Paul Parker Article

Walk-off would play into racists' hands

Wed Feb 11 02:42PM

John Terry has said he would support a move to walk off the pitch should England's black players be again subjected to abuse from the stands in Spain, but I think that is the worst possible course of action to take.

By walking out, the players would effectively be admitting defeat to the minority of racist fools who insist on turning up at football grounds.

The best way to counter these people is to stand firm and show them up for what they are - nothing more than mindless idiots.

I idolised the likes of Luther Blissett, Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis when I was younger; they never entertained the idea of walking off in protest at the bananas thrown in their direction.

Instead, they picked them up, peeled them and took a bite - a humorous two-fingered salute at the idiots who had lobbed them in the first place.

Those actions brought a laugh from the more intelligent members of the crowd back then, and that is still the best way to deal with racists - laugh at them, mock them and ridicule them.

But don't turn your back and walk away from the pitch.

That sends out entirely the wrong message, one that admits the senseless abuse has succeeded in having its desired effect.

Players can't allow the mindless minority to affect them in a negative way.

I remember being targeted in Yorkshire early on in my career - a song about there being no black in Union Jack or some such rubbish - but instead of letting it get me down, it only served to fire me up and make me even more determined to succeed.

Of course, racism remains an issue that needs to be tackled, but on the pitch is neither the right time nor right place to do so.

It's up to football's governing bodies to make a difference - real progress has to come from the corridors of power, not from the players out there on the pitch.

We all know that the suits in charge of the game have failed to impose stiff enough sanctions against those found guilty of racist abuse in recent times, but there are better ways to embarrass them into action than walking off the pitch midway through a game.

Boycotting major tournaments would be one way to kick start some real action. Should England threaten to stay away from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, just imagine how much those UEFA fines for racist chanting would increase in size?

No one deserves to be ridiculed on the pitch, for any reason. But walking off in the heat of battle in Seville would let down all those black players who have stood firm in the face of adversity for so many years.

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Boycotting major tournaments would be one way to kick start some real action. Should England threaten to stay away from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, just imagine how much those UEFA fines for racist chanting would increase in size? - no it wouldnt as this would just give Blatter and the racist Platini an excuse to make hay against the English with their xenophobic attitude towards our country.
From mistermanaman on Wed Feb 11 02:54PM
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It's all very well saying walking off does nothing but let the racists win but it would force action from the weak willed men of UEFA and FIFA who are handing out pathetic fines to the guilty associations. If teams do not play when subjected to racism, it would not end football, it would bring to the front page of the news that racism is a big problem. That is what we need
From just4strapper on Wed Feb 11 03:06PM
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Good point #1. What about some real fines, in the millions of euros?
From sam_acw on Wed Feb 11 03:06PM
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Boycotting major tournaments might work for teams that would actually qualify for the World Cup. The world cup would be glad to see the backs of England and their fans who are no angels themselves. Not your best example Paul
From grand_master_woogey on Wed Feb 11 03:19PM
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Good point mistermanaman. Xenophobia and racism, is there a difference? What would be the outcry from Blatter and Platini if it were England fans who were behaving like this? The problem will continue as long as FIFA and UEFA continue to act like cowards. The fines should be in the millions of Euros and given directly to the FA of the country that this abuse is aimed at. So Spain get beaten and then have to hand over a bucketful of cash to England as well. Result!!!
From arctic.blond on Wed Feb 11 03:42PM
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Good point mistermanaman.What would be the outcry from Blatter and Platini if it were England fans who were behaving like this? The problem will continue as long as FIFA and UEFA continue to act like cowards. Fines should be in the millions of Euros and given directly to the FA of the country that this abuse is aimed at. So Spain get beaten and then have to hand over a bucketful of cash to England as well. Result!!!
From arctic.blond on Wed Feb 11 03:45PM
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Surely the best way to deal with this is to massively increase the fines to the Countries FA, even for small group incidents, then ban them for four years from European and World Cup tournaments. This should stamp out the problem in grounds once and for all, surely ??
From njc.design on Wed Feb 11 04:05PM
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I think that walking off might be a good idea.
Imagine what could happen to these idiots, when the genuine supporters (who know these idiots) realise that they have paid 50 Euros'ish to watch a game and the players walked off. No game, surely you're gonna be a tad p*ssed off, all that money down the pan.
From colbtech on Wed Feb 11 04:17PM
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I agree with Colbtech, in this day in age its completely unacceptable and the players should just walk off followed by a big fine and a long ban from tournaments for the team of the racist fans.
From russtaclart on Wed Feb 11 04:27PM
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While I agree in principle with boycotting South Africa 2010, i don't think England stating it's absence would make much difference - the players would just use that as an excuse knowing they will fail to qualify for another tournament.
From atkeane_1 on Wed Feb 11 04:29PM
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So boycotting a match = bad, but boycotting a tournament - good?
o-kay. Great logical consistency there!
From oglidewell on Wed Feb 11 04:35PM
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I agree with Paul Parker you can't turn your back on these things,unlike an Andy Bremer free kick which is relativley easy to turn your back on!!
From tonylmeadows on Wed Feb 11 04:42PM
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Paul Parker enjoyed a distinguished career for club and country. The versatile defender won 19 England caps and played the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany.
HIS OWN GOAL COST US THE GAME !!
From doc_scrumpy on Wed Feb 11 04:47PM
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These people are more than "mindless" - this is engrained in them. The players would be totally within their rights to walk off - and probably should. leaving it to the "authorities" to deal with has led to no change especially at international level. remember Croatia's pitiful fine? the reason a walk off won't be supported by the "authorities" is because money talks far louder and theywant games to go ahead come what may - remember Heysel and Hillsborough?
Racism is society at its worst and must not be tolerated. the answer is simple - walk off, ban the opposition for 2 World cups etc. It's not the case it's "only" a minority - the rest stand back and say / do nothing - maybe out of fear but maybe out of collusion.
From mullin.john.t21 on Wed Feb 11 05:09PM
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The best way to punish them would be to deduct points from Qualifying groups.
From ima_fat_tw on Wed Feb 11 05:12PM
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After the Heyshel stadium disaster, English clubs were banned from European competition for years. Look how many more years that put us back in competing terms with the best clubs in Europe. I see no differernce here. Bad behaviour of any type should see teams, club or national, banned from competition.
From mrobson_uk on Wed Feb 11 05:17PM
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walking off would be the best thing to do, because at the moment nations only get fines.
if a team walked off the pitch, then FIFA would realise more needs to be done.
From norfolk_aprilia on Wed Feb 11 05:18PM
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Don't walk off the pitch but 'boycott the world cup' ... Paul Parker truely is a @#$%!
From paulgreen12345 on Wed Feb 11 05:30PM
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these are pro's they should just get on with it ,
after beckham got all the @#$% after the world cup kicking incident he just got on with it and he was getting death threats as well as all the press on his back he could have run away but stayed and the rest is hisory
From johnnyboy362000 on Wed Feb 11 06:48PM
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racism my a ss david beckam and other stars get far worse abuse than a few silly monkey chants, its the silly people that talk and bring these things up all the time that are throwing wood on this silly fire. the word racism gets used far to much fat people thin peolple black people white people get abused for what they look like, so what, you will never stop abuse so get over it and stop using the word racism every chance you get. if you were to boycott a match everytime someone was abused you would never see a match.
From lsmac1980 on Wed Feb 11 06:56PM
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It is easy for all to say walk off, is that what John Barnes should have done when his own fans booed him? This is the opposition fans and even more reason to show them for the fools they are and play on. Our attitude in England has changed over the years (well most of us) and it will take other countries time as well. The only way to beat racism is education and time. Fines punish the FA´s not the abusers. You can´t take away points, penalising players for something that is out of their hands can´t be right. More coloured players are playing club and country in Spain, slowly, softly people change their attitude.
From jayprice1 on Wed Feb 11 06:58PM
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When a racist has power or authority they are dangerous you have to deal with them quickly. When they are a bunch of ignorant, stupid people who live in fear and hatred you can only feal sorry for them and their sad little world. Now Mr Terry grow up for *$%! sake " sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me" if you walk of the pitch you let them win, just ignore them, thats the way to deal with the little @#$%...no one with half a brain pays them any attention anyway. Why do the English have to be so precious, you need more balls on and off the pitch if you want to win anything.
From peterday21 on Wed Feb 11 06:59PM
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Spain is one of the most racist country'S i have ever been to. Last summer I Traveled to madrid alot of people did not like or even sell things to black people. I just really really hate them cun?s fuc??// twa?/sss . I hope England shags them up ???/ ar?S
From ddr_transport on Wed Feb 11 07:14PM
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"Boycotting major tournaments would be one way to kick start some real action. Should England threaten to stay away from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, just imagine how much those UEFA fines for racist chanting would increase in size?"
That is if England can even qualify for the World Cup. Hahaha
From imranbasheer on Wed Feb 11 07:43PM
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For those people who think punishments will work.
Use your brain, let's assume....
In england teenage's knife crime is a serious problem, Will it help if England government send those criminal to prison for life time?
In England, when people walk with thier dog, a lot of people allowed their dog poo on the street and walk away. Will millions euro fine stop people doing that?
No, it won't, will it? If it would work, British government would already do it. Extreme punishment will never work, ever......
From wing_bristol on Wed Feb 11 08:07PM
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I found it distasteful that the black players were waiting for a white man to tell them they had enough. Walking off would have forced FIFA/UEFA and the English FA into action. No matter how much empathy is showned , if you have ever experienced anything like that you would understand. Racist chants coming from Spainish supporters is almost self deprecating.... being that they were ruled by "Blacks" for 700 years...the Moors who flourished in Al-Andalus for more than 700 years... and further when they invaded..they brought no women, go figure.
Walk off brothers ... without black players, no Henry, no Ryan Giggs, no Pele, no Ronaldinho,no Eto,no George Weah,no Adebayor,no Ferdinand....
From myklteya on Wed Feb 11 08:13PM
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I'd say yes ridicule the rascists but don't laugh at them.
From b.powell629 on Wed Feb 11 10:18PM
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Why not deduct a point from the countries who issue rascist abuse during matches?
Even Spain would then deal with the issue.
From twomjc on Thu Feb 12 03:29AM
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who really cares if England play in major tournaments, JT is trying to please everyone, walking off the field is normally linked to Sunday morning thugs.
racists have been around for thousands of years and people expect fifa and uefa to change peoples minds, no chance.
what about when England play Germany, all the british national newspapers go on about the world wars and how Germany lost, perhaps UEFA/FIFA should ban the British media from all matches until attitudes change, where there is rivalry in anything insults will prevail, hence the reason England is not the most favoured country in sport or the Eurovision song contest.
we are all friends..............don't make me laugh
it will never happen.
From weeal on Fri Feb 13 03:02PM
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#24, I take it you are not xenophobic
From weeal on Fri Feb 13 03:24PM
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