Irvine dismisses racism

Eurosport - Wed, 12 Nov 11:30:00 2008

Former Ferrari grand prix ace Eddie Irvine has dismissed the racist insults aimed at newly-crowned Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton as 'sticks and stones' - and suggested the McLaren-Mercedes star should rise above the abuse.

FORMULA 1 Eddie Irvine - 0

Irvine has joined David Coulthard and Mark Webber in insisting that F1 does not have a problem with racism - agreeing the recent jibes aimed at newly-crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton were in "bad taste" but arguing they are not an issue "as long as they physically don't hurt anyone".

The remarks - posted on 'voodoo-style' Spanish website 'Pincha la Rueda de Hamilton' ('Burst Hamilton's Tyre') - provoked widespread condemnation and revulsion within the F1 paddock when they came to light shortly ahead of the title-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos just over a week ago.

The reaction of the sport's commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone - seemingly suggesting Spanish supporters' blacked-out faces during a test in Barcelona earlier this year had been "probably meant as a joke" - elicited an angry response from anti-racism campaigners and even Hamilton himself.

Following Coulthard's insistence that "F1 may have many failings, but it does not come close to the racism you see in football", Irvine agreed that the whole matter has been blown out of all proportion, and suggested Hamilton should simply rise above the abuse.

"The world is full of people who are racists and we are never going to change that," the 43-year-old former Ferrari star said in his column for Virgin Media, dismissing the comments as the result of poor education.

"The world is full of people who like black people and people who like white people. Who cares?

"They can do what they want on the internet as long as they physically don't hurt anyone. I'm a big believer in 'sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me'.

"Call me what you want, I don't give a damn, leave it at that."

Irvine, a Northern Irishman who holds both British and Irish nationalities, was subjected to threats and harassment from sectarians after the Irish flag was raised following his podium finish at the 1997 Argentine Grand Prix.

Crash.Net / Eurosport

Comment 77 - 96 of 96

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  1. what is an invalid comment?

    From JohnS, on Thu 13 Nov 11:58PM

  2. q

    From JohnS, on Thu 13 Nov 11:55PM

  3. Oooh I know - and when I write one of my peace and love posts to everyone - I get a thumbs down - I mean, really, bad show all round !

    From m.e.jenner@..., on Thu 13 Nov 9:09PM

  4. im expecting a child in june actually. lets hope my fiancee stayed faithfull and it doesnt come out black.

    From pond.simba@..., on Thu 13 Nov 8:51PM

  5. Attention seeking

    From Donald D, on Thu 13 Nov 7:58PM

  6. Even worse - Count Duckula gives him self a few thumbs up!.. so to speak. he's also taken to having people's posts removed at regular intervals. Especially if they make him look stupid(er)

    From Donald D, on Thu 13 Nov 7:24PM

  7. What pleasure do these harrisholes get from just posting the same tired old text everywhere?
    It's kinda sad.
    You notice after a while most people (I mean real people) don't even bother to give them a thumbs down!
    Keep on truckin' guys.

    From BigBill, on Thu 13 Nov 5:20PM

  8. HOT RATS - Point Taken! - so Ponda is doomed!

    From ck9morgan, on Thu 13 Nov 5:11PM

  9. ck9 man the pondlife is a kid but one day he may be a parent, how scary is that then man? There are loads of other sh1theads on this site, touronroute is the most fun though.

    From , on Thu 13 Nov 4:53PM

  10. Hot Rats - Yep, but I still maintain I hope Ponda.Simba has no kids
    (he will reep what he sows!)

    From ck9morgan, on Thu 13 Nov 4:49PM

  11. ck9morgan: Sometimes he has a sex change before he comes back.

    From BigBill, on Thu 13 Nov 4:35PM

  12. ck9morgan: 'Fraid you're wasting your time on d1cksh1ts like old pondlife. He's basically a brainless child, you just wait he'll come back at me with something so childish you won't dig it man.

    From BigBill, on Thu 13 Nov 4:33PM

  13. To Ponda: Satan celebrates the essence DEEP within your soul! hope you've got no kids!

    From ck9morgan, on Thu 13 Nov 4:26PM

  14. theres racism where ever you go,get over it and shut up.

    From pond.simba@..., on Thu 13 Nov 4:16PM

  15. moor5454: Marnio made a mistake today and forgot to log on as marnio. So we got the usual marnio cr4p but it was signed ollieboyy, so the equation is man:
    jbolam=marnio=ollieboyy=???=thick d1cksh1ts

    From BigBill, on Thu 13 Nov 4:13PM

  16. To; "Olly" & "dr_yassam"

    I wouldn't bother trying to enlighten the Dull. As long as you KNOW THAT HAMILTON REIGNS SUPREME that's all that matters!

    REALITY is that HAMILTON Haters know it too, it's just that they are in DENIAL - anyway, they have a "WHOLE YEAR" to get used to our WORLD CHAMPION'S REIGN!!! - SIT BACK & ENJOY!... LOL

    From Ed, on Thu 13 Nov 3:26PM

  17. RACISM is WASTED ENERGY!

    at the end of the day HAMILTON is WORLD CHAMPION!

    Those that can't cope with it TOUGH! you are "Powerless" to do anything about it, as much as you may find it theraputic to make your empty, pointless comments - LIVE WITH IT!

    From Ed, on Thu 13 Nov 2:46PM

  18. Yes I heard also that there are many Indians (mama poondats) by the millions at the Little India in Singapurdi nearer to the Mustafa Centre!!! Have you been to Mustafa??? There, many Indians make Indian food & delicacies with added ingredients & residues from toilets visitations like Indian faeces on Indian hands & finger nails. Here, it's the normal process where these toileted hands discharges the Indian waste products in the roti pratas, roti chenais, tosais, briyani rice as well as curry with rats meat & fly larvaes to the perfect enjoyment of the unsuspecting customers!!! So folks, in future, eat Indian made food & delicacies at your own peril & risks!!! Satisfaction guaranteed but make sure you buy insurance!!! It's the truth!!! No racist remarks!!!

    From countdracula666@..., on Thu 13 Nov 2:29PM

  19. i notice that all the people sayin that there is no racism in F1 are all cacaisin... thats shows right there that there is not only a problem but people are quick to decline any hint of it, which is naive an stupid. To think that there is no racism in sport would be to deny our own human insticts. Of course there is.. it the same as in all walks of life.
    For Lewis hamilton i feel for him cause it doesnt seem to be ne1 standing up for him except mclaren.
    I think F1 as a whole needs to admit there is a problem maybe not everywhere but in places there is a problem. The actions of the spanish fans should not be condoned but punished. If the higher levels at F1 did this in Spain last year it would sent a message. But from my knowledge nothin was done about it. again which sends a message, its okay to haul racist or derogatory abuse at sports star black/white or any other. which i thought was what we all wanted to see the ugly back of......

    From mr.dbradshaw, on Thu 13 Nov 1:36PM

  20. Agreed ck9morgan

    From Yaz, on Thu 13 Nov 1:20PM
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