Atkinson resigns after making a racist comment

[Damien]

Football pundit Ron Atkinson resigns from ITV Sport after making a racist comment. Well I didnt know he did and thats because it was off-air but some middle-easten countrys heard it as they where contining a live feed.

Football pundit Ron Atkinson has resigned from ITV after making a racist comment about Marcel Desailly.

ITV said Atkinson was "devastated and very sorry" after a comment made in the wake of Chelsea's Champions League game against Monaco on Tuesday.

The channel said his comment was "off-air", but it is thought it was heard on some Middle East channels which were still broadcasting the live feed.

What was the comment, I mean saying a 'racsit comment' doesnt answer that and leaves us wondering how bad what he said was. After all it may have just been un-pc instead of rascit or something.

I think he should have been punished but since it was in his own time (it was off-air as far as the filming was concerned but the middle-east didnt cut off until much later) i dont think he should lose hes job

[Mal]

I'm just grateful that I won't have to listen to the rubbish that he talks anymore.

Just hope that he doesn't turn up on another channel.

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Mal

I'm just grateful that I won't have to listen to the rubbish that he talks anymore.

Just hope that he doesn't turn up on another channel.

oh I agree with that, he was a dolt

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by Damien

Football pundit Ron Atkinson resigns from ITV Sport after making a racist comment. Well I didnt know he did and thats because it was off-air but some middle-easten countrys heard it as they where contining a live feed.



What was the comment, I mean saying a 'racsit comment' doesnt answer that and leaves us wondering how bad what he said was. After all it may have just been un-pc instead of rascit or something.

I think he should have been punished but since it was in his own time (it was off-air as far as the filming was concerned but the middle-east didnt cut off until much later) i dont think he should lose hes job

Inciting racial hatred is a criminal offence. If he was doing this (and we don't know if he was or not) then it is right that he should be sacked. Check the policy on racism where you work, because i know most companies don't tolerate it at all.

If it was merely 'not pc' then i am sure the guy will be able to pick up another job with no problems at all, and he might have a case for unfair dismissal against his employer.

can't really say much without knowing more about what he said though

[Alanmelon]

Wasn't he in hot water a while ago for a similar thing on a radio show? Might have been someone else though?

[Defiant]

I thought he resigned

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

can't really say much without knowing more about what he said though

He described the player as "an f****** lazy n****r"

Frankly I think the comment was just stupid, rather than deliberately racist, but he should have had more sense than to make it at all.

[Mr_Burns]

Originally Posted by Graham

He described the player as "an f****** lazy n****r"

If that is what he said, he deserves everything coming. He could have just called him ****ing lazy, no need to bring the n-word out

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Graham

He described the player as "an f****** lazy n****r"

How do you know that for a fact?

[aliferste]

Originally Posted by Graham

He described the player as "an f****** lazy n****r"

Frankly I think the comment was just stupid, rather than deliberately racist, but he should have had more sense than to make it at all.

Oh Come on Graham!!! I would hardly think that it was just a "stupid" comment.....possibly if he had said stupid lazy ba**rd then yea....stupid but to say what he did??.

Appalling.

[gazzae]

He called Totti a t**t before. it was the same thing, it was off air on ITV but other countries were still getting the feed.

I think his comment was, "he looks like a little t**t, that Totti"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham
He described the player as "an f****** lazy n****r"

Frankly I think the comment was just stupid, rather than deliberately racist, but he should have had more sense than to make it at all.


Oh Come on Graham!!! I would hardly think that it was just a "stupid" comment.....possibly if he had said stupid lazy ba**rd then yea....stupid but to say what he did??.

I don't think it was "inciting Racial hatred" or anything like that.

Ron obviousley thought the guy was not pulling his weight and he also happened to be black. He could have chosed his words better but would anyone be making such a fuss if it was any of these variations?:

The lazy ginger get
The lazy scottish git
The Lazy scouse b@stard
The lazy ****ney ***** (londener)
The lazy paddy git

I'm not advocating any of the above but go to any footbal match, Premier league to Sunday league and you hear it all the time but would you call any of those variations racist?

Is callng a scouser "a thieving scouser" racist or just insulting?

Whenever someone makes a derogatory remark about another they will pick on the most obvious thing about that person. In this case his colour.

I think it is the word "Nigger" that is distastful and insulting, but unfortunately Ron comes from a generation were the use of that word was more prevelant.

But if he had said the "lazy black bast@rd" would that have been racist?

What I am trying to say is I don't think we cantar him with the same brush as combat 18, I don't think he is a maliceous racist he just couldn't express himself in a more PC manner.

[SOSAGES]

i to belive its blown up because hes black and ron is white. i work with a couple of nice lads who happen to be black and every 10 mins they are saying the word that ron said and they dont mind me saying it to them, they dont see it as a racist term this isnt 1920's Mississippi.

apparently Atkinson said: "He's what is known in some schools as a ****ing lazy thick nigger."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...200304,00.html

but then again it is only a press report

[sav_c]

Plus it was on the 10.30 news last night. They put it up on screen with **** in the relevant places for viewers to read.