Education is Everything

Posted on 05. Jan, 2012 by Liam Tomkins in Blog

I’ve had just about enough of every self-serving newspaper journalist, uninformed blogger and part-time pub fan wading into the murky waters of the Luis Suarez debate armed only with headlines and hearsay, expecting their opinion to be taken seriously.

It took me the best part of a working week to study, dissect and fully comprehend the FA’s 115-page “reasons of the regulatory commission” report which, incidentally, could have been compressed by about a third had they not used a font visible from the moon and double line spacing. But the bigger it is, the more thorough and conclusive it must be, right!?

I won’t get into the findings of the report here – you can read it yourself – but suffice to say that my stance remains very much the same as it was before the documents ever landed on my desk.

My issue, then, is with people seeking to debate this case on level ground, or pass judgement on the player when they haven’t even taken the time to educate themselves on the subject in question.

And by educate I don’t just mean reading the report, I mean studying every statement issued, listening to every word said and viewing every bit of “evidence” available. I’m talking about understanding the importance of culture and context to the case, and appreciating both sides of the story.

There are few people, too few in fact, who can honestly say that they have based their opinion on a comprehensive and collective understanding of the above. If you are not one of them then you may as well go and debate it with your dog because your respective understandings will be of a similar level of relevance.

Sadly, some people take pleasure in provoking a reaction, while others just love to play a part in toppling the high and mighty. I say sadly because these people appear to make up the majority, which means whatever they say spreads faster and further than the opinion of those who actually know what they are talking about.

Facts are disregarded, truths are twisted and misinformation spreads from person to person in an epidemic of ignorance that seems impossible to stop. Real, informed accounts are pushed underground, dealt out of inner-jacket pockets, exchanged with telling glances and knowing nods while the idiots above the surface run riot, rolling up red tops, setting them alight and marching as mobs to the top of a hill where they will crucify the accused.

The support shown to Luis Suarez by his club and its supporters has been described as “half-baked tribal loyalty” by one torch bearer but, if anything, it is the opinions of the people who say such things that are half-baked because they clearly don’t have a comprehensive understanding of the case. And it is they who are acting as a tribe, congregating in an attempt to drive someone out of their country for not understanding their culture.

Education is everything in fathoming the complexities of cases such as this, and just as Luis Suarez must educate himself on what is and what is not OK, we too must educate ourselves in order to understand why he failed to realise the error of his ways in the first place.

It seems to have been entirely overlooked that both the FA and Patrice Evra have publicly stated their belief that Suarez is not a racist, but due to the ignorance of the masses that is a brand he must now wear for as long as he lives on this sorry little slice of rock we call Great Britain, and quite possibly for as long as he lives at all.

Is that really something people can be proud of playing a part in?

Let’s talk about it on Twitter: @liam_tomkins - but only if you’re educated!

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43 Responses to “Education is Everything”

Dominic Campbell

05. Jan, 2012

There is nothing Great about Britain. Just saying Britain would suffice. But I totally agree with your thoughts.

A thoroughly good read, Mr Tomkins. Bravo.
Tom

05. Jan, 2012

You cannot keep anyone happy.

The biggest issue I still have with this is that they are still making it sound like Suarez is racist.

Also the fast that Evra abused Suarez first and instigated the whole thing. In the section of FA rules he committed a crime just like Suarez. Why did he not get punished for this?
Rob Wright

05. Jan, 2012

I agree wholeheartedly. There is an enormous difference between saying something racist to invite and provoke, and actually being racist. The difference between these two situations is vast, and Suarez should only be found guilty of the former (I imagine!) sadly, his mistake will remain with him throughout his time in English football – fingers crossed we don’t drive another entertainer out of the country for his mistake.

Rob (united fan)
anfield rd dreamer

05. Jan, 2012

I’ve read the report too and agree with what you say. People who have undoubtedly never even seen the report from the way they are talking are having a go at Suarez for apologizing to anyone he may have caused offence to and not Evra, surely if Evra took offence he is included in “anyone who took offence”! I have 2 issues with the report and that is that 1 it ignores the only evidence that comes from anywhere other than Evra an Suarez. Evra states that the racist dialogues happened in the goal mouth with 5 references (not the 7 that keeps being stated, shows they haven’t seen the report). Suarez states once as the ref called them over WHEN Evra looked surprised in the video evidence! Evra’s account has no reason for that moment of shock! Also the board use expert linguists to analyse both accounts and then over look the experts giving Suarez version a clean bill of health and raising serious doubts over Evra’s account as the dialogue Evra states is the incorrect form of Spanish. After ignoring this they use the slight differences in translated conversations between Suarez and Comolli (who speaks such good Spanish he uses a word that isn’t even a Spanish word in his report to ref) amongst others to tear Suarez credibility apart whilst ignoring the simple fact Evra changes his account of what Suarez says at least twice even though talking in English. A fair judgement should have been maybe a 3 game ban for unintentionally causing offence with a none racist term that could be construed as offensive. This however couldn’t happen because of my second gripe with the report, the FA board would have had no choice but proceed with charges against Evra for falsifying evidence in an attempt to get Suarez into more trouble than he deserved. And that would never happen!
Tom Cullimore

05. Jan, 2012

Excellent read. There is an enormous amount of ignorance on both sides here and on LFC’s part, it is starting to seriously threaten the club’s reputation.
If Luis Suarez says he didn’t use the word in a racist way, I believe him. If Dalglish supports his player when he is coming in for some very harsh criticism, I back that too. But equally, if the FA’s independent panel have found, after considering expert advice, that Evra’s taking of offense is legitimate, then I back that too. I hate to say it, but Suarez made a mistake.
That advice from linguistic experts has come in for vast amounts of criticism from some Liverpool fans. Why? True, it fails to ‘prove’ racist intent in his language, but it fails equally to disprove it. The evidence has been used by the committee to clarify that both Evra and Suarez have legitimate arguments, nothing more, nothing less.
Finally, for any Liverpool fans considering comparing or beginning to compare the pursuit of ‘justice’ for Suarez with the Justice for the 96 campaign, please, please stop. Hillsborough was indescribably and undeniably awful – those associated have the right be called victims because of what they went through, and continue to go through. The experience of Luis Suarez in the past weeks, nasty as some of it might be, simply does not compare.
Andy

05. Jan, 2012

A well thought out out article which, as you say, will disappear into the abyss with all the media hype to brand him racist. The truth doesn’t sell newspapers or get viewers unfortunately
Tom

05. Jan, 2012

Hope Terry get’s a worse suspension that will supersede this nonsense.

One day they want apology, they get one. Next day they said its hypocritical blah blah blah cannot win this one. Just think if they deemed him not guilty, I cannot imagine how much bs would come out of that!
norlam66

05. Jan, 2012

Good read.

There’s a saying. . . . .

“To truly understand a man you must first walk a 1000 miles in his shoes first”

Not so long ago when this country was in the grips of upholding their colonial past people who were accused of being a witch were bound hand and foot and tossed into a river NOW if they drowned they were innocent but low and behold if they floated (somehow after being tied hand and foot) they were perceived as witches and burnt at the stake.

What we have here is a classic case of this, you’d think that the so called educated would stand amongst the fair and cautious but NOOOOOO they decided to light their torches and burn the witch.

I can assure you it really does make perfect sense why FIFA treated the FA the way they did aided by the gutter press of this country.

I personally have NO FAITH in The FA, FIFA, UEFA & Much of the press in this country and as for them three jokers on TalkSport, the Journalist (who loves his voice of “reason” the former cricketer who’s never “sledged” in his life & last but not lease a former player of ours who’s never “beaten up” a woman in his life i say one thing, shame on you all for making a judgement on radio despite not getting the full explanation from the FA beforehand ie the 115 paged document that we all have today.

When you get people screaming “witch” it’s so easy to gain followers who look upon them as the beacon of truth.

And anyone in this country who’s done jury service would know to judge the crime on ALL the evidence put before them and not judge it from the squeals of “truth & facts” from a few narcissist.
ash kop

05. Jan, 2012

leave it alone mate. time to move on.
name1

05. Jan, 2012

Diane Abott a black labour MP has made a rasist slur towards white people, she is a very well educated person and knows what she is saying….she should now step down from her position in government. as shown from the suarez case to say sorry is not good enough in black peoples eyes well miss Abott your comment is not welcome in ours and nore is your apologie, racism goes both ways its time to stand up and be counted.

all stand together to get this rasist removed from a place of power!
- BLF
  
  06. Jan, 2012
  
  I agree with your post except for one issue…You’re making a generalisation that black people have deemed Suarez’s apology not good enough. You are wrong cos im black,and although I am a liverpool fan I accept Suarez’s apology…Your post should say ‘In the eyes of the media’ as Skysports,The Mirror and every tabloid journalist (who mostly are white) has run with that story even though there isnt a shred of a quote where Suarez actually said he didnt apologise to Evra…All im saying is dont make black people a scapegoat for what THE MEDIA are doing.
  
  We arent all bad
  BLF
Tom

05. Jan, 2012

Yeah, except, she’s not in government because, in case you forgot (or laxk the sufficient brainpower to acknowledge) Labour lost the last election.
The attitude of ‘if they’re going to do us over, we’ll do the same back’ is exactly the kind of close minded thinking that underpins all racial problems; it’s not us and them – it’s right and wrong, and you sit firmly in the latter category.
Name (required)

05. Jan, 2012

tom your the guy who lacks knowledge once an MP always an MP by appoinment, she is the mp for a london borrow. also government isnt just the party who wins there are 3 main parties in government conservatives, lib dems and labour…with other being the minority such as green party and bnp for example. the main party sets the agenda for the term they have won by appointment by the people of the nation they represent for the period of office.

what im highlighting is the fact racism is not just one way…how at the moment the media and by your comments suggest it is portrade.

racism works for colour, culture, and faith and is for all not just one colour, faith and culture as the media and at the moment black people and muslims for that suggest and portray just whites racist when its not true.

racism needs stamping out by all parties so we can live in a peacful enviroment and bring our kids in to a world of equility.
Tom

05. Jan, 2012

MP stands for Member of Parliament, not member of government. Jesus. The difference between the two is one of the most basic principles of democracy, maybe check it out sometime.
And as to your point about racism not being one way, as much as we can all appreciate your closing sentiment about racism needing stamping out, claims such as ‘ to say sorry is not good enough in black peoples eyes well miss Abott your comment is not welcome in ours’ is in itself racist in nature.
Being annoyed about black people generally (which, from what you say, is clearly your position) about anything, even if it’s about equality, undermines efforts to promote equality.
name

05. Jan, 2012

mp and democracy are not the same… democracy is what states and mps alike conduct on a daily basis its and unwriten agreement of co-operations …an MP is a member of government as parliment is government also…not all conservative mps run the country pal it is mixed hence it being seated…each party wins seats through votes the one who wins the most seats gets office its pretty simple really!!!!!!!!!!!
im not a racist im asking for equal rights and equality in that everyone should be treated the same….if that was a white person saying such things they would have had to step down already but its a different side of the coin now
name1

05. Jan, 2012

im in politics and study so at a uni that is in the top 5 in britain that is why i feel this way on this subject thus my aproach…so you cant beat me on politics pal next question
Tom

06. Jan, 2012

I really don’t know where to begin – that is an outstanding response in so many respects.

True, MPs and democracy are not the same. A point well made.

‘an MP is a member of government as parliment is government also’, however, is not quite as insightful. I fear you’re beyond help if that’s what you genuinely believe.

‘if that was a white person saying such things they would have had to step down already’ Is exactly what I’m suggesting is wrong with your position; racial equality is only ever going to be achieved by appreciating the differences, subtle and obvious, between ethnic groups and what can be termed as offensive when blows are traded.
What Abbott said, for example, is stupid because it generalises white people – your response that all black people are let off lightly when making such remarks is so overwhelmingly charged with hypocrisy that I can’t help but think you haven’t really thought it through.
topscout

06. Jan, 2012

i a nut shell, alot of people are racists or preduice in one way or another, directly or indirectly.

we all call each other names in our own circle of friends, famliy, harmless fun you can call it.
anyone outside this circle is called racists, bad person etc etc, fcuking bllx.

get 10 random people from all walks of life, different age groups and ask them have they ever made a racist remark, directly or indirectly, towards anyone, friend, family or other.

men in Asia walk around together in pairs or groups, holding each other fingers, (hand in hand like), cuzz it is a common thing in their country, sign of friendship..so…
if these men come over here on holiday and walk around like they do back home, they wud be called all sorts of bad names….ie they are gay etc etc.
if someone explained to these guys that this can be shown to be a bad thing here, they wud not hands..

if some one had told saurez calling some a negrito, is a bad thing here, i am sure he wud of not said that word.
Dave mc

06. Jan, 2012

No name – which uni did you study politics at? Just so I know not to send my kids there! I also studied politics and law (top 4 as of this year ) and I can assure you that simply being an MP does NOT make you a member of the government.

In addition I have a feeling that your top 5 uni failed to point out the difference between xenophobia and racism. Lastly, I think you may mean borough, rather than borrow?! Probably time to stop embarrassing yourself now and revise harder for your gcse’s.

In relation to this outcome, it’s all beyond a joke. If this went to court, Evra would definitely have been charged. Why, after admitting to referring to Suarez’ sister and threatening to punch him, has he faced no charges? What evidence is there the word Negro was used 7 times? And have any of these fools considered that he used his terminology because Evra decided to converse with Suarez in Spanish?!

Evra has always been annast piece of work – I just hope fate deals with him in it’s own way.
Sam

06. Jan, 2012

I would cry if us signing Bent was supposed to be some grand gesture that we are not racist.
TrishG

06. Jan, 2012

So can someone please explain why Liverpool can’t buy any of the players below:

1. Iker Muniain 25 Mil buy out clause. Plays for Athletico Bilbao only 19!
2. Luuke De Jong Plays for FC Twente only 21!
3. Leandro Damiao Est. 15 Mil Plays for Internacional only 22!

I understand the likes of Roberto Soldado, Klass not coming to Liverpool as they play CL. None of the above play CL at all, and are young fit the bill both cash and age wise.

I might be wrong but I feel Liverpool just don’t try to sign hot prospect rather go for fringe players.

I love the way Iker plays, please someone write to King Kenny and tell him to buy him.
Casper

06. Jan, 2012

Now there’s a news report where Piara Powar executive director FARE suggesting that the FA charge the Club over this incident. The link is here
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1004658/anti-racism-chief-urges-fa-to-charge-liverpool?cc=4716
Dave mc

06. Jan, 2012

Plenty of our youth team are black – KK brought barnes with him everywhere he went. Our club arent racist and nor is Suarez.
anfield rd dreamer

06. Jan, 2012

Shocks me how many people who have “read the report” still refer to Suarez as racist when one of the findings of the report was he wasn’t. I still stand by what I said earlier board ignored the findings of the experts (who did watch the video evidence remember) and ignored the inconsistency in Evra’s account that was highlighted in the video evidence. They then deemed Evra to be more reliable than Suarez when in a court of law that wouldn’t stand, the independent evidence supported Suarez version of events and he should have received a lesser punishment for unintentionally causing offence, Evra should then face punishments for what he admits he said and what he says Suarez said (which the experts point out would have been correct for main land Spain but incorrect for the version of Spanish Suarez ACTUALLY speaks) therefore strongly suggesting either 1 Evra made up that account or 2 Suarez said something to him but he didn’t hear/remember correctly and he sat down afterwards and worked out what he thought Suarez said with his understanding of mainland Spanish and then swore it to be truth both count as falsifying evidence in an attempt to increase the punishment Suarez faced.
Dan40v

06. Jan, 2012

Hoefully this wont drive Suarez to consider moving to another country. The English media are complete hypocrites. Evra is going to get hell when he comes to anfield nxt season.
- blamethemedia
  
  06. Jan, 2012
  
  the reason why Suarez is in the papers The Fa as made it bad for him and Liverpool Fc …and now theres a Racist Club
  that wants Liverpool Fc and Kenny Charged for the way They
  Took the charge !! in my view …Liverpool Fc could of went to
  The High Courts But Moved them selfs away from this and now Suarez has to suffer and to make it worse ..The media papers and radio stations are makin Suarez out that hes Racist – TheFA as done all this – Liverpool Fc have came out and said they could lose suarez in the summer if the FA dont offer Suarez and Liverpool Fc Support !! the only way to end this if liverpool fc fans open up to the Fa and make them hear us and show them if we lose a player just becouse of this …then the fa should be shamed and blamed !! and liverpool should take the FA To The Courts for losing a striker and up setting the club and the fans !! and to make this worse yahoo and msn is a mancs site too there comments are worse
Dave mc

06. Jan, 2012

FA =
fuking
Assholes
Kopper67

06. Jan, 2012

It’s an open and shut case – an LFC employee racially abused somebody and has been dealt with accordingly.

Either you condone racism or you don’t, simple as that.
- Ganomicon
  
  06. Jan, 2012
  
  It’s clearly *not* an open and shut case, or it wouldn’t have taken a 115 page report to get to the bottom of.
  
  However, having read the report once through properly I feel that the correct verdict was reached. The two things which convinced me:
  
  1) The abundance of evidence showing just how shocked, upset and angry Evra became. Suarez’s account simply *cannot* account for Evra’s reaction (both visible in the video evidence on the pitch, and the anger off it).
  
  2) The expert’s view of the word “negro”.
  *1 They conclude that the use of the word is very ambiguous, so context is everything. In a negative context the linguistic experts conclude that the word *can* have offensive racial connotations.
  *2 What is the context? Suarez was clearly (several witness accounts as well as the video evidence) support the idea that he was desperate to wind up Evra – the snidey pinch, etc.
  
  That Suarez broke rule E31 and E32 are obvious.
  
  The difference in accounts between Evra and Suarez would only seem to change the length of the ban:
  Believe Evra’s account: 8 game ban
  Believe Suarez’s account: 4 game ban
blamethemedia

06. Jan, 2012

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists there is no need for conciliatory talks with Liverpool over the Luis Suarez racism row.
Suarez was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing United’s French defender at Anfield in October. more news here –
http://www.supersport.com/football/barclays-premier-league/news/120106/No_need_for_Liverpool_talks_Ferguson
Costared

07. Jan, 2012

Excellent assessment by Liam Tompkins. I have read the report, read the Oxford dictionary description of the word and as I live in Spain have a little knowledge of the differing cultures.
How on earth the F.A. came to their conclusion I will never be able to understand. It looks like a complete stitch up. It will be interesting to see how they handle the John Terry affair.
anfield rd dreamer

07. Jan, 2012

Ganimicon agree with everything you say except your mis understanding in point 1 the look of shock and anger by Evra in the video evidence matches the point Suarez states he said the word Negro and in Evra’s account Suarez said nothing at that point in the dialogue and the 5 instances of racially using the term Negro alledged by Evra all take place in the goal line altercation. But agree Evra version 8 games for racist language Suarez version (at most) 4 game ban for language of a non racist nature that could unintenionally cause distress. That’s one reason I don’t think the club are appealing.
Hubfan

07. Jan, 2012

First of all, let me say that I support both Luis and the club’s stance on this mess.
However, reading through the commision’s report, the thing that seems to have put the nail in the coffin was the “misunderstandings ” between Luis, Comolli and Kuyt. If they weren’t actual misunderstandings, then Luis probably did say those things to Evra. If they were, then he didn’t. The way I read the report, it was those points which made the commision decide that Evra was a more credible witness than Luis. I don’t think it was fair to allow Evra to view the game film while being able to describe what happened, and Luis wasn’t able to until later.
The club was right to just accept the punishemnet and move on, as there was no way they would have won an appeal, a fact I’m sure played a part in the decision.

On a personal note, if Evra had made that comment to me, I heard it I would have had a straight red in the aftermath.

The moral of this story is-if you’re accused by the FA, give them nothing they can use against you.
anfield rd dreamer

07. Jan, 2012

Hubfan the misunderstanding between Comolli and Suarez (if I’m remembering this correctly was few days ago when read the report) was after the game Comolli who speaks some Spanish and Kenny spoke to Suarez then went to Marriner to relay Suarez account and said Suarez stated “Tues Negro” (different from what Suarez later states) however tues is not the word the board thought it was and the word Comolli had Marriner write down in the report was not an actual Spanish word, but the board believe that as matter was so important Comolli had to of wrote it down (nobody claims he did) and that Marriner would not of written that Comolli speaks fluent Spanish if Comolli didn’t, however Comolli said a word that wasn’t even Spanish. They’re the reasons the board use to throw doubt on “changes” to Suarez post match account and later statement, based on Comolli writing down Suarez account (Comolli, Suarez, Kenny an Marriner all state no notes were used) and Comolli speaking fluent Spanish so his account of what Suarez said must have been correct, even though that account used a none Spanish word!
Dave mc

08. Jan, 2012

So what of Evra’s admissions? They’re ok because of Suarez response? Total joke. Regardless of whether Suarez is guilty or not, and ultimately we will probably never really know what was said, their handling of this incident has been a joke.
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