Euro 2012 - Paper Round: Pearce attacked already

Fri, 10 Feb 08:49:00 2012

Less than 24 hours after being named caretaker manager of England, Stuart Pearce got a taste about just how unforgiving the British press can be.

The Sun front page 10/02/2012 - 0

The Sun's front page story reads "England in race storm No. 2" as they dig up a story from 18 years ago when Pearce was forced to apologise for allegedly racially abusing Paul Ince during a match in 1994.

The paper also seems to take relish in pointing out that: "Pearce's brother Dennis is a member of the ultra-Right British National Party, for whom he has stood as a Parliamentary candidate" – although what that has to do with anything we can't quite gather; as the old saying goes: "you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family."

The Daily Mail also runs the story on its back page, albeit with a slightly less aggressive tone, saying the FA have been "accused of hypocrisy over racism when they unveiled Stuart Pearce as temporary successor." 

The story is even referenced in some of the quality papers with the Times' piece prominent within their sports section under the headline "Pearce's role raises new race questions."

Fabio Capello of course resigned his position following  the FA decision to remove the England team captaincy from John Terry after the Chelsea defender's trial for allegedly racially abusing Queens Park Rangers' defender Anton Ferdinand was adjourned until July.

Pearce is currently second favourite with the bookmakers to be named permanent England manager after odds-on favourite Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

What Redknapp makes of the tabloids attacking Pearce in such a manner remains to be seen.

The Tottenham manager's lawyers were certainly unhappy with the prosecution in his recent tax evasion trial for relying so much on information gathered by the tabloids and Redknapp will no doubt consider whether he wants the extra media scrutiny that taking the England job would undoubtedly bring.

It certainly is looking like he will be offered the job though, with pretty much all the papers agreeing that the FA has pencilled Redknapp in as its number choice in the next few days.

He can expect a salary of between £4m to £5m-a-year depending on which paper you read, and the FA may even allow him to stay as Tottenham manager and just take the job on for the European Championships if they cannot land him full-time. Such a temporary set-up is believed to be attractive to Redknapp, according to Henry Winter in the Daily Telegraph.

Redknapp favourite

As for what happens to Capello, well the Sun says that "last night (he) emerged as a shock contender to replace Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea."

The paper says: "there is spiralling speculation at Stamford Bridge that the former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss is about to be installed as Blues' eighth boss in eight years.

A Chelsea source told the paper: "There are strong rumours that Capello is coming and it could be sooner rather than later."

Away from the England circus, and Real Madrid are ready to make the first move for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie. Influential Spanish paper Marca says Real coach Jose Mourinho tried to sign van Persie while in charge at previous club Inter Milan, and the Bernabeu giants will still go for him even if the ex-Chelsea boss leaves, as has been reported, this summer. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham have opened talks with Ledley King over a new contract but the injury-prone centre-half, 31, will reject a pay-as-you-play deal. (Daily Mail)

Valencia want Manchester City full back Pablo Zabaleta, 27.  Valencia are likely to lose defenders Jorge Alba, Miguel and Antonio Barragan in the summer. (Daily Mail)

Paul Pogba's agent watched Juventus beat AC Milan 2-1 in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday, amid growing claims in Italy that the Manchester United midfielder will head for Turin when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Daily Mail)

Finally, Chris Samba is holding Blackburn to ransom by insisting: I'll play for you again... but only if you put a get-out clause in my contract. (The Sun)

England without coach

Eurosport

Comment 167 - 186 of 186

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  1. Typocal of the British redtop press and always the same­ with the Murdoch press. It is an interesting twist that­ they are attacking commonly held right-wing views­ when their usual stance is to promote racism and other­ right-wing stupidity.

    From Peter, on Sat 11 Feb 17:18

  2. Could someone please investigate the family backgrounds­ of the media scum who are attacking someone who is so­ pro english he probably bleeds in redand white.

    From survivor, on Sat 11 Feb 16:41

  3. As a Scotsman..The papers are a disgrace to the English­ set up, Them & their ex pros,(who couldn't­ manage a chicken run) seem hell bent on butchering the­ England managers, who ever they are........is there­ some hidden agenda..if not...treason springs to mind.­ As a Scot ....still want England to do­ well.........just no more 66 please.

    From William, on Sat 11 Feb 14:10

  4. everybody stop buying the sun . mirror. and the mail .­ maybe then they will decide to give the uk people some­ respect , and stop making us ashamed of the british­ press ,
    its the only way , sun is the notw sister­ paper , same morals , sorry no morals ,

    From mcleary25, on Sat 11 Feb 11:36

  5. The press in england write this sort of stuff because­ they know there are many brainless idiots who will buy­ it and read it,this does not happen in other euro­ countrys.

    So,the very fact that these papers do sell­ here in england,proves that england is full of­ brainless idiotic wasters.

    From Anerley, on Sat 11 Feb 10:15

  6. I have watched the reporter ,whos name is attributed to­ this story, on the tv where his views are thought­ provoking and relevent to the discussions taking place.­ I'm disgusted then that a man of his intellegence­ has allowed himself to be used as a patsy in this way,­ has he no sense? this was 18 years ago, it was dealt­ with then, it is now a non story. There only seems to­ be one kind of discrimination in this country and that­ is white on black, Ive played sport at a good level,­ semi pro, and believe me Black players are never­ backwards when it comes to making racist comments. It­ is wrong for players, supporters, managers and anyone­ else to make braindead comments of this nature but lets­ get real, it happens and until there is a black player,­ politician etc dealt in the same way as Suarez, Pearce­ and john Terry then we cannot as a country be proud of­ our race laws. It is NOT all one way traffic

    From RAYMOND, on Sat 11 Feb 9:34

  7. Capello was the best manager England has ever had. His­ stats speak for themselves. The media has nothing to do­ but lynch managers, players, and even common folks. The­ whole media deal is controversy and drama, they try­ hard to create anything negative to start their attack­ on people. It's so depressing to read the Scum,­ because the only thing they are good at is ripping­ athletes, celebrities apart. And if anyone complains,­ they can blame it on our free press doctrine. Free­ press is supposed to be unbiased and informative, not­ negative and demeaning. People need to boycott this­ type of press. No more, Rise up and say No to the @#$%­ they are feeding us.

    From Nabil, on Sat 11 Feb 8:06

  8. uk journo,s are pure scum!!!!

    From tez, on Sat 11 Feb 7:29

  9. media it has been made to cotrolling mind of people at­ the same its special tool to give false information if­ their hate you even if their want to destroyin you­ thats their dirty game playing at you without noticing.

    From m haji, on Sat 11 Feb 6:47
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hahahahah when the sun their write about muslim bad­ things which non of them is truth you people are­ enjoying all the lies the media especially the sun n­ all of them oooh my almighty ALLAH now these enemy of­ muslims have hit english people very @#$% thier­ teeeth,england the country its not yours any more its­ belong to zionist controlling your goverment­ controlling your the fa it aint any no more egland i­ might calling israel in england,english people you­ should know zionist are dividing people rite now from­ different race to religions to hate each other and­ their will benefit all,wake up people,zionist call­ themselves in the talmud that their are super race,i­ want to ask you english people whos the biggest racist­ in the world,zionist their dividing england from­ different colors to religion,their are happy very happy

    From m haji, on Sat 11 Feb 6:44

  11. boycott THE SUN please

    they need to be taught a­ lesson
    pass this message to everyone in your email and­ your other friends
    do not buy THE SUN next saturday­ february 18th
    make your protest count

    thank you

    From Maxisdad, on Sat 11 Feb 6:28

  12. Anfieldstar needs to have a pity party with Istina­ Boli. Neither one of them seems to comprehend that the­ FA's efforts to be politically correct on racism is­ what lead to Don Fabio leaving. I would like to see­ some of his comments regardnig Suarez V Patrice Evra­ over the past months just to confirm what a complete­ hypocrite he is. Why don't they both hold up­ anti-racism signs up outside of stadiums in Spain for a­ couple of weeks to find out what 'racism in­ Football'really means.

    From Maxx92, on Sat 11 Feb 5:52
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The Only Thing Pearce Knows About Footbal Is HOW TO­ FOUL

    From COLIN, on Sat 11 Feb 5:30

  14. the scumbag drunken press are at it already.

    From Silverfox, on Sat 11 Feb 4:44

  15. Have you seen his BNP brother! the mfk, he has no­ teeth!

    From super_slo_mo, on Sat 11 Feb 4:39

  16. !60....Anfieldstar.
    Should only black fans go to these­ game's????
    What a total tit you are!!!!!!

    From arrogant_oldcastle_fan, on Sat 11 Feb 4:14

  17. Is it not time somebody called a halt to this racism­ lunacy by people with chips on thier shoulders whom­ nothing will satisfy?There must be millions of black­ ,white, and brown people that are sick to death of­ hearing the stupid expression.Majority of people are­ racists one way or the other but BIGOTS are in the­ minority but heard the loudest!

    From antony g, on Sat 11 Feb 4:09

  18. Our Media always say they reflect the supporters.Its­ silly they love to destroy and they revel in destroying­ people.Given half a chance they will be having a go at­ Harry if he gets the job.They may not be able to expose­ him in his personal life but somehow it will be some­ kind of gutter comments in respect of him being semi­ illiterate.I slightly fear for Harry Rednapp

    From harrysingleton22, on Sat 11 Feb 3:23

  19. The English press is the most disgusting and vile in­ the world

    From G, on Sat 11 Feb 3:16

  20. And there, ladies and gentlemen, is a perfect example­ of how low the gutter press will stoop to sell their­ disgusting rags.

    From LG, on Sat 11 Feb 2:56
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