DID YOU watch 'Is Football Racist?' the other night? What did you make of it? Do you think we still have racial problems in the game, or is it just another case of mountains out of molehills?
Personally I think the racial issues in football are nowhere near as bad as Clark Carlisle was making out. As he said himself, he has never been subjected to any racism, despite being in the game for 17 years, and most of the players he spoke to had hardly encountered any either.
Northampton striker Ade Akinfenwa told of a team-mate who once called an opossing player a 'black c**t' during a game, but apologised for it straight after the match. Hardly a major issue then. Things are sometimes said in the heat of the moment. Of course that does not make it right, but it is easy for something to slip out in these high-pressure situations. I doubt the player in question is actually a racist, and Akinfenwa certainly did not appear to have a problem with him. He accepted the apology and moved on.
Then we had Stan Collymore. It appears the worst he has suffered has been a few remarks on Twitter. Hardly surprising when you see some of the rubbish he comes out with, both on social media and the radio. While I am not condoning bringing race into it, we should remember this is a man with a very questionable past, so for him to get on his high-horse about a few comments on Twitter really does lack a lot of creditability.
Funnily enough the most harrowing story in the programme was that of Carlisle's father. He spoke of the racial abuse he suffered as a young man, both on the pitch as a semi-professional player and on the terraces as a fan. He said that was one of the reasons he never took his son to matches. Very sad. But this was back in the 1970's. Things were very different then.
He lost a lot of sympathy from me, however, when he looked to blame his failure on making it as a professional on his colour. Really?? I don't recall it standing in the way of Viv Anderson or Cyril Regis, for example, or later John Barnes. My guess is Mr. Carlisle was just not quite good enough.
In fact it was Barnes who was up next. I remember watching him play for Watford back in the early 1980's and thinking what a fabulous player he was. I was on the North Bank when he tore Arsenal apart in 1982 and I left that game thinking I just seen the greatest player ever. He was the new Pele.
But Barnes was one of the first black players I can remember getting racially abused at football. We all recall the banana throwing incidents at Liverpool, but I also remember an England match where he was abused by his own fans. Monkey chants every time he got the ball and some refusing to celebrate the goals he had scored. Unbelievable. Maybe Collymore should remember that before he starts playing the victim...
I guess it is unsurprising that Barnes now appears to have a chip on his shoulder. I always saw him as a trail-blazer for black players in this country but he ruined it all by trying to blame his colour on his lack of managerial opportunities. I recall him doing a terrible job at both Celtic and Tranmere Rovers so that is more likely to be the reason he has not been flooded with offers since. The same goes for Paul Ince.
So I don't buy into the argument that club chairmen are racist. Every chairman wants the best man for the job regardless of their colour. Yes, there has been a lack of black managers and coaches in the game but I think that is more to do with culture. Most black players seem to go into the media when they finish playing. Mark Bright, Ian Wright, Leroy Rosenior, Garth Crooks, Collymore etc. Perhaps coaching does not appeal to them in the same way it does to white players?
So, in conclusion, much progress has been made over the last 30 years or so and black players are no longer disadvantaged in the game. There are more black players now than ever before so it is inevitable the number of black coaches will eventually increase as they come to the end of their playing careers. But I still do not think we will see a massive change. If you look at some of the black players currently reaching the end of their careers, how many appear to be management material? Ashley Cole? Rio Ferdinand? I don't think so. That is not racism, it is simply that they are not cut out for a career in management.
Yet they expect to be considered for these jobs simply because of their colour. Positive discrimination I believe it is called. Or just discrimination as I call it. The best man for the job should get it, be they black, white or green. And most black managers have just not been good enough. In fact, with very few exceptions, you could argue that most white managers are not good enough either. I mean most of them get sacked, don't they? Is that racism too?
Carlisle is an intelligent guy. He is very good role model for all young lads looking to make a career in football. He has been given an important role within the game and is proof that colour will not hold you back if you do not allow it to.
So instead of the likes of Ince and Barnes blaming 'inverted racisim' on their woes, perhaps they should take a look at themselves. Go away and improve your management skills. Do not expect to be given a job simply because of your colour.
Instead of Collymore complaining about a few Tweets, he should understand it is him people do not like, not his colour. The more you look to blame your colour on your failings, the more you create racist feelings.
Of course racism exists in society. I think it always will. And it is not just blacks who are victims of it either, let's not forget that. But if the programme proved anything at all it is that racism is not a major problem in football in 2012. Suarez and Terry incidents apart ,we really have very little to be ashamed of.
So is football racist? I would say not, but what do you think??
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