NiC

Its not middle aged, white crap though is it? I was saying I haven't got a clue what its like to be a Black British man, and if someone who is wants to use a platform they have through their own talent about an issue they feel is relevant I don't think I should be stopping them , and yes I understand my privilege, from my skin colour to the luck of the family I was born into. Everyone has personal issues but society isn't stacked against me, I've had more opportunities than 90% of people, and if someone is saying they are profiled or abused because of their background, I feel it's only right I should listen to that view, a view I have literally no first hand experience of. So, if someone wants to take a knee to say, yes I believe racism in society is still an issue we need to look at an do something about then I have no issue at all with it. I know you wouldn't boo, and you are pretty bloody far from being any sort of racist, and I think we can see that those that do are doing so for some other reasons, and if you don't agree, fair fucks - but just let them get on with it and support them hopefully doing something amazing over the next few weeks for this country. Lord knows, we could do with a smile being brought to our collective faces.

But that wasn't the point, was it now?

Awww, nah - I'm still here to tap you on the shoulder, question your points - lets not turn this into a echo chamber.

Just found out about this Benefits - superb stuff. I reckon he's been reading this site for his inspiration. I'd post a link but I can't but have a listen to Traitors, Flag or Shit Britain. Angry punk - really amazing.

snap.

But to say one action is direct hypocrisy to the other is plain daft, given the overall context of the game - you either opt out of the structures altogether or you can try and work within them, that is a choice and shouldn't lead to a accusation of hypocrisy if someone doesn't want to give up doing something they love and shouldn't be stopped doing just because they have a certain view. Just couldn't log on - kept sending me round in a loop so just created a new account.

Christ, who are you teaching? Remind me to steer my family away from that college. I think my 14 year old has a better grasp of global politics than you.

No one is saying you need to apologise for anything, how on earth can you take that from what I wrote? What a strange position to take. Seems a bit defensive. What I'm saying is that other voices should be heard at the same level - which they clearly are not, and clearly some in society have an issue with that. Just let them be heard, and if they wish to take a knee to highlight this, let them do so without criticism. To say there isn't much wrong with the game does show a degree of misunderstanding about its power structures, there is huge work to be done - and football is only a reflection of society. I'm surprised you say it's 'pushed the game back', hasn't it just highlighted what is already there? Rather than diluting it, its actually made this issue more potent and higher up the agenda. What is bullshit for you, is important for others, let them have a say as well. And drop the poor me, I'm a white bloke and I can't have an opinion act, because that, my friend, really is bullshit.

That doesn't highlight hypocrisy from the players side I'm afraid. FIFA is a corrupt body, we all know that. Does that mean you don't fight back at any level or just refuse to pull on boots at anytime for any game, because you can overturn any stone in a game that generates billions and find distasteful actions. Its a non sequitur of an argument against taking a knee.

Football is political though - you can't remove the two from each other, especially when it comes to international games. Its not jumpers for goalposts. You say you don't need them to educate you about racism, but its clearly an issue with some supporters, so dragging it out into the light of day is surely a good thing? Ignoring it obviously isn't the answer and the nation's game is one of the biggest and best platforms to do this. It is especially pertinent when the governing bodies say they want to Kick Racism out of the game but then give Kick It Out buttons to do that job - it was left to Sky to give them 3 million of funding in a partnership deal. It is even more essential when there is now a record number of BAME players in the England squad and the number of players in the PL from a British BAME background has doubled since the league began, and given these players have been subject to abuse on the pitch and on social media having this debate surly is educating everyone. To say you don't need educating - even working in a diverse environment - coming from a middle aged white bloke seems pretty arrogant to me. On all sides we obviously need more education, otherwise these positions wouldn't hold. I haven't got a fucking clue what it's like to grow up as a Black person in Britain, I'm a white, middle class, educated man - I know the whole world is tilted in my favour, I've had to overcome nothing. It is surely the least I can do to step back and allow others space to voice what it's like for them and if a young black footballer wants to take the knee, using the platform he has to highlight there are still inequalities that need to be tackled, then fair play and more power to them. Give them that space.