the actions of a few, most continue to support the campaign which employs just 5 people and is funded by around £300,000 a year.
In response to Ferdinand ignoring the Kick It Out message today, Ferguson stated after the game, speaking to in-house TV channel MUTV, “I am disappointed. I said yesterday that
the players would be wearing it in support of the PFA and that every
player should adhere to it.“And he goes and lets us down. We will deal with it, don’t worry.”
A statement which nobody tends to enjoy hearing from the legendary Scottish man who made the "hair-dryer treatment" infamous.
It will be interesting to see what the response, if any, of the PFA, which helps to fund the organisation, will be to today's events.
Has Roberts and Ferdinand's stance had an ill effect on the continuing fight against racism?
Were they right in their stance or do they seem to expect too much from the small organisation?
Have they caused the campaign to now fall behind in it's battle?
What would have been the reaction I wonder if a white player had refused to wear the "Kick it Out" t-shirt?
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