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Kick him out – apologies are not enough

Clik The Mouse

Friday, October 8th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Would Aragonés be Spanish for Atkinson?
Is Luis their version of Big Ron?
Had this happened in Britain
You can guarantee that he’d be gone

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 The Spanish FA are supporting their manager –
Surely that’s giving the wrong impression?
Robert Pires meanwhile demands action
Wanting Luis sued for “racial agression”

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Aragonés called it ‘motivation’
And valid from a sporting perspective
But he obviously doesn’t understand
The hurt from this invective

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 And so he should be made an example;
To realise that even a quip in the ‘colloquial’
Has such power to offend –
From city to provincial to parochial

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 For this is a black and white issue
The divisions cannot be blurred
There was absolutely no mistaking
The reference that rhymes with absurd

© Clik the mouse, 8th October 2004

Notes

Friday 8th October 2004 – in the middle of “Let’s Kick Racism Out Of Football” action week.

Spain’s national football coach apologised yesterday for any offence caused by a comment made against Thierry Henry.

But Arsenal and France team-mate Robert Pires insisted Luis Aragonés should face prosecution for his comments.

Aragonés claimed not to be a racist despite being caught on camera trying to motivate José Antonio Reyes with a harangue that included a racially abusive reference.

His protest has cut little ice within the France squad, however, and Pires has demanded action.

“He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it; he should be cornered on this,” Pires said. “He should be sued for racial aggression.”

Aragonés said last night:

“In the first place I want to clarify that I never intended to offend anyone, and for that reason I have a very easy conscience.

“Second, what I said can only be understood in the context of the team and a training session, in which I am obliged to motivate my players to get the best results.

“As part of that job, I use colloquial language, with which we can all understand each other within the framework of the football world.

“Finally, and understanding the importance that the post of national coach has, I can only apologise to the people who may have been offended, reiterating that it was never my intention to belittle anyone because, among other things, I would be doing as much to many of my friends.”

The official combined Kick It Out and English PFA statement on the subject, can be found at the following link :

http://www.kickitout.org/index.php?id=9&StoryID=2549

By contrast, the England players were showing their backing of the KIO campaign, by wearing the Lets Kick Racism Out of Football T-shirts whilst on England duty yesterday.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/kick-him-out-apologies-are-not-enough/