I was talking generally not about this specific case

Having said that I presume what Webber was trying to get at is that football (or indeed charity support) can be a vehicle for those coming from disadvantaged urban areas ,particularly where there may be a gang culture, to take them away from the risks that culture brings. The same sort of thing has been said about players from certain neighbourhoods in large South American cities for as long as I can recall also.

He typically spoke in a very clumsy fashion and got himself in a mess by reeling off a load of exclusively black players thus showing his prejudice/mindset that all black players come from that sort of background when that is clearly not actually the case and indeed most if not all of the players he referenced seem to have had very strong family support and seem to be impressive young men.

Posters on here will know I have little or no time for Webber. In some ways its pleasing to see him get his comeuppance. That said I think that this particular comment was not malicious or intended to offend (although obviously it did) and so i would place it at the lower end of the scale of "racist" offences and not really something that should see him cancelled. He was, as usual, sounding off to try and impress. But when you are a bit of a **** and make yourself enemies and then something like this happens you are likely to find limited sympathy out there.

Posted By: Jim, Mar 25, 15:32:44