Here's a good idea re racialism in footy

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Gordon Taylor is a penis

 

Racist abuse will become a sackable offence for professional footballers next season, as part of significant changes being made to every Premier League and Football League player's contract.

 

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, is behind the proposal that he hopes will send out a powerful message on the back of a season when racism on the pitch made an unwelcome return to English football.

 

Taylor told the Guardian that he believes the change in the standard players' contract will highlight how seriously the PFA views racism, and remove any ambiguity about the possible consequences for anyone found guilty of the offence. Racist abuse will now be deemed as gross misconduct and, although the decision of whether to terminate a contract will ultimately rest with the player's employers, Taylor pointed out that any club failing to act "could be held responsible for condoning [racism]".

 

The PFA will present the proposal to the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee, which includes the Premier League and the Football League, and Taylor is confident that it will be approved. "We're just about to bring it to the PFNCC, the body by which we bring the issues to the Premier League and Football League, and I don't see a problem with that being introduced," he said.

 

"It just highlights the point in the standard players' contract. It would say that racist abuse, if found guilty, will be classed as gross misconduct and a reason to terminate a contract. I feel it's important to highlight it, bearing in mind what has happened, and not mess about with it and not afford for anybody to be ambiguous about what the consequences are.

 

"I'm not saying it's ambiguous [now]. But just to really put it in there means there is no misunderstanding on how serious we take it. If any player is found guilty of racist abuse, the club and the player need to be aware that could be a solid reason for terminating the contract."

 

Racist abuse on the pitch has become an emotive issue on the back of two high-profile incidents last season. Liverpool's Luis Suárez was given an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra at Anfield in October while the Chelsea captain, John Terry, will appear at Westminster magistrates' court on 9 July after he was charged with a "racially aggravated public order offence" following an altercation with Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road, also in October. Terry denies the charge.

 

Although the PFA has worked hard to campaign against racism in football, Taylor acknowledges that this season has, in some respects, been a "reality check". He remains concerned that black players will "think twice" about lodging an official complaint because of "such intimidation with social networks" and because "there is so much abuse flying about", and for that reason feels it is vital the "football world" supports those who come forward. Taylor also revealed that he has been on the receiving end of "terrible abuse" for speaking out against racism.

 

As well as the change to players' contracts that will carry the threat of more severe punishments, Taylor accepts that there is a need to "re-address the education process, rather than just think about sanctions".

 

He explained that the PFA, working in tandem with the League Managers Association, are planning to bring in a new education programme that would lead to managers, all British and overseas players, and even directors and owners receiving training and advice in relation to racism and discrimination in football.

 

"Rather than just concentrate on the young apprentices as part of their curriculum, we want to introduce it to all senior players, and also that when players come in from abroad, to try and have an educational process for them and the owners of the club and management," said Taylor. "It will be part of the duty of [player liaison officers] introducing any player coming in from abroad to go through a list of things, particularly in the player's contract, where you see about racist abuse, code of conduct and what is expected in this country on racism and equality issues."

 

Racist in whose eyes? A court or an FA kangaroo court?

[aka Dus]

Exactly.

 

Were this ever come to a head in a scenario resembling the Suarez-Evra case the player in question that would be sacked would go to law and have the club, PL and PFA for millions.

 

More grandstanding.

[Michael]

Gordon will greet all new foreign players with: "You're in the civilised world now, son"

[dorgie]

Will these clowns just listen to John Barnes.......even for just 5 minutes ? Gordon Taylor and Clark Carlisle are idiots.

 

Clark Carlisle ""It is not Joey Barton per se that is the problem it is the actions he does when he loses control."

Edited May 24, 2012 by dorgie

[growler]

Does 'racism' include saying these foreigners don't understand, or Italians dive its just part of them etc? What about calling someone a south American t***?

 

Of course, sacking will depend on the player too. Will any club sack their top player for being racist to see then signed by their competition?

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Will these clowns just listen to John Barnes.......even for just 5 minutes ? Gordon Taylor and Clark Carlisle are idiots.

 

Clark Carlisle ""It is not Joey Barton per se that is the problem it is the actions he does when he loses control."

it's not the gun that kills, it's the bullet.

 

Can you imagine a club firing a 20, 30, 40m asset?

 

And anyway, I'm pretty sure you can fire a player for gross misconduct as it is anyway, for racism, or anything that would fall into that category, GBH, sexual assault...

[smithdown]

PFA = APL

[drdooom]

"The decision of whether to terminate a contract will ultimately rest with the player's employers". But we all know what will happen when the FA kangaroo court finds someone else guilty of it. The PFA and the media won't rest until the player has been hung, drawn and quartered, never mind fired.

[Stevie H]

interesting timing. it's almost like he knows for a fact that john terry is set to be found not guilty.

[Cobs]

interesting timing. it's almost like he knows for a fact that john terry is set to be found not guilty.

Anyone expecting any other verdict?

[Stevie H]

Anyone expecting any other verdict?

anton ferdinand?

[muleskinner]

Anyone expecting any other verdict?

be great if a chelsea player takes the stand to testify against Terry.

[Hassony]

be great if a chelsea player takes the stand to testify against Terry.

 

Drogba, Boswinga and Kallou all should come out and say they've left chelsea because of that racist, shin pad wearing c***

[The walters step over]

Anyone expecting any other verdict?

 

I am, I think he'll get done big time for it.

[Cobs]

I am, I think he'll get done big time for it.

 

 

i think 'beyond reasonable doubt' will see him safe

[ajams]

Rather than actually seeking to look at solutions we have a bunch of people trying to trump each other in some kind of "we take racism more seriously than you" game.

 

What makes it worse is that the two groups from which most of this pointless , self-serving noise is coming - football administrators and football journalists - are made up to a suspiciously disproportionate extent of middle aged white men.

 

Meanwhile nobody is looking at one of the most disturbing things to emerge from this mess, namely the total lack of any consistent procedure for dealing with racism in football.

 

It's quite simple, if there is an accusation of racism, it should be referred to the CPS, without exception. Racist abuse is a criminal offence and must be dealt with by a civil court. If the offender is guilty they get a criminal record, and from that point on the FA can deal with it. Everything else is just bulls***.

[psl]

i think 'beyond reasonable doubt' will see him safe

 

Me too.

[aka Dus]

Rather than actually seeking to look at solutions we have a bunch of people trying to trump each other in some kind of "we take racism more seriously than you" game.

 

What makes it worse is that the two groups from which most of this pointless , self-serving noise is coming - football administrators and football journalists - are made up to a suspiciously disproportionate extent of middle aged white men.

 

Meanwhile nobody is looking at one of the most disturbing things to emerge from this mess, namely the total lack of any consistent procedure for dealing with racism in football.

 

It's quite simple, if there is an accusation of racism, it should be referred to the CPS, without exception. Racist abuse is a criminal offence and must be dealt with by a civil court. If the offender is guilty they get a criminal record, and from that point on the FA can deal with it. Everything else is just bulls***.

 

Amen.