Racism in English football?

[Making_Splinters]

Chelsea dug themselves into a hole and seems like they are determined to try and dig themselves out again.

Sadly I have a funny feeling that whilst Terry was the subject of a fairly high level of publicity, a Club and player making up highly offensive, potentially career ending alegations against an offical will be chip paper very quickly.

[SaintPowelly]

Just because there isnt enough evidence to prove something, doesnt mean its fabricated.

[Chris de Burgh]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

[SaintPowelly]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

Ashley Coles evidence in the JT case was basically dismissed because 'he would back his friend', same logic can apply for the assistants.

[rich1uk]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

Ashley Coles evidence in the JT case was basically dismissed because 'he would back his friend', same logic can apply for the assistants.

and how do you know whether clattenberg and the other officials on duty are friends ?

i doubt the officials spend anywhere near as much time together as cole and terry will have

and its 3 other people who would be sticking up for clattenberg who were listening in over the mic as opposed to one player who might or might not have even heard what was said

do you seriously think all three officials are as likely to lie to cover up for clattenberg as cole would have for terry ?

[Chris de Burgh]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

Ashley Coles evidence in the JT case was basically dismissed because 'he would back his friend', same logic can apply for the assistants.

Good point. Looking at the case though it's one claiming someone said something and another denying it with "friends" backing either case. There are no recordings of what was said so how does anyone prove anything was or wasn't said? Either way someone isn't telling the truth but how do you discern who is without proof?

[sussexpob]

It just doesnt add up. As the Guardian article that yorker posted above says, why the hell would Mark Clattenburg use one of the most important and highly watched games of the year to suddenly start calling people racist names? With all the JT and kick racism out of football stuff going on?

I mean "Spanish Twat"??? "Monkey"??? Seriously?? In what context would he say those things? "Here's a second booking, now get off the field you Spanish Twat"??? Why only Chelsea players and not Man United players complaining?

Rich,

I think SP is illustrating a point.

[Kim]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

Ashley Coles evidence in the JT case was basically dismissed because 'he would back his friend', same logic can apply for the assistants.

Was it? Thats not how I read it at all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... -case.html

[rich1uk]

Rich,

I think SP is illustrating a point.

yeah he is

just not a very well thought out one imo

i just dont see that the other officials would be anywhere near as likely to lie to cover up for clattenberg as cole would have been for terry

[Making_Splinters]

Saint is pretty mucb spot on here, the FA have a tough time on their hands with this.

[rich1uk]

sorry but you have to take account of the respective characters of the individuals involved and whether you think terry would have been more likely to make the comments in the first place than an experienced referee

secondly as mentioned in that telegraph article cole wasn't even 100% what he heard and gave inconsistent accounts

thirdly if the three officials involved give consistent statements backing up clattenberg that carries far more weight than a single claim from cole

three witnesses > one witness

[yorker_129-7]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

Ashley Coles evidence in the JT case was basically dismissed because 'he would back his friend', same logic can apply for the assistants.

One mans evidence can be easily dismissed as such. Three peoples evidence cannot.

[SaintPowelly]

But if the referees assistants who have microphones and could hear what was being said and what the referee said could not hear the referee utter the statement does this not put the claims of a racist term being used on shaky ground. Chelsea most likely pushed forward with the complaint as an act of solidarity for their players but as the facts stand either the referee and his assistants are lying or the Chelsea player is lying. Either way this has the potential to ruin Clattenburgs reputation far worse then Chelsea FC or it's players.

Ashley Coles evidence in the JT case was basically dismissed because 'he would back his friend', same logic can apply for the assistants.

One mans evidence can be easily dismissed as such. Three peoples evidence cannot.

We dont know how many Chelsea players heard what he is alleged to have said yet, if 4 come forward, they must be telling the truth ? because 4 outweighs 3

[yorker_129-7]

So far it seems to be 0...

[Making_Splinters]

Read today that Chelsea have dropped the claims regarding the anti Spanish remarks due to their not being sufficent evidence though they are pushing on with the monkey comment angle. They're also lodging complaints against on of their own fans, maybe they're trying to make a point after the disaster that was the Terry hearing.