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"i'm Not Racist But..."

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sp1814 | 15:19 Sat 21st Feb 2015 | News
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Is there any better sentence than that to make you automatically sigh and shake your head, because you know what's coming up next?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/17/arrigo-sacchi-no-racist-too-many-blacks-youth-teams

[i]The former Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi has denied being racist after he was quoted as saying there are “too many black players” at youth level in Italy – evidence that the nation is now “without dignity or pride”.[i]

Is this the very definition of racism?

If the players are good enough, then what's the problem if they are black?
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PankySmooch
I guessed sp was black because he uses updog


Have read the thread, sp?
sp
For the record look back a couple of posts and you will find that someone else suggested you use "up dog" so don't imply I did please.
Jesus Christ!!!'

Calm down, I said it in the context...."sp uses updog"... then when someone asks "What's updog?"... I then reply "Nothing mate, I'm fine"

I'll get me coat
For the edification of some. Updog appears to be a rubber damping device on a tennis racquet do prevent Tennis Elbow.
Not a lot of people knew that.( or really cared)
"I'm not a racist but....."

I don't know why they bother with that phrase, why not just speak one's mind, why make such excuses before doing so?

Why is one so frightened of being called a racist is just another way that some who don't agree with what you say use to try and stop one from stating what they consider to be the truth.

'Racist' is just a word, and an increasingly overused word at that.

Attack those who are the real racists, ie those who wish to discriminate, or inflict physical harm etc, against person simply because of of the colour of that persons skin.

But it should not prevent anyone from criticising any person or persons behaviour etc, (if it is warranted) simply because they happen to be black.

White people have to accept insults and criticism at all times, but no one is out there to give them protection in certain ways.
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I beg your pardon retrocop, I misunderstood your post.
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AOG

Do you have any comments about the question posted?

Should it make any difference whether young Italian players are black or white, and does the number of black youths coming through the ranks indicate that as a naton, Italy is now 'without dignity or pride'?
Accepted. I am a frequently misunderstood person by some. :-)
sp,

I found it hard to pick through the way the Grauniad stuctured the article.

The direct quotes includes the words black and coloured but the article also uses the word "foreign" without making it clear whether that was yet another word he used or whether that was the Graun objectively stating that the youth squad players were, literally, born outside Italy.

If the objective of the Viareggio competition is to identify talent for their International squad of the future, then fielding players who are eligible for the youth tournament but ineligible to play for Italy, due to being born elsewhere, then (he specifies 4) player slots were used to no (future) avail.

It's similar to the old chesnut about the England squad being weakened by the fact that premier league sides have had to recruit from all over the world, to remain competetive. (Whereas, in fact, English-born players have all had to raise their game, to compete with foreigners).

sp1814

/// Do you have any comments about the question posted? ///

I thought I had already done so, by referring to your headline.

However.......

/// Should it make any difference whether young Italian players are black or white, ///

No of course not if they have the required skills and not picked just on the basis of their skin colour, like some wish to do so in other professions.

/// and does the number of black youths coming through the ranks indicate that as a naton, Italy is now 'without dignity or pride'? ///

This is why he felt it necessary to use those words "I am not racist but'''" people these days have to choose their words so carefully in case some like yourself and the Guardian take their words out of context.

He has already said "I have been misrepresented".

This is what was he was reported as saying.

*** But look at the Viareggio [youth] tournament I would say that there are too many black players. Italy has no dignity, no pride. It should not be possible that our teams should have 15 foreign players in the squad.” ***

Perhaps he could have chosen his words a little more carefully, but what the hell why should anyone have to go away and construct what they are going to say just in case they may cause offence.

What anyone who has not a particular agenda to put over, would have understood what in fact that he was trying to get over, he was trying to say that he thought the ITALIAN team had too many foreigners (non Italians) in it, (put non Italians in brackets because I don't know if the word 'Foreigners' is offensive)

And on this, one can say that many football fans or any other sport for that matter would love to see either their local team or national team actually contain players belonging to their own nation, city, town, village, school etc etc. that is true representation.

I don't think that Arrigo Sacchi would see any problem if the black players in the Italian team where born and bred in Italy but the problem now is the fact that most are not.
Local and National pride etc, has been spoilt by money.

If one knew one's local team was manned exclusively by your local lads, then one could take pride in your specific team, even if perhaps they were not as good as another team from another town.

Ahhhh, jumpers for goalposts eh. Mm. Isn't it.
Marvellous!
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AOG

Okay, but what does he mean by 'foreign players'?

These are young Italians. You can't play for Italy's youth side if you're not Italian.

I myself find that I have to constantly avoid saying what I think when elderly people make what I believe are racist statements - so I know what you're talking about.

How many foreign players does the Italian national side have?

I think I can tell you.

It's zero.
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AOG

Do you think that footballers should be judged on talent rather than skin coolur - or do you support positive discrimination in favour of white players?
Sp, throughout this thread you have shown nothing but ignorance. Even when I gave you some clues as to what that ignorance was , you ignored it.
It seems to me you read an headline and thought ...great, here I go...

You wanted this man to be outed as a racist even though you know nothing about Arrigo Sacchi, football or (this one is an assumption) Italy
It is imo a poor show and only serves to devalue any future opinions you have on genuine racist.

I can't say for sure that Arrigo Sacchi is or isn't a racist but I think you dived straight in with two feet (little football cliche there) purely on the headline.

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-Talbot-

I disagree with your summary.

I have read through the story and reached a different conclusion to you.

It's not ignorance, so much as opinion. Mine differs from yours.
Your posts on this thread are full of inaccuracies sp

But as often said on AB ...don't let facts get in the way of a good rant.

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