Jason Roberts...Do you sometimes find him annoying?!

[Stuboo]

Black peoples should be seen and not heard

Now now, that's quite funny actually, but this kind of thing pisses me off. You can't criticise black or muslim people without being labelled a racist. RL is entitled to her opinion.

[sandman]

If you make a stupid comment then you will be labelled an idiot and therefore be ridiculed for it.

[Hoop Blah]

Who knows/ decides what is enough? If I was racist and said something to a colleague at work, i'd be sacked, end of. I'd also be banned from working in the health service ever again (i think). I think this is a fair punishment if the victim was made to feel like/treated like a second class citizen. Only Anton Ferdinand knows how he felt when Terry said that, so should he be involved in deciding the punishment? It's an almost impossible dilema, hence Roberts didn't offer an alternative. What would yours be out of interest?

As I've already said, I don't have an issue with punishments handed out by the FA's tribunals. I think they were pretty consistent with their rules and took into consideration the seriousness of the incidents.

I would probably have liked to have seen the Chelsea attempt at a cover punished in some way, but I'm not sure that would be easy to do or legal.

Just going back to the 'success' of Roberts approach and how not wearing the KIO shirt has highlighted the issue, I'd just reiterate that I think the problems in Serbia and Terry's punishment are a much greater influence on the discussion than the non-wearing of the t-shirts. The Serbia incident was the catalyst, not Roberts.

If not wearing the t-shirt was such a big deal then why hasn't there been any coverage of Lescotts refusal to wear the shirts ever since the Emre incident? It wasn't something the media were latching onto at the time that's why. If Roberts had done this last year, without the Serbia incident nobody would've really taken a blind bit of notice.

[PBR]

exactly, roberts saw an oppurinity to raise his profile and latched onto it. feel sad for him that rioferdy tried to steal the lime light

[Hoop Blah]

....and that it should not take so long. Few would disagree.

The Terry case was delayed by the FA because of criminal investigations and prosecutions into the incident. They, probably rightly, decided that they'd delay until after those bodies had completed their dealings.

The CPS have come out and said the delay was the FAs decision, but that they did express views to the FA about "possible risk and prejudice" if their tribunal ran first. Personally I think the decision to wait was the right thing to do so I don't understand why people are hell bent on criticising the FA for the delay.

[Friday's Legacy]

Well, personally, and this may be controversial to some people, I think Roberts just wants to raise his profile for when he retires, probably at the end of the season - so that the "media" will want to talk to HIM about all things racist and not Clarke Carlisle. Or something along those lines. He saw, after the JT and Serbia thing, an opening to make a name for himself on the back of the upcoming KIO campaign.

In days gone by, players who played football AND also had another job were known as semi-professionals. Maybe Mr Roberts could concentrate on his football for now and leave his media career until AFTER he has retired/we've let him go.

He has strong opinions, that's all. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that whatsoever. Also the question of retiring at the end of the season was recently put to him, which he laughed that off. Unless something happens fitness wise, he plans to play at least another two seasons.

[ankeny]

Royal Lady would be better off on the States in the right wing Tea Party,could be Palins running mate.

[Super_horns]

Whilst I don't think racism is a major problem in the stands at least clearly he has the right to question if its totally gone from the game and the authorities.

Some might say has the issue only just come to ahead because of the Terry incident/saga?

[harryroyal]

Fact - amongst the inhabitants of this Island, there is absolute institutional patriotism. It is a brilliant part of our culture that protects those people whose ancestors gave their lives to give us freedom! Had Polititians ever made the correct decisions, which for about 60 years they have not, our Island race would still be just that.

Now we are the first destination for the Trailer-trash of the known Universe. Anyone who wants to be entitled to money they have'nt earned comes to Britain to make themselves wealthy by stealing from us! Football in this country is the most race-unaware part of wider society. A good footballer is a good footballer, and we love skill - however, the charmed men who earn those massive wages are still part of a wider society and, in some cases, it is easy to see non-english players as the face of the destruction of our country that their non-skilled compatriots are causing.

I would not wish to live in an England where it's big cities were not cosmopolitan and multi-cultural, though I have always had the right to live in an England that is predominantly English. Is this not what 2000 years of warfare gifted us? There should be no racism at all in our country because the members of other races should be people who we wanted to be here. Unfortunately, as usual, the polititians f*cked it up!

shut up you tit. You try to dress it up as being worried for the state of the nation when basically you resent to seeing large numbers of asian/black people on the streets. Firstly no-one becomes wealthy from stealing from us, Have you ever been on benefits? it ain't nice and you're certainly not wealthy. Secondly, you talk about this "right" to live in a country that's predominantly English, do you not regard people such as jason, ashley cole and other ethnic minorities as English? Thirdly, their "non-skilled compatriots" are often more skilled then the oxf*rd natives of this country. You talk about patriotism without realising what made britian great. It's our acceptance of everyone all over the world which has made us leaders in arts, music, film , engineering, architecture etc. So think before you post you ignorant mug. Now get out of our country .

[Royal Lady]

No surprise at all that some people totally misconstrue my points. How come the main person, to whom the John Terry ban affects the most, hasn't said a lot about this? He (and his brother) did not wear the KIO T-shirt - and felt they were making a stand, which they are perfectly entitled to do. I noticed this morning that their uncle, a retired footballer, was interviewed about it and said his piece today. I am merely querying why Jason Roberts felt he should be the one to get his face plastered all over the media, together with his thoughts on the subject - and I came to the conclusion that he wanted to be up the front because he wants to raise his, already pretty big, media profile. I have never said that what they are saying/doing is wrong - merely that I think there are ex players better placed to speak up for current players - like Clarke Carlisle for example.

All I am saying is, that I don't mind in the least if players want to protest in their own ways about the racism that still exists in football - that is their prerogative in a free country, and their voices should be heard,but I do mind if I think that all this appears to be the uppermost thing in Roberts' mind at the moment, rather than his football playing. Perhaps we'll see today that I am wrong, when Roberts scores the winning goal for us. And on that note, am I really the only person who gets annoyed that he NEVER jumps for a header?

I think Roberts is a very articulate, intelligent bloke - but his number one job at the moment is playing for RFC and I feel uneasy that his secondary jobs appear to be taking a more important role in his life. Nothing to do with being racist - but you all knew that really anyway.

[pea]

Not sure five seconds of Clarke Carlisle saying something or not wearing a tshirt at the rear end of the football league show for York City is really going to get much public attention. Roberts has a big profile and was bound to be interviewed about the 'week of action' and he didn't feel he could support it. I think it is better another PL player made the point than one of the Ferdinands because otherwise its trivialised into a continuation of the JT case, when I think they'll all say it is a bigger issue than that.

Its kind of hard for him to focus on his main job if the manager leaves him on the bench most the game, fwiw he was probably more effective in the Liverpool half when he came on than any other of our attacking players had been all game.

Re: never jumping for a header. been explained here before, who is he heading it to? He usually chooses to hold off the centreback and take it on his chest or to his feet so that he can bring Kebe or Alfie into play, which is almost always the better option.

[Royal Lady]

Except, and this is my other main point, no-one has been saying anything about KIO and what a terrible job they're doing, until AFTER the JT case. So it does seem to smack a little bit of having the arse he didn't get a longer ban - which is not in KIO's remit anyway - and how can KIO speak to the FL/FA or whatever until something is done that is perceived to be ill-judged or wrong? Are KIO meant to say "in case someone is accused of racism on the pitch, can we have a uniform 8 match ban please"? Maybe KIO were going to try and speak to the powers that be about JT's ban - but now Roberts has stuck the oar in, it's lessened their influence somewhat? I don't know. I just think if Roberts was unhappy with KIO as a whole, rather than because of one ban on a player, which KIO didn't have the power to give - then he'd have not worn the T-shirt for 6 years, like Lescott. Or something.

Why are they turning their ire to KIO and not towards the FA? They had the final say on what the ban was going to be.....

[Royal Lady]

If the ball is hoofed and there is him and a defender there to try and get the ball, the defender will almost always manage to head it away and Roberts never even tries to jump for it.

[pea]

If you listen to what any of them having been saying its not been attacking KIO, but merely attacking the idea of everyone supporting a campaign out of convention rather than commitment. They've used the KIO campaign as a platform to make a bigger point. Rosa Parks didn't sit at the front of the bus just because she really really liked the look of the seats closer to the front, but it was a statement that was making a point about bigger issues.

The point Jason was making is that there is an issue with the inaction or insufficient action of all the footballing authorities in the country that all commit to supporting the KIO campaign but (in his eyes) don't take the message seriously enough.

[Royalclapper]

Fact - amongst the inhabitants of this Island, there is absolute institutional patriotism. It is a brilliant part of our culture that protects those people whose ancestors gave their lives to give us freedom! Had Polititians ever made the correct decisions, which for about 60 years they have not, our Island race would still be just that.

Now we are the first destination for the Trailer-trash of the known Universe. Anyone who wants to be entitled to money they have'nt earned comes to Britain to make themselves wealthy by stealing from us! Football in this country is the most race-unaware part of wider society. A good footballer is a good footballer, and we love skill - however, the charmed men who earn those massive wages are still part of a wider society and, in some cases, it is easy to see non-english players as the face of the destruction of our country that their non-skilled compatriots are causing.

I would not wish to live in an England where it's big cities were not cosmopolitan and multi-cultural, though I have always had the right to live in an England that is predominantly English. Is this not what 2000 years of warfare gifted us? There should be no racism at all in our country because the members of other races should be people who we wanted to be here. Unfortunately, as usual, the polititians f*cked it up!

You're absolutely entitled to have that view. It is one that I'd suspect a large number of people in the country agree with and good on you for saying it.

You would have to wonder if Roberts and other 'good cause for minorities' spokespeople have seen their opportunity while the current vogue of sopping wet lettuce leaf administrations continues. Seems to me like there is an underlying agenda to continually push for priority over everyone else who has grounds for complaints. We are a largely fair and tolerant society and if this is to continue then those asking for priority should be firmly told to stand in line with everyone else and wait their turn.

[Simon's Church]

his number one job at the moment is playing for RFC and I feel uneasy that his secondary jobs appear to be taking a more important role in his life.

What's an acceptable way for him to spend his spare time if fighting racism's off the table then? Some of the players went to see Skyfall last night, will they be able to concentrate on the game with their minds all sullied by sexy images of Berenice Marlohe? The lack of professionalism is outrageous.

[sandman]

It's worth pointing out that Roberts was in training early yesterday so it doesn't seem to be affecting his job too much.

[Simon's Church]

Maybe in body, but in spirit he was still in front of the tv cameras

[Avon Royal]

It's worth pointing out that Roberts was in training early yesterday so it doesn't seem to be affecting his job too much.

Let's see if he does it on the day.

[Rex]

To Melonhead. Beware of who you call a racist, whether you understand the term or not. Taking aside that my black friends it had to be mentioned would laugh their nuts off and then tell you exactly what a prat you are, if you do not understand what is - and what is'nt racist, you may get into deep doo-doos in the wider world. I would most certainly sue you for defamation of character were that comment made elsewhere!

You may be annoyed that I have a more balanced view than you but I challenge you:- Find a racist comment I have made anywhere on this site and I will provide my real details and you can pass them to the police. One proviso, you agree to the same! Because you are a bigger racist than I am and your posts show it!