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    Vile racist abuse directed at Vinicius Jr needs to STOP but Spanish football has shown no appetite to stamp it out

    REAL MADRID star Vinicius Jr was targeted by mindless and vile racists. This has to stop.There can be no place for this  in our game —  in Spain, Switzerland, Sardinia or Swansea.
    Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr was subjected to vile racist abuse at ValenciaCredit: Rex
    But perhaps the most concerning aspect of all this has been the response from the Spanish football authorities.
    OK, while maybe you cannot physically stop the odd imbecile shouting abuse to anyone about anything — although you should try very hard — the events at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium were not one or two fans, from what I have seen.
    It was a sustained act committed  by lots of so-called supporters directed  at a player for one simple reason  — because he is black.
    Brazilian Vinicius should not have to put up with that in his day job and neither should anyone else.
    Read More on Football
    It is totally unacceptable in any job to be subjected to vile racist abuse at work, so why is football any different?
    You would assume the Spanish authorities would have come down very hard on Valencia and the culprits.
    We have CCTV cameras inside all our stadium nowadays and to pinpoint the perpetrators should be straightforward.
    True, arrests have been made, so we shall see where that goes.
    Most read in Football
    But the punishment to Valencia was this — a £39,000 fine and partial closure of the Mestalla for five games, specifically the Mario Kempes stand where the racist abuse was centred.
    Am I alone in thinking . . . what? A fine of less than £40,000 won’t exactly cause Valencia, one of the biggest clubs in Spain, any difficulty.
    And what about the message this sends out to other racists keen to jump on this particular vile bandwagon?
    It’s like giving a parking ticket to billionaire Bill Gates. As for a partial closure of the ground, a fat lot of good that will do.
    Spanish football chiefs have shown very little appetite to tackle racism in LaLigaCredit: Rex
    The next time these morons attend a game, do you think they will ponder for one second: ‘Oh, we’d better not do this because it could lead to a fine and closure of my favourite viewing point’.
    No, exactly.
    So the response from the authorities in Spain was risible — but what about Valencia Football Club.
    They made all the usual sounds about condemning racism, then announced they would APPEAL against the punishment as they felt it was out of proportion and unjustified.
    Let’s get this right, a section of your fanbase targets one of the world’s great players on the basis that he is black with disgusting racial abuse.
    You then receive a derisory punishment and your response in the Valencia boardroom is to complain. Unbelievably, they called it “totally unfair”.
    SunSport columnist Karren Brady slammed LaLiga’s response to the vile incidentCredit: Getty
    This is so ridiculous, so appalling, you could not make it up. And is probably why the club has a racist problem to start with.
    We have made great strides in English football to rid ourselves of  the curse of racism and that’s because it is no longer tolerated.
    Football doesn’t want it, fans don’t want it, players and managers don’t want it and we are fighting a battle every day to make sure black players are not targeted for racist abuse.
    Our clubs have shown that they will not accept it.
    But, in Spain, it appears a footballing genius like Vinicius has to put up with it. Not in 2023 he shouldn’t.
    Perhaps the saddest part of this whole shocking saga is Vinicius’ own words.
    Real Madrid star Vinicius hit out at LaLiga after being subjected to racist abuseCredit: Rex
    He tweeted after Sunday’s game: “Racism is normal in LaLiga.
    “I’m so sad. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi today belongs to racism.”
    Many of the leading players across Europe have backed the Brazilian star, as have his Real team-mates, and well done to them for doing so.
    But my point is this — they simply shouldn’t have to.

    It is up to football and football’s authorities to clean this up, not individuals like Vinicius.
    From what I have seen and heard in Spain, there is precious little or no appetite to do so. More

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    Tottenham demand social media companies take action after Son Heung-min racially abused during Prem win against West Ham

    TOTTENHAM have demanded social media companies act tougher on racial abuse after Son Heung-min was targeted against West Ham.The South Korea attacker faced what Spurs called “utterly reprehensible” online racism during Sunday’s 2-0 Prem win.
    Son Heung-min was targeted by racists yet againCredit: Getty
    Son Heung-min netted Spurs’ second goal just four minutes after coming off the bench but at the same time was facing abuse onlineCredit: Reuters
    Sub Son bagged the clinching goal as Tottenham went fourth but his joy was marred by sick comments on social media.
    And in a club statement the North Londoners said: “We have been made aware of the utterly reprehensible online racist abuse directed at Heung-Min Son during today’s match, which has been reported by the Club.
    “We stand with Sonny and once again call on the social media companies and authorities to take action.”
    Son, 30, has been the victim of online abuse before.
    Read More Sport
    And eight arrests were made following similar allegations in a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United in April 2021.
    Fans online rallied round Son on Sunday night.
    One posted: “This is disgraceful and disgusting behaviour, and it should be dealt with….. We stand with you, Sonny. Sending lots of love Sonny x”
    Another wrote: “Far too regular I’m not even shocked anymore. Sad world we live in.”
    Most read in Football
    And a third said: “It’s so sad how people always stoop so low.”
    Supporters of rival clubs shared the sentiment too.
    One posted: “Arsenal fan here to say that I hate spurs, but even so, racist behavior is disgusting. We gotta do better as a society.”
    And from the followers of Sunday’s visitors came this message: “As a West Ham fan we do not associate them with our club. You won fair and square. It’s embarrassing how low people go over a game of football.” More

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    Chelsea’s new £88m ace Mykhailo Mudryk forced to apologise after racist video emerges

    CHELSEA footie star Mykhailo Mudryk was slammed after using the N-word in a video clip for fans.The new £88million signing, 22, repeated the toxic racial term in TikTok footage which has been viewed nearly 214,000 times.
    Mykhailo Mudryk was slammed after using the N-word in a video clip for fans viewed nearly 214,000 timesCredit: Getty
    Chelsea’s new £88million signing, 22, repeated the toxic racial term in the footageCredit: Getty
    The Premier League ace appeared alongside a pal in front of an Audi sports car for the 40-second TikTok clip
    Sources close to the Ukrainian winger, insist he was just trying to recite lyrics from US rapper Lil Baby’s 2017 hit Freestyle.
    Premier League new boy Mykhailo Mudryk has made a grovelling apology for the video.
    But fans and campaigners blasted the Ukrainian winger, 22, for using the language in the TikTok clip “irrespective of context”.
    Mudryk’s representative told The Sun: “Mykhailo is deeply sorry for any offence caused by the video posted on his TikTok account last July.
    READ MORE ON Mykhailo Mudryk
    “Whilst his intention was solely to recite lyrics of a song, Mykhailo regrets his decision and wholeheartedly accepts it was not appropriate. The video has since been removed.”
    “The video has since been removed.”
    Leading football anti-racism group Kick It Out blasted: “Kick It Out condemns the use of all racial slurs, including the N-word irrespective of context.
    “The N-word is deeply offensive and the use of this term by high-profile figures in football can only serve to alienate people from the game.
    Most read in Football
    “It is important that footballers use their significant platform in a positive way, and we’re encouraged to see that Mykhailo Mudryk has acknowledged the hurt caused by his use of this offensive slur.”
    Mudryk made his mega-money move to the Blues this month from Shakhtar Donetsk in his war-torn homeland.
    But last July, he appeared alongside a pal in front of an Audi sports car for the 40-second TikTok clip.
    With hands on their chests, the pair are seen repeating a line from Lil Baby’s 2017 hit Freestyle.
    The full track, lasting two minutes and 43 seconds, features the N-word 16 times.
    Black artists have blasted people of white heritage for using the term in the past.
    Sources close to the Ukrainian winger, insist he was just trying to recite lyrics from US rapper Lil Baby’s 2017 hit FreestyleCredit: Getty
    Mudryk’s representative told The Sun: ‘Mykhailo is deeply sorry for any offence caused by the video posted on his TikTok account last July’Credit: Getty
    Singer Kendrick Lamar declared in 2018: “I’ve been on this earth for 30 years and there’ve been so many things a Caucasian person said I couldn’t do.”
    He added: “So if I say this is my word, let me have this one word, please let me have that word.”
    Grime artist Yizzy has said: “If you use the word . . . and you’re not of any black heritage, in this modern day world, be prepared to face a backlash.”
    And Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has called for all artists to stop using the N-word in their music, highlighting “double standards” in the industry.
    Read More on The Sun
    Labour MP David Lammy said it was “probably the most offensive word” in the English language.
    Kick It Out said it works closely with clubs and players to “educate those involved in the game about the importance of being inclusive”.
    Grime artist Yizzy said: ‘If you use the word… and you’re not of any black heritage, in this modern day world, be prepared to face a backlash’ More

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    ‘It’s madness’ – Rio Ferdinand slams racist abuse towards Richarlison after Tottenham striker has banana thrown at him

    MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand slammed the vile racist abuse directed at Tottenham star Richarlison while on international duty with Brazil.The winger had a banana thrown at him by a yob from the stands during the Selecao’s 5-1 victory against Tunisia at Parc des Princes on Tuesday during their final game before the 2022 World Cup.
    Tottenham star Richarlison had a banana thrown at him while on Brazil dutyCredit: Twitter
    Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand slammed racist abuse directed at Richarlison
    The 25-year-old had put his nation 2-1 up during the friendly game in Paris and was celebrating when the fruit was thrown at him.
    Manchester United ace Fred then kicked the banana away with Richarlison appearing not to notice it until later.
    Ferdinand took to Instagram where he released a clip condemning the “mad” incident.
    The BT Sport pundit also criticised the media for the way they cover such incidents of racist abuse.
    Read More on Football
    Ferdinand said: “It’s disheartening, you got your own kids waking up and going, ‘Dad, seen that banana thrown on he pitch to Richarlison?’
    “It’s madness, there was probably as much vitriol and hysteria on social media and in media in general as there were with this racist incident as there was when Richarlison was doing kick-ups and he got smashed [at Nottingham Forest].
    “Let that sink in, it’s mad. It’s just crazy. That’s where the media feel in the way it’s reported that racism is not [up] there [as] something we absolutely need to discuss and sort out. It’s not there, it don’t sit there man.”
    Richarlison addressed the sickening scenes after full-time and stated that the person responsible needs to be “identified and punished”.
    Most read in Football
    Prior to kick-off, the ex-Everton ace and his team-mates posed next to an anti-racism banner after racist abuse Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior received from Atletico Madrid fans and an agent.
    Richarlison said after the match: “I was talking about this with [Roberto] Firmino, saying that I think God did not allow me to see that because I don’t know what I could have done in the heat of the moment.
    “May this fan be identified and punished. It’s hard. You see what happened with Vinicius Junior recently and now this, inside a stadium… May this incident teach other people not to do it.” More

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    Why aren’t Premier League players taking the knee this weekend and will the gesture return?

    PREMIER LEAGUE football is back in full flow but fans may notice that one particular pre-match ritual hasn’t returned.Since midway through 2020, Premier League players have been taking the knee before games to show solidarity against racism and other forms of discrimination.
    Premier League players have been taking the knee since 2020Credit: Reuters
    On the first weekend of the 2022/23 season, the players continued to take the knee before kick-off.
    But in a move announced by the Premier League, the pre-match gesture will be scrapped for the majority of the rest of the season, and used only for specific moments.
    This weekend will be the first in over two years that the gesture won’t be carried out by players.

    Why aren’t players taking the knee this season?
    A Premier League statement read: “Ahead of the new season, Premier League club captains have reaffirmed their commitment to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.
    “The players have decided to use specific moments during the upcoming campaign to take the knee, to amplify the message that racism has no place in football or society.
    “The Premier League supports the players’ decision and, alongside the clubs, will use these opportunities to elevate anti-racism messaging as part of the League’s No Room for Racism Action Plan.”
    Has taking the knee been scrapped?
    Not entirely.
    Taking of the knee will still be used for specific significant moments throughout the season, but not every week.
    These include the first game of the season, the last game of the season, the Boxing Day round of fixtures and No Room For Racism weekends.
    And in a collective statement, the 20 Premier League captains suggested that taking of the knee would be used for significant moments throughout the upcoming season.
    Most read in Football
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    “We remain resolutely committed to eradicate racial prejudice, and to bring about an inclusive society with respect and equal opportunities for all,” they said.
    The taking of the knee will still occur before the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals.
    Boxing Day will also see the gesture carried out.
    It was also announced that the Premier League would be donating £238,000 to youth clubs on behalf of the 20 captains, with half of that amount coming from the revenue earned from the ‘No Room for Racism’ sleeve badges. More

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    Why aren’t Premier League players taking the knee this weekend and has the gesture been scrapped?

    PREMIER LEAGUE football is back in full flow this season but fans may notice that one particular pre-match ritual hasn’t returned.Since midway through 2020, Premier League players have been taking the knee before games to show solidarity against racism and other forms of discrimination.
    Premier League players have been taking the knee since 2020Credit: Reuters
    On the first weekend of the 2022/23 season, the players continued to take the knee before kick-off.
    But in a move announced by the Premier League, the pre-match gesture will be scrapped for the majority of the rest of the season, and used only for specific moments.
    This weekend will be the first in over two years that the gesture won’t be carried out by players.

    Why aren’t players taking the knee this season?
    “Ahead of the new season, Premier League club captains have reaffirmed their commitment to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination,” the Premier League said in a statement.
    “The players have decided to use specific moments during the upcoming campaign to take the knee, to amplify the message that racism has no place in football or society.
    “The Premier League supports the players’ decision and, alongside the clubs, will use these opportunities to elevate anti-racism messaging as part of the League’s No Room for Racism Action Plan.”
    Has taking the knee been scrapped?
    Not entirely.
    Taking of the knee will still be used for specific significant moments throughout the season, but not every week.
    And in a collective statement, the 20 Premier League captains suggested that taking of the knee would be used for significant moments throughout the upcoming season.
    Most read in Football
    FABULOUS BINGO: Get a £20 bonus & 30 free spins when you spend £10 today
    “We remain resolutely committed to eradicate racial prejudice, and to bring about an inclusive society with respect and equal opportunities for all,” they said.
    The taking of the knee will still occur before the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals.
    Boxing Day will also see the gesture carried out.
    It was also announced that the Premier League would be donating £238,000 to youth clubs on behalf of the 20 captains, with half of that amount coming from the revenue earned from the ‘No Room for Racism’ sleeve badges. More

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    Premier League clubs want to STOP taking knee before games this season after captains agreed it had ‘lost its gravitas’

    PREMIER LEAGUE clubs want to STOP taking the knee before matches next season following a meeting between all 20 top-flight clubs.Since the restart of the 2020-21 campaign, teams have supported the anti-racism gesture as a direct response to the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement.
    Premier League captains have agreed not to take the knee before games next seasonCredit: AFP
    But according to Mail Plus, club captains have agreed that taking the knee prior to kick-off would only be taken in selected matches in 2022-23.
    It has been said that most of the league’s skippers have agreed that the gesture has ‘lost its gravitas’ at a meeting last week.
    Though the news outlet has stated that it is not yet known how and when Premier League teams will show their support for the movement.
    But it is believed that the gesture will be performed during primetime TV matches and local derbies.
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    The Mail have revealed that Bournemouth will not take the knee in any fixture after insisting it has ‘run its course’.
    Despite an agreement being found between the club captains, it has been claimed that there remains a few skippers yet to discuss the plan with their teams.
    Any decision made will be supported by the Premier League after clubs have been consulted.
    An announcement could now be made regarding taking the knee before Arsenal’s trip to Crystal Palace on Friday night.
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    SunSport exclusively revealed in May how Prem chiefs were set to consult with senior players to decide whether to stop taking the knee.
    The decision to adopt the pre-match statement came in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of policemen in the USA.
    Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, Brentford striker Ivan Toney and Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso have been conspicuous by their decision not to join in.
    Those decisions brought the matter into focus and saw Aston Villa and England defender Tyrone Mings, a powerful advocate for social change, agreeing: “The knee is something that continually needs to be reviewed.
    “Is it still powerful? Is it still making people aware?” More

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    Premier League bosses will hold talks with senior players about scrapping ‘taking the knee’ next season

    PREM chiefs will consult with senior players to decide whether to continue to “take the knee” before games next season.Top-flight players have united in the anti-racism gesture since the return of football at the end of the first pandemic lockdown in 2020.
    Premier League chiefs will hold talks with players about “taking the knee”Credit: Rex
    But after two-and-a-half seasons of the gesture being the final part of the pre-match programme, some have argued that it is time for it to be dropped.
    Premier League bosses will not take a formal position until the eve of next season.
    That will come after a full consultation with club captains, managers and the PFA to gauge the feeling of the Prem stars.
    And while some players have stayed on their feet as the debate has ensued, if the players believe it should continue into the 2022-2023 campaign, it will.
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Football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}COP SHOCK .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}McBurnie ‘will be arrested if he does not attend police meeting’ over ‘stamp’
    The decision to adopt the pre-match statement came in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of policemen in the USA.
    The first deployment was a direct response to the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and the slogan replaced the names of the players on all shirts for the first week of restart.
    Since then, however, a number of players have made the case that taking the knee is making the point that discrimination – on the grounds of race, gender or sexual identity – must not be part of football.
    Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso have been conspicuous by their decision not to join in.
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    Those decisions brought the matter into focus and saw Aston Villa and England captain Tyrone Mings, a powerful advocate for social change, agreeing: “The knee is something that continually needs to be reviewed.
    “Is it still powerful? Is it still making people aware?”
    Some fans at England matches before last summer’s Euros booed when Gareth Southgate’s men opted to show their support, with racist chants following from home supporters during the World Cup qualifier in Hungary in September.
    Players and Prem bosses will decide whether to continue “taking the knee” next seasonCredit: Getty
    England have maintained their stance, backed by the likes of Liverpool’s Senegal defender Joel Matip, who said earlier this season: “It is a sign of awareness that it’s still a big problem with racism.”
    Club skippers will take soundings from their team-mates to adopt a united position on the issue, with an awareness that any decision must be broadly backed. More