Evra Racially Abused
Diablos Rojos
to the violent confrontation between Manchester United's players and a
number of Chelsea employees after Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge. Evra
has been promised his team-mates' support as the Football Association opens
an investigation into the incident.
United will request a copy of the CCTV footage from Chelsea and will study
the pictures before making a formal complaint. Evra was punched at least
once, ending up with a bruise and a small cut above his eye. The Frenchman
has admitted losing his temper but claims he was provoked, an allegation
that has been backed by some of the players who were close by. One source
close to Evra has told United that a racist comment was made.
"Patrice received a grave insult from a member of Chelsea's staff," Carlos
Tevez said last night. "He demanded an explanation and from that moment
these men just wanted to attack Patrice. Obviously it's normal that we tried
to defend our team-mate but within a few seconds all of the United players
were surrounded by stewards.
"I think that the security cameras will show the provocation we received. I
have never seen anything like this in my career . . . if the FA opens an
investigation, we will cooperate and happily give our version of what
happened."
The flashpoint occurred after a group of Sir Alex Ferguson's unused players
were asked not to run across the pitch during their 'warm-down' because the
grass was being cut. Instead they were told to jog in the same direction as
the lawnmowers so the groundstaff could repair the turf ahead of Liverpool's
visit on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The players refused and it is thought that one of them may have sworn. It
was at this point that Evra was allegedly abused and the punch-up began. The
two groups were separated but then came together again and Evra had to be
restrained by team-mates. Photographs show one Chelsea employee, believed to
be a groundsman, with his fist raised.
"Basically, this came about because of the provocation of somebody who works
for Chelsea," said Gerard Piqué, another of the players involved. "Patrice
wanted an explanation but these men were very aggressive. All we were doing
was finishing our work-out after the game. Even now I just do not understand
the reaction of these people. I have seen the photos and, if the images are
stored in the CCTV cameras, then it will be impossible for them to say that
the players were not provoked."
Tevez added: "We noticed a hostile atmosphere during the match. That is
normal but never did I believe these incidents would happen afterwards
without any spectators in the ground."
The FA has requested the CCTV footage, as well as reports from both clubs.
Chelsea say they will comply, their instinct being to follow the FA's
guidance on the issue, though they have not yet ruled out lodging a formal
complaint over the conduct of United's players. At the end of the match Rio
Ferdinand tried to kick a door in the tunnel but connected instead with a
female steward, who was left with stud marks down her right shin. While it
is understood that she has accepted his apology, and flowers, the incident
did not reflect favourably on a player who, a few hours earlier, had emerged
as Fabio Capello's preferred choice to captain England.
Ferguson's main concern is the fitness of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and
Anderson, all of whom had treatment for injuries yesterday, with Rooney in
particular a doubt for tomorrow's Champions League semi-final second leg
against Barcelona. However, Ferguson will give his version of events today
and is likely to back Evra. United were also unimpressed that stewards
prevented Sir Bobby Charlton and the chief executive, David Gill, from
trying to calm the situation.
Chelsea have yet to comment on the matter but intend to scrutinise the CCTV
footage in an attempt to work out what provoked the fracas.
b
news:67lidqF...@mid.individual.net...
> Patrice Evra is alleged to have been racially abused in the moments
> leading to the violent confrontation between Manchester United's players
> and a number of Chelsea employees after Saturday's game at Stamford
> Bridge. Evra has been promised his team-mates' support as the Football
> Association opens an investigation into the incident.
Manchester United were last night forced into a *humiliating* climb down
over claims racism was at the centre of the Stamford Bridge bust-up.
United insiders claimed the extraordinary brawl involving their players and
Chelsea staff had been sparked by a racist taunt aimed at defender Patrice
Evra. But Chelsea got wind of the racism allegations and after a telephone
summit between chief executives Peter Kenyon and his opposite number David
Gill, United were forced to retract the claim.
LOL, playing the race card, the last refuge of the guilty.
Baldoni
Those men had a job to do anyway and were well in their right to tell
the Utd players where they could and could not warm down. Just because
players have so much money it does not give them the right to lord it
over others. I find it hard to believe that there was racism involved
by club employees when one considers that the club is owned by a Jew,
managed by a Jew and has several high profile black players at the
club.
--
Baldoni
mentalguy2004
"Baldoni" <bald...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:mn.e2c17d841...@gmail.com...
And several large black stewards around him at the time of the alleged
remark.
Baldoni
Indeed !
--
Baldoni
Le Dieu
"mentalguy2004" <no...@none.com> wrote in message
news:qYhRj.73469$jH5....@newsfe3-win.ntli.net...
And is traditionally the club most closely associated with the NF and racism
in general.
Slightly OT but I was talking with Barca fans in barca last week and they
volunteered that Chelsea were by far the worst set of violent fans ever to
visit the city. Closely followed by Rangers.
A. Dieu.
Bungle
So let me get this right Balders companies owned by Jews managed by
Jews and have several Black employees wouldn't have one single racist
working anywhere within the organisation. Have I got that right?
Bungle
Interesting the first black steward on the scene so to speak was the
Steward that was clearly barged by the "innocent" ground staff. Maybe
there is more to this than first thought. Well spotted
Diablos Rojos
You got to love how Baldrick is quick to crawl up the arse of anyone who has
a pop at United or it's fans in this NG.
SLURP he's the biggest ring licker going, no surprise considering his family
background of sucking up to the Nazis.
Baldoni
It was only a couple of hours ago that you called me a greasy yellow
wop bastard.
My family fought the Nazis and you are fabricating a story out of some
tomfoolery I was involved in with Pope. You are devoid of all humor
and could not see the joke.
Empirical fact.
--
Baldoni
Le Dieu
All Italians started fighting the Nazis in late 44 after it became apparent
they were going to lose.
They were all fighting for them before that.
A Dieu.
Baldoni
I would imagine the employees of Chelsea are as well informed about the
equal opportunities programme and the race relations act.
There have been allegations of John Terry saying something he should
not have though.
--
Baldoni
Diablos Rojos
Fought with, fought against it all depended who was winning.
The exact same traits can be seen in your behaviour to this day.
Bungle
How does this relate to who owns the club and having black employes
means that no racist could possibly work for the club?
>
> There have been allegations of John Terry saying something he should not have
> though.
Yes there were laughing in the faces of some Americans about 9/11.
Hardly the stuff of an England captain either.