Several Town and ex-Town players have hit out against racism in the game in the latest issue of Red Card, the magazine of the anti-racist organisation Show Racism the Red Card. Jim Magilton, Martijn Reuser and Kieron Dyer all give their views on racism in football today.
Magilton admits that he has been on the end of anti-Irish racism at times and says you should stand up to it: "I've witnessed it during certain games and I've always tried to stand up against it. I don't believe in it and I don't think it has any credence in our game or our society at all. I've been called an "Irish so-and-so", it makes me feel more determined. I never let it get on my back. I don't know what it's like [to experience racism] because of the colour of my skin. It's a shocking thing that because you've got a different colour skin to me that someone would have the gall to stand up and call you a certain name. It's ridiculous. The first time [I saw it] I was at Anfield and John Barnes was at Liverpool. I was a young pro at Liverpool in a derby game when the Everton supporters threw bananas. It was totally disgusting. That was the first time I had ever seen it at such close quarters."
Martijn Reuser says racism gets him down: "[It makes me feel] sad, of course, but we have to stand up and be strong. Try to ban it, not only in sport but all over the world. We can do that by being strong together."
Kieron Dyer has advice for youngsters facing racism: "Tell a Teacher. Don't retaliate. Tell your parents. Don't retaliate because if you do, you've let the racists win. The best way is to get it sorted, tell people about it [and] get it stopped."
Dyer also sees Asian footballers starting to prgress in English football: "It's changing. The Asians are into it. Michael Chopra is here, breaking all the scoring records at U17 level. He is one for the future. It's like the African players who are household names, give it five years and Asians will be the same. There is Nakata from Japan — he is one of the best, he is worshipped."
The Ipswich-born player agrees with Jim Magilton when it comes to dealing with racism personally: "The only time I've experienced it has been at football in international matches and it spurs me on. Look at Ashley Cole in Albania when he got hit. Emile Heskey was the same. Shola [Ameobi] got some at Albania, it didn't affect him. Racist abuse just spurs you on, we can throw it back at them. How many times have black players got abuse and then turned in a Man of the Match [performance]? It shows we are mentally strong. That's just what I've told Shola."
Dyer is fully behind the Show Racism the Red Card campaign: "It's brilliant. It's a lot improved on what it was like when I was a young lad. I think it's more of a problem in other countries, Italy for example. Hopefully, the anti-racist campaign will just get bigger and there will be no racism in football."
Show Racism The Red Card can be contacted at this address: PO Box 141, Whitley Bay, NE26 3YH or by phone or fax: 0191 291 0160, on the web: http://www.TheRedCard.org (more from the interviews quoted above) and they can be emailed here: Ged@TheRedCard.org