Accusation Of Racism At J-League Match

[Mulboyne]

[floatl][/floatl]There was trouble following the J League second division football match between Tokyo Verdy and Ventforet Kofu at Ajinomoto Stadium on Wednesday night. Verdy's Brazilian player Leandro angrily confronted an opponent who he claims called him "a monkey". The Ventforet player has denied the accusation but his manager is reported speaking of a gesture which the Asahi says is well-known as a "monkey dance" arm movement. The match commissioner conducted interviews with the players and will submit a written report. J League will then consider whether there is a need to convene a special committee. Overseas, any suggestion of racism in football is a major concern and governing bodies have tried to come down hard when incidents occur.

[Greji]

Verdy's Brazilian player Leandro angrily confronted an opponent who he claims called him "a monkey".

I think this will be properly handled by the Japanese authorities in accordance to precident.

I can see it now. The Japanese player will be told he shouldn't say bad things like that and as a token of their concern, Leandro will be given a year's supply of bananas.

[Doctor Stop]

Too bad Japan doesn't have a law against racism.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Too bad Japan doesn't have a law against racism.

Yeah, I love laws that make it crime to have an opinion.

[Catoneinutica]

Overseas, any suggestion of racism in football is a major concern and governing bodies have tried to come down hard when incidents occur.

My! The merest suggestion of racism is a major concern! The faintest whiff of ethnic insensivity! Then there's this:

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/9189862/Little-done-to-stop-racism-in-European-soccer

-catone
-a prayer: Please God, can they BOTH lose? The racist fans and players AND the PC nannies?

[Mulboyne]

My! The merest suggestion of racism is a major concern! The faintest whiff of ethnic insensitivity! Then there's this:

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/9189862/Little-done-to-stop-racism-in-European-soccer

That article is right. The problem, if anything, has been getting worse which is why there is so much hand-wringing by UEFA and FIFA. It's mainly a crowd problem rather than players on the pitch abusing each other but that makes it more difficult to control.

[Catoneinutica]

Pardon the digression, but on the topic of unruly fans, this book, which first came out in the early 90s, remains the definitive account of hooliganism:

Among the Thugs

http://www.amazon.com/Among-Thugs-Bill-Buford/dp/0679745351/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248342765&sr=8-1

It also happens to be incredibly funny, albeit in a black-humor (no racism intended!) sort of way.

[eddie]

to be fair, the dude does look a little monkey-ish.

might just be the facial hair tho.

[Behan]

From what I (think) read on Yahoo Japan's keitai site, I think the J-League said that there is no proof or grounds to punish the accused and that the case will be dropped.

[AssKissinger]

If that guy can't handle being called a monkey then he's also a bitch.

[Mulboyne]

[Behan]

FIFA has taken (supposedly) a tough stance on racism, so the J-League may feel pressure to take actions.

[Christoff]

Racism in Japan, say it aint so.