Yorke Gives Battle In Vain
‘THE Spanish media must be loving it after a week of being lectured by the English press, they can this morning get their own back.
| Will the FA now write to Blackburn Rovers? |
Racism is, as everyone knows, alive and well in this country and Birminghams Dwight Yorke was yesterday on the receiving end of it.
The Sun says the striker confronted fans at his old club, Blackburn, after being subjected to the same monkey chants as Englands black players had to endure in Madrid last week.
In the end, a steward had to intervene and police later confirmed that a Blackburn fan was thrown out of the stadium.
Thankfully, the match itself was played to a conclusion, ending in a 3-3 draw.
But not thanks to Fifa boss Sepp Blatter, who has effectively given the go-ahead to teams to walk off when they are subjected to the kind of abuse England got last week.
Racism didnt return to English football yesterday (as the Mirror claimed) it has never really gone away. And Blatters remarks have only opened a whole can of worms.
As Mick Dennis points out, what would England have done if Turkey had walked off during the Euro 2004 qualifier in Sunderland?
Under Blatters guidance, they would have been justified after having to listen to England fans singing Id rather be a Paki than a Turk?
What about Leicester and Bradford players, who week in, week out have to hear away fans chanting Youre just a town full of Pakis?
Yes, racism is grotesque but Fifa would be much better served if Blatter kept his mouth shut and paid something more than lip service to the anti-racism cause.
Walking out seems to be a theme in todays back pages with Andy The Viking Fordham quitting in the middle of his darts showdown with Phil The Power Taylor.
The 30-stone ace was taken to hospital suffering from heat exhaustion and severe dehydration halfway through the match at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet.
Doctors put him on a lager drip and he was released soon after…’
Posted: 22nd, November 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
