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 37 - 56 of 96

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  1. Oh nearly forgot touron, you big hunk, can you please­ post your email address. I am getting moist just­ waiting.

    From Mrs Valerie Quigly, on Thu 13 Nov 4:33AM

  2. mrs valerie quigley. email please and i will send you­ some laughs

    From touronroute, on Thu 13 Nov 4:25AM

  3. Touron, I am a real old fashioned girl and I believe­ jokes should be funny.

    From Mrs Valerie Quigly, on Thu 13 Nov 4:20AM

  4. Racism is racism! It is not 'in bad taste' or­ 'sticks and stones'. It belongs in the past and­ there is no use for it in modern F1, and by denying it­ Mr. Coulthard and Mr. Webber, you are in essence saying­ it is OK. You guys may not like Hamilton, but at least­ have the guts to stand against something that is­ terribly wrong.

    From Rich L, on Thu 13 Nov 4:18AM

  5. Toury,,, ow many moar,,, times i... hav to tell ya,,,­ bedtime mr...

    From Major Bumsore, on Thu 13 Nov 4:18AM

  6. viit next Singapore race
    best for sweeetie­ transvestites

    From donald_donaldson14, on Thu 13 Nov 4:17AM

  7. Hamilton and his english fans to join up in south­ africa with robert mugabe to say we are all one, we are­ all brothers.

    From touronroute, on Thu 13 Nov 4:08AM

  8. It's here Mrs Quigly. I've found that @#$%­ dictionary as well.

    From Donald D, on Thu 13 Nov 3:40AM

  9. toury why r u peetending,,, to be the..,, orrible,,,­ man donaldson...?...

    From Major Bumsore, on Thu 13 Nov 3:39AM

  10. if U say you hate LH ~ it's racism

    if you say­ you hate Button ~ thats all OK

    From donald_donaldson14, on Thu 13 Nov 3:28AM

  11. Oh Donald where has your DOT gone and your luvly­ picture, you handsome brute.

    From Mrs Valerie Quigly, on Thu 13 Nov 3:24AM

  12. sorry not able to comment fully today
    my new dictionary­ of insults abuse & swear words has still not been­ delivered
    my vocabulary only recalls ­ &@&&%@&*

    From donald_donaldson14, on Thu 13 Nov 3:20AM

  13. extra 45
    our nuns reported they had a case of­ syphillis
    good replied mother superior our case of­ beaujolais has just finished

    From donald_donaldson14, on Thu 13 Nov 3:18AM

  14. But Donald there is no F1 for ages man.
    I'm going­ down the Pub man, cool they got a jukebox full of the­ Dead and the Floyd and the Mothers man.

    From BigBill, on Thu 13 Nov 3:17AM

  15. grace.jackson003, So were all wrong, because every­ single person is racist, we just all have different­ levels of racism that all

    From Ian P, on Thu 13 Nov 2:58AM

  16. Well I believe that it is an instinctive survival trait­ inbuilt in us all - but with education, compassion and­ an understanding of what we humans are all about it­ should make us stop and think and overcome these­ 'natural' feelings and see them for what they­ are - a waste of time and emotion. It's just great­ when you get people from all walks of life and origins­ together in harmony - priceless.

    From m.e.jenner, on Thu 13 Nov 1:28AM

  17. any type of racism is wrong

    From grace.jackson003, on Thu 13 Nov 1:24AM

  18. dr_yassam: Just seems like common sense to me. People­ don't seem to understand that we need a gene pool­ as wide and diverse as possible. Simple as that really,­ you can't argue with Biology.

    From BigBill, on Thu 13 Nov 1:13AM

  19. All races of people have racist views about­ others........ as do people from all religions have­ not-so-nice views on other religions....its life. If I­ went to a Muslim country and proclaimed I was about to­ build a Christian church I imagine i would live maybe a­ few days at most.
    My point being, You call me honky, I­ call you @#$%........ it happens..... I am not in fact­ racist.... I have them all

    From Barrie L, on Thu 13 Nov 12:35AM

  20. Typo, "can highly terrible crimes.." should­ be "can highlight terrible crimes..".
    And­ thanks Hot Rats and ck9morgan.

    From Yaz, on Thu 13 Nov 12:17AM
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