FairwayDodger
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So you should never accuse anyone of anything, even if you know 100% they're guilty, unless you can conclusively prove it?
Sol Campbell
- Thread starter Pin-seeker
- Start date
So you should never accuse anyone of anything, even if you know 100% they're guilty, unless you can conclusively prove it?
No, my point is that there's a time and place. He's basically accused the football association and his managers of racism. Is he going to pursue it in court? Now, he's done it in a book knowing there will be no repercussions. As to never accusing someone. If I went to the police I would expect them to investigate before charges are made. Then people may be named. I can't see what he was expectng to gain from this. Other than publicity.
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Back then?? It's not that long ago that Campbell played.
Maybe it was more to do with his relationship with Lennox Lewis.....allegedly.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Long-tailed might be more appropriate in the circumstances.
Aren't captains supposed to be inspirational? Not the first word that comes to my mind with Sol.
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Why did he not raise the issue at the time? Couldn't be that he hadn't got a book to sell then, or could it?
FairwayDodger
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Because he knew it would be hard to prove and rocking the boat would have threatened his place in the squad never mind the captaincy?
If he felt that strongly about it, and felt his bosses and the institution were inherently racist. Surely he wouldn't of wanted to have been part of it?
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
"
What would be hard to prove?
An unfounded charge can never be proven so if it was truly his belief the timing of his accusation would have been immaterial and "rocking the boat" would not have been an issue if he had believed this as strongly as he now claims.
What would be hard to prove?
An unfounded charge can never be proven so if it was truly his belief the timing of his accusation would have been immaterial and "rocking the boat" would not have been an issue if he had believed this as strongly as he now claims.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
I think that's quite a naive question. Have you ever been discriminated against at work? How would complaining about it have gone down, especially if you couldn't conclusively prove it?
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
I think you're missing my point. It's not always easy to "do the right thing" at the time, no matter how much you might want to, if you have something to lose.
How is it naive, the repercussions that your or I could expect. Financial problems mainly if we were to lose our job or feel pressured to leave, simply don't exist for him. He had more money than he needed and also it was at intl level. Arsenal wouldn't have stopped playing him, as most clubs consider intl football a nuisance.
As to your question, no I've not been discriminated against. Annoyed by colleagues and had issues yes. But a bit of banter that foes to far at my workplace isn't as severe as this racism he is claiming took place. Unfortunately being a white male, I've suffered neither racism or sexism. But as they are clearly the too many discriminative factors at work. You either bring it up if you feel strongly enough, or you swallow your principles.
Either way. In my opinion, best case for sole he's got no principles and was happy to play for people he detested. Worse case he's a liar massaging his own ego.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Ok, so I accept you think he's making it up and, if so, I can understand your contempt for him. But, if he's telling the truth, how can you simply dismiss it as him having no principles? Can you not empathise with someone in what must have been a difficult situation?
Foxholer
Blackballed
2006?
Thankfully, there has been a huge change in attitudes, at least as from what I observe, since then!
Careful! This phrase protects neither you nor GM! Though the fact that the 'allegation' (rumour) is quite widespread and old - even if a load of tosh - probably mitigates any likelihood of reprisal - in this instance.
I sympathise with anybody that suffers discrimination. But as I strongly believe in this case he hasn't. Not I don't feel anything for him. As I have already said, he was I a perfect position to raise awareness IF it had happened. What would he have lost by claiming it. A few caps for racists he didn't like? The same racists that did actually pick him as captain on occasions. Maybe just maybe when picked he didn't do a good enough job?
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
We are not talking about some young person on £25k p.a. desperate to hold on to their job.
At the time he was a very wealthy youngish man with extensive connections in the media who would have been most willing to publicise and support his case, if he had one.
In an earlier post you rightly criticised those who condemned him out of hand but you fail to criticise Sol Campbell for the unsubstantiated accusation he has made that could seriously damage the reputations of the then England managers and senior FA officials.
Racism or any other hate or prejudice should never be tolerated in any walk of life but, because of this, unfounded allegations should also never be made.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Agreed. But we don't know whether or not there's any basis in this; we're all just speculating.
He hasn't from what I've read said anybody was racist to him. So it's his his perception that the system (chairmen, managers, coaches, colleagues and fans) were all inherently racist. So basically what he's said has no repercussions to him as he's not named a racist. It's a headline that this post shows has worked in gaining attention. Since he has no retired, what was to stop him from contacting the FA with his thoughts and working on it? Google Sol Campbell racism out. See how much support he gives (doesn't) to the cause! He's also studying to be a coach and will work abroad as England's thoughts in racism are apparently archaic. Good luck to him, hopefully he'll be a success in Russia or Spain.
Foxholer
Blackballed
And, as a white male myself, I can at least see that that is (a niaive but) major part of the problem - the inability to see the from the other side. It's not so much a case of 'swallowing your principles' as having them crushed!
Though there's also scope for a lot of 'too far the other way' claims, and I believe there have been plenty of those in all levels of employment.
I don't believe that's actually 'best case'. I'm more inclined towards him being deluded and also doing some marketing!
That's certainly a good point - and one I meant to raise earlier - but couldn't think of the organisation!
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FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Fair enough, if he's just mouthing off with no basis then he's out of order.
But.
What if he's right, what are the implications of that? Is the rush to condemn him because you all don't want it to be true and aren't prepared to take a step back and consider that maybe he has a point?
