Love Football, Hate Racism UK: Formal complaint re: Steve Rotheram MP

Love Football, Hate Racism UK - Twitter: @LFHRUK

5 March 2012
Mr Ed Miliband MP
House of Commons
Open Letter, sent by email

Dear Mr Miliband,

I am writing to you with a formal complaint about a member of your party, Mr Steve Rotheram, MP.As both a trade union and community activist I have campaigned against racism all my life. I am a member of the PCS Union National Executive Committee, the TUC Race Relations Committee and co-founder of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK, a national organisation established to campaign against the disproportionate impact of cuts on black workers, service users and communities, as well as a member of the Consortium of Liverpool and National Black and Minority Organisations.The Consortium has raised concerns about the handling of the Suarez and Evra affair through a letter to Liverpool Football Club and establishing the campaign Love Football Hate Racism. We established an online petition details of which you can access here:http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/racism-and-liverpool-fc.html

The petition has four key demands as follows:
We the undersigned call on Liverpool Football Club to meet four key demands;
(1) Publicly accept the findings of the FA into the Suarez case.
(2) Liverpool FC and Luis Suarez to publicly apologize to Patrice Evra.
(3) In partnership with Liverpool and national black and minority ethnic organisations commit to and sponsor an international conference on the issue of eradicating racism in football.
(4) Together with civic leaders sign up to a public declaration reaffirming commitment to combating racism and promoting race equality through proactive actions.On Friday 2nd of March 2012 some Liverpool fans tweeted their opposition and criticism of the petition and the authors of the petition and called on people to ‘educate’ us.

On the same day one of these individuals tweeted @ Steve Rotheram MP ‘Hi Steve I think you should look at the rather dodgy labelling of Liverpool city on this online petition’. He included a link to the petition and went on to tweet to Mr Rotheram, ‘it’s basically tarnishing both the city and LFC as racist. Dangerous’
Mr Rotherham tweeted in response also on the 2nd of March ‘Lads you can’t stop people intent on causing trouble from this sort of action other than ignoring them’
I have taken screen shots of both tweets should you require them. My complaint is about Mr Rotheram’s blatant disregard of the serious issue of racism and concerns raised about racism. Petitions are widely used tools in campaigning that are recognised, raise wider awareness of issues and can bring about positive results. The fact that Mr Rotheram regards me as someone who is intent on causing trouble by setting up a petition is of grave concern. By branding me and others involved in the campaign as trouble makers he is demonstrating that he does not see racism as an issue and if he has a different opinion does not believe in engaging, communicating and working to resolve issues.
I am concerned that as a member of parliament representing a diverse constituency he believes that anti racists and those who campaign against racism are intent on making trouble and believe that his expression of those views on a public forum such as Twitter bring the Labour Party and its values into disrepute and that he is acting irresponsibly as a member of Parliament. MPs are supposed to engage and take seriously the concerns of their constituents. Whilst I am not personally a constituent several members of the consortium and members of the communities they represent are residents in Liverpool the city that Mr Rotheram’s constituency is based in. Racism in football is a serious issue which must be tackled rather than ignored as Mr Rotheram has suggested. When discrimination is not addressed it empowers those who discriminate and leads to increased discrimination as we have seen recently with a rise in racism at football matches.
In addition to the petition already mentioned in this letter our campaign has submitted a petition aimed at government, which is currently awaiting approval, calling for a parliamentary debate on racism in football.
I am requesting that you raise my concerns with Mr Rotheram and seek an apology for his comments and call on him to engage with anti-racist organisations such as Love Football Hate Racism, Kick it Out, Show Racism the Red Card and others with a view to working to meet the aims of our petition and to campaign against racism in football, communities and society.
Yours sincerely,
Zita Holbourne
On behalf of the Consortium of Liverpool and National Black and Minority Organisations

Community leaders & anti racist organisations accuse Liverpool FC of inciting racism - press release

Press Release
Monday February 20th
Contact Lee Jasper: 07984 181797


Liverpool Football Club has come under fierce criticism from an influential group of high profile, local and national black leaders, alongside a host of anti racist organisations.

The group have written an open letter delivered today accusing LFC and manager Kenny Dalglish of grossly mishandling the Saurez/Patrice Evra affair contributing to the incitement of racism in football and wider society. We know that they have had good advice to assist them and refused to take it choosing instead to continue on in this manner.

The group called on LFC to accept the findings of the FA investigation that concluded that Suarez had racially abused Evra and offer an immediate and unreserved apology to Evra.

LFC is accused of colluding with racism by seeking to dismiss the FA's findings and racially aggravating this sensitive issue by inappropriately and misguidedly showing public team support for Suarez post the publication of the FA's investigative report into these matters. The refusal of Suarez to shake Evra's hand was a further incitement of racism. The group called on LFC to acknowledge the implicit racism involved and issue a statement with other civic leaders committing themselves to opposing racism and to commit to organise a conference on racism in football.

Gloria Hyatt MBE said

" Liverpool Football Club has presided over the worst incident of racism in football seen in recent years. Their misguided handling of Suarez/Evra has let down all of those in the city who worked hard to challenge racism and make Liverpool a better place to live for everyone."

Lee Jasper a national human rights and race equality campaigner said

" The club including the owners, the players and the manager need to realise the enormous damage caused by their reluctance and obdurate behaviour. Kenny Daglish used to manage Celtic he ought to know the importance of stamping out bigotry. The club failed the city, the nation as a whole and in particular Britain's black communities. Their abysmal lack of leadership on this issues has given a green light to racism. They must make urgent reparations and make a clear and unequivocal apology".Letter sent to Liverpool FC:

Statement of Intent

We the undersigned wish to express our grave concerns about the inadequate responses of Liverpool Football Club to the findings by the FA regulatory commission that determined Luis Saurez was guilty of racially insulting the Manchester United player, Patrice Evra.

Football is a unifying sport providing pleasure and entertainment to billions of people across the planet. Young people from every corner of our world passionately support their team. Football players are held in high regard and viewed as positive role models.

Clubs, players and managers have an important and globally recognized responsibility to demonstrate their commitment to the principle of common decency and fair play. Throughout the world, both on and off the football pitch they inspire and socially educate billions of young people who admire and mimic their actions.

The issue of racism in football is one that requires unambiguous anti racist leadership. The actions of LFC in the run up to and following the publication of the FA’s findings fell short of the high standard of leadership expected for a team of their standing in the football community.  

LFC actions, in vehemently rejecting the findings of the FA inquiry, their public displays of support for a player found guilty of racist abuse and his subsequent refusal to shake the hand of Evra at a recent game is completely unacceptable. These actions we believe could be considered as inciting racial intolerance.

Whilst the subsequent apologies for the failure to engage with the traditions of a pre game “hand shake” are to be welcomed, there remains deep concern, about LFC’s absolute refusal to accept the findings of the FA’s investigation. As such these apologies fail to meet the test of genuine remorse and understanding. This is further negated by LFC’s failure to apologise for racism either through the club or Suarez.

Neither have LFC recognised or acknowledged the consequent damage to race relations resulting from their actions and   recognised by many people of all races across the country. As a result, efforts to combat racism in football and the wider society in general have been critically undermined.

Compounding these serious errors is the failures of Liverpool’s civic leaders, many of whom have remained silent on these critical issues and have failed to publicly condemn LFC’s decision not to robustly and effectively challenge racism. 

Such is the overwhelming power of the Premier League and the influence of clubs such as LFC it is imperative that this situation cannot be allowed to stand.

The international reputation of Liverpool as a city committed to race equality is at stake.  In addition there is a real and urgent need to restore confidence in the campaign against racism in football, both here, in the UK and across the world.

To this end we have four key demands;

• that LFC publicly accept the findings of the FA into the Suarez case. 
• that LFC and Suarez publicly apologize to Patrice Evra. 
• that LFC in partnership with Liverpool and national black and ethnic minority organisations commit to and sponsor an international conference on the issue of eradicating racism in football.
• that civic leaders in addition to LFC sign up to a public declaration reaffirming their commitment to combating racism and promoting race equality through pro active actions. 

Love Football, Hate Racism:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LFHRUK
Twitter: follow @LFHRUK

Consortium of Liverpool and National Black and Minority Organisations:

Gloria Hyatt MBE Teach Consultancy Limited

Liverpool Black Leadership Forum

Femi Sowande Merseyside Black History Month Group

Eric Lynch Slavery History Tours

Alec Mcfadden Merseyside Coalition Against Racism and Facism

Alec Mcfadden   Merseyside TUC

Paul Sesay Smith Diversity Group and National Diversity Awards

Earl Jenkins Kingsley United

Paul Jenkins North West Unite Against Facism

Zita Holbourne Black Activists Rising Against Cuts

Shantele Janes Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race Equality Centre

Tracey Hylton Edit Consultancy

Lee Jasper London Race and Criminal Justice Consortium

Peter Herbert  OBE Society of Black Lawyers

Simon Woolley Operation Black vote

Charles Crichlow National Black Police Association

Dave Weaver 1990 Trust

Stafford Scott Tottenham Defence Campaign

Viv Ahmun Coreplan

Stan Collymore speaks his mind regarding Alan Hansen's* use of the word 'coloured' to describe black football players

'Official Alan Hansen says coloured on match of the day HD' - includes a viewer's reaction!

Uploaded by teamxxxo  

*Stan Collymore has since put out a statement on Twitter saying that he was not responding to Alan Hansen's use of the word coloured, but to comments made by others on Twitter. Statement at end of article.



Stan Collymore via Twitter:

Alan Hansen: referred to black football players as 'coloured' on Match of the Day


"Coloured. What colour would that be? Blue? Green? Orange?  White Black (not coloured). Black is fine. Mixed Race (not coloured). Half caste,not fine.

An idiots guide to the 21st century .

No need to have a pop, just trying to be helpful.

We need a debate, a real one where everyone living in this country can reform our accepted rules,as there's a lot of confusion amongst  lots of people right now.

Words or phrases have the power(historically) to really really hurt,whether intentional or not, so surely by acknowledging people's sensitivities(and justifiable of you have even a tiny grasp of history),taking a step to understand where these sensitivities come from,and say "ok,seems reasonable", how do we all work together and move forward.

I grew up hearing all sorts of words uses for disability,race,poor,and disadvantaged people that simply aren't used today because MOST people understand where those words came from.

Stan Collymore spoke out on Twitter

 My Dad is Black ,my Mum is White, so trust me I've seen plenty to form a judgement from. In essence,many Whites (I lived exclusively in a white home growing up) feel that they are treading on eggshells,and can't do right for wrong (and that's understandable) and many Blacks, Asians and Mixed Race Men and Women feel they are just being taken the piss out of,after 100's of years of awful abuse,so how do we bridge the gap and all just get on?

We talk,be open and try and put ourselves in others shoes.
The only way!

Try asking questions to people who look different or sound different,and ask them why they would get offended and ask,"would I in the same situation ?"

Communication, not blind ignorance is the only way, otherwise we'll all bloody end up unhappy! Great country, mostly great people (if not a bit stubborn,it's in our DNA) but for Gods sake,put yourself in another mans shoes for once.

It might work!

Merry Christmas"
Stan Collymore via Twitter @StanCollymore

* Stan Collymore has since issued the following statement:
Response to Sun Newspaper article on Alan Hansen.
'In yesterday's Sun Newspaper,I was quoted as saying "Coloured,what colour would that be? Green? Blue? Orange?"
The suggestion in the story is that this was in direct to response to Alan Hansen's comments on MOTD.
It was not.
I was responding on twitter to a rash of comments asking if I minded being called coloured,
to am I coloured or black?, to less polite comments.
My reply did not name Alan Hansen,or refer to him in any way,whatsoever,and i defy anyone reading my twitter feed to see Alan Hansen's name in any way mentioned.
Therefore to use a quote not even naming Alan Hansen as the stick to beat him with in an article,completely misrepresents my quote,and frankly is unfair and wrong.
If I want to have a go at someone,i'll quite happily name them'.
Stan Collymore

Stan Collymore (photo from http://www.sporting-heroes.net/)