1st Letter from consortium to Liverpool Football Club:
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 Suarez 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:
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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
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Response from Liverpool Football Club to Consortium:
FAO: The Consortium of Liverpool & National Black & Anti-racism Organisations.
Thank you for your letter of February 19th expressing your concerns. I very much appreciate your thoughts on the issue.
I think it is important to state again that Liverpool Football club remains absolutely committed to playing its part in the fight against racism and discrimination of any sort. The club has a long and successful track record in the area of social inclusion at both home and abroad. We are committed to supporting racial equality and social inclusion and are actively involved in numerous programmes including achieving the 'Kick It Out' Equality standard and support the 'Show Racism the Red Card' program. The club has also been involved in the production of key media including 'Into the Red', an LFCTV Production celebrating the influence and success that black footballers have had at Liverpool Football Club, The club supports the Black History Month program and runs its own Truth 4 Youth program which has been delivered to over 100,000 children in schools across merseyside. We will continue to build on the work we have already done by working alongside the game's authorities and other relevant agencies to continue to make a real difference.
Regarding the FA Regulatory Commission, both Luis Suarez and the Club accepted the decision, The player did not appeal the sanction, served his suspension, paid his fine and apologised to anyone he had offended. in addition the club also made unambiguously clear its disappointment with what occurred at Old Trafford more recently. The player publicly acknowledged he had made a mistake and apologised, as did the manager for his comments during a post match interview.
In light of events, the Club have met with a number of key national and local stakeholders on these issues and those discussions have been honest and collaborative. We are also working with Arun Kang, Chief Executive of Sporting Equals, an independent UK-wide charity and one of the leading experts in equality and diversity in sport, who will be reviewing our policies, processes and practices. In addition, Sporting Equals will help us execute a strategy empowering staff, volunteers and stakeholders on race equality and they will assist us in engaging relevant governing bodies to ensure LFC is inclusive in all its operations. We will work with additional organisations such as Kick It Out, The Premier League and other stakeholders in football to help us develop and deliver a strategic action plan encompassing both our staff and external stakeholders.
What is important is that Liverpool FC is judged on what it does now, and that the lessons learned over the past few months are translated into solid measures moving forward.
Respectfully
Thomas C Werner
Chairman
Liverpool Football Club
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Consortium response to LFC letter:
F.A.O. Chair Man - Tom Werner, Managing Director- Ian Ayre, Manager - Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool FC
Anfield Road
Liverpool
L4 OTH
By email and post
23rd February 2012
Dear Mr Werner,
Thank you for your letter received on 22nd February in response to our letter to you of the 19th February from the Consortium of Liverpool and National Anti Racism Organisations.
We note your responses to the some of the issues raised in our communication to you. The record of Liverpool Football Club is impressive but falls short of what is required in relation to the Suarez affair; good practice in terms of effective community engagement; and race relations.
Gloria Hyatt is personally disappointed as she offered the hand of friendship in a private letter and her free expertise in a letter to Kenny Dalglish and LFC, earlier in the year, to help point out how this situation could be better managed. As you will know, the good work you have managed to achieve thus far, can be dramatically undone if LFC does not remain vigilant and continue to exemplify the highest standards of integrity in relation to tackling racism. We have become acutely aware of this as LFC fans quote unquote your messages and communications that undermine our message of peace and reconciliation in our movement to achieve peaceful race relations in our city.
Central to this mission is leadership and in this regard LFC have undermined both their own achievements and those of others working to combat racism in the modern game by a consistent refusal to hear, respect or give value to our lived experiences. Our members have been subject to many forms of abuse at their business and personal addresses, the evidence is mounting that Liverpool’s good community relations are being damaged as racism is on the increase fuelled by the situations we speak of.
We also note your comment that Suarez has, in relation to the Evra racial abuse incident, already “apologised to anyone he offended" This is in effect a non-apology. Saying "I'm sorry that you felt insulted" to someone who has been offended by a statement is no apology at all. Such a statement does not admit that there was anything wrong with the remarks made, and additionally, it may be taken as insinuating that the person taking offense was excessively thin-skinned or irrational in taking offense at the remarks in the first place. When it comes to the issue of racism we need to ensure a clear unambiguous statement is made that leaves no room for doubt.
Your letter compounds that failure in that you also fail to address the quite specific demand that Suarez and LFC provide a public apology to Patrice Evra for the racial abuse he suffered. The significance of this non apology is not lost on fans or the general public and has been interpreted as an obstinate refusal to acknowledge the central allegation of racist abuse. This has provided subliminal comfort to racist and bigots all over the country. This is entirely separate from and in addition to the player apology that was provided by LFC for Suarez's refusal to shake Evra's hand at a recent match.
Whilst we note your work with Sporting Equals, however, we urge LFC to open up dialogue and partnerships with local black and anti racist organisations in this city. We have a huge amount of experience, skill and commitment. National mainstream organisations being parachuted into Liverpool to work on issues of race, without any local links or having their work informed by a local historical context is unacceptable. This is no substitute for working in genuine partnerships with local organisations, history has shown this in the success of others gone before. We are heartened that our Prime Minister is taking this issue seriously, and happy that the Anthony Walker Foundation endorses our message, though of course we look to LFC for a direct, respectful and appropriate response to the pertinent issues shared by our communities in response to the conduct of LFC, its player, its employees and management.
In relation to Black History Month we are aware you are currently in early negotiations about how LFC may work with communities to support the MBHM programme. We support any initiative that positively impacts on good race relations in Liverpool and beyond. I’m sure you will be aware that the Chair for this group has signed up to the concerns we continue to highlight in our letters to you. Could you please provide us with further details cited by you of LFC's work with Show Racism the Red Card and Kick It Out over an above their national programmes or campaigns?
We restate our original requests and ask that you formally respond in writing to each specific point and the points highlighted in this letter. We repeat our offer to meet with you to discuss these matters and in effort to facilitate joint consensus on these issues. This is a very serious matter and the absence of both a serious and considered response to our concerns is very disappointing. This issue cannot be simply swept under the carpet and requires that you engage with us in a genuine effort to provide genuine anti racist leadership in our fantastic multiracial city.
Yours respectfully,
Consortium of Liverpool and National Black and Anti- Racism 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
