Links to other stuff I've done this year

Most of the stuff I write is about football and what I write about football is posted on the excellent One Foot In The Game website, which is a collection of people who love the game and love writing about it. I've been quite slack in cross-posting what I've done there here on my own personal blog, so here's what I've written there over the last year, with links:

The Fatman Cometh – 5th January 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/01/04/the-fatman-cometh/

Backlash to the backlash… - 27th January 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/01/27/backlash-to-the-backlash/

All hope abandon, ye who enter in? – 12th May 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/05/12/all-hope-abandon-ye-who-enter-in/

Shut up FIFA – 2nd June 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/06/02/shut-up-fifa/

All change for the Cardiff City – 5th August 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/08/05/all-change-for-the-cardiff-city/

We’re back – 12th August 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/08/12/were-back/

Gary Speed – our tribute from a Welsh perspective – 28th November 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/11/28/gary-speed-our-tribute-from-a-welsh-perspective/

Spare a thought for Ajax – 10th December 2011
http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/12/10/spare-a-thought-for-ajax/

Well if you’re going to be racist what do you expect…

This piece was originally posted on One Foot In The Game on 21st December (http://onefootinthegame.com/2011/12/21/well-if-youre-going-to-say-something-racist-what-do-you-expect/):

The news that Luis Suarez has been banned for 8 games for being racist has generated, shall we say, mixed emotions among football fans and commentators. Levels of reaction vary, from defending the player to the hilt and denying any wrongdoing on any level, to feeling the ban is touch harsh, to feeling the ban isn’t anywhere near long enough.

Before anyone says anything else, I think it should be pointed out that the FA found him guilty of using racist language on a football pitch. If you disagree with this finding, the argument over his guilt is not going to be discussed here. As far as it’s possible to tell, the FA looked at the evidence, considered it and found that Suarez had been racist.

Surely an 8 game ban for being racist is appropriate? If the game is serious about racism and tackling it then it needs to hand out punishments such as this. It has to show to all players, regardless of where they’re from, that racism is not acceptable within British society and is not acceptable on the football pitch. An 8 game ban is severe but then a ban for being racist should be severe. It’s behaviour that requires severe consequences.

Over the last month or so many Liverpool fans have been defending Suarez. In the light of this finding by the FA it will be interesting to see if the tune changes, especially if the appeal that is likely to be forthcoming is unsuccessful. Mind you, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with my club appealing against a decision where one of the players was found guilty of being racist on a football pitch.

Put aside the club partisanship (hard, I know). Forget the feeling of victimisation that often accompanies being a fan of a ‘big club’. Ignore the crowing from fans of rival teams. Look at it like this: a player was found to be guilty of being racist on a football pitch. He’s been banned for a substantial period and fined. That seems appropriate, doesn’t it?