http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...ts=yes&more_nodeId2=158326&contentPK=15833598
FA TO QUIZ DUBERRY OVER ALLEGED RACISM COMMENT
More Headlines |
Back to home page 2 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.
09:40 - 02 November 2006 Stoke City skipper Michael Duberry is to be quizzed by the Football Association after he accused Leicester's Danny Tiatto of racially abusing the Potters' Senegalese midfielder Salif Diao.
Duberry claims Tiatto called Diao a French c*** when the Australian defender and Stoke's loan signing from Liverpool clashed during Tuesday's Championship match at the Walkers Stadium.
He said: "It wasn't a black or white remark, there was no mention of colour, but it's still racism.
"I'm willing to speak out because we all wear the badge to kick it out. We are trying to stamp out that sort of thing.
"Tiatto knows what he said. He should be disgusted. He should have been sent off for the comment."
The FA revealed yesterday that referee Graham Laws made no reference to the incident in his match report, meaning no further action will be taken unless an official complaint is lodged by Stoke or the players concerned.
"Anyone with information in such incidents should bring them to our attention so that any appropriate disciplinary action can be taken," said an FA spokesman.
However, Duberry has already said he does not intend to make a formal complaint to the FA, while Tiatto and officials from both Leicester and Stoke City were unavailable for comment yesterday.
Diao has also declined to talk about the incident which comes just days after all English clubs took part in the ongoing Professional Footballers' Association campaign to kick racism out of football.
Even though the alleged slur made no reference to colour, PFA assistant chief executive Bobby Barnes said the term would still be considered racist and treated as such if a complaint was made.
The 43-year-old former West Ham winger, a key figure in the PFA's anti-racism programme, said: "This is a very difficult situation as there has been no formal complaint, so we are just talking about ifs. But if this incident did take place then it would be taken very seriously.
"A term does not have to just mention colour to be racist and if this statement was true then it would be considered racist."
Barnes admitted that derogatory terms are part and parcel of football games, but there was a line that should not be crossed. He hoped that if the incident did occur then Tiatto would be regretting it.
However, Barnes added: "Nobody has heard Danny Tiatto's side of the story.
"Football is a passionate game and in the heat of the moment players say things they do not necessarily mean.
"There is always going to be sledging in sport, but we can't accept abuse against race, colour or creed."