Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to be drawn specifically on the comments of FIFA’s idiotic Septic Bladder, but made it quite clear there should be a zero tolerance approach to racism in sport.
Speaking at his press conference this morning, the boss said, “I didn’t really see all the comments but what I will say is that I am against any discrimination. I am for zero tolerance, on the pitch and off the pitch. In the stands and off the pitch. There is still a lot of work to do in England on that front.
“In countries where you have a lot of immigration, the problem is tackled a bit more seriously than in the other countries and rightly so. Overall, I think England is taking the right steps and is doing well on that front but there is still some work to do.
“Racist comments are unacceptable and any discrimination is unacceptable. Sport has a fantastic chance and a fantastic opportunity. Football is a worldwide sport watched all over the world and we have a massive responsibility in that.”
Meanwhile, it’s being reported that Arsenal’s main sponsor, Emirates, are re-considering their involvement with FIFA following Blatter’s remarks earlier in the week. Brand Republic quote the Emirates Chairman as saying, “We are seriously thinking about not renewing our partnership with FIFA beyond 2014.
We don’t get into politics but we believe the situation with FIFA went beyond an internal problem and became much bigger.”
Perhaps a good handshake with the boss of the airline will make things better, eh Sepp?
Good one there, le boss. And mr blogs, you are on point! *shakes mr blog’s hand”
That last line … brilliance.
Last line made me laugh, loud and long. When I first read the headline,I thought for just a moment that we were looking for new sponsorship for the stadium, praying like anything it wasn’t going to be called something like the, Happy Meal Bowl. Lived through another momentary self induced crisis yet again, ..phew.
Emirates considering sponosrhip future
ugh! I thought Emirates were considering leaving us ,that way making way for bigger sponsors like Google which = more money = larger Transfer Kitty and wages = Trebles
The Google Stadium ? Hmm, so when someone twats one into row Z, we can say he ‘Googled it’, has a certain resonance aye.
The Google Stadium! Great, would love to live to see that happen!
That may well have been the funniest thing i read today. Can you imagine the Google Stadium? Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogle written on the walls outside. Haaa
I would love Arsenal to have Google money…
Anything that speeds up Blatter’s departure is a good thing in my book.
….and on the subject of good things. Who else got goosebumps or a general warm feeling seeing the pictures doing the rounds of Henry in the red again?
God I wish it was 2005 again……..
Actually it’s Terry and Suarez and Anton and Evra dragging this crap through the mud. Most people are trying to make Blatter the scapegoat including Rio. I hate Blatter as much as the rest, but not for this. It’s a pretty lame reason from Emirates
It’s not very lame. Would I, as the chairman of an Arabian airlines, want to associate myself with someone who thinks racism is perfectly fine as long as there’s a handshake? That makes bad PR image, especially with the media going ballistics with his comments, they genuinely fear the media will turn on them as well for supporting such a ‘racist’. Of course we all know he was misunderstood, but an idiot is an idiot. If this was a company like GE or Sony, he would’ve been sacked for sure. Sadly, this is FIFA. Rather than a company, it’s more… Read more »
Perhaps Sepp ought to keep it up. The more he digs the quicker he resigns?
Maybe you should read my comment again
Handshake ? A golden one usually works in FIFA.
Racism should be stamped out – well except for the Yiddo chants against the Spuds of course. Otherwise what’s the point of it all anymore?
How about instead of a handshake we get Rio to blatter Terry. See what I did there? Blatter..batter eh, eh
BTW if you read the book by Alex Fynn – Arsénal it talks about renewing the sponsorship deal earlier than the contracted date (although how you do that I don’t know) so that the Arse can get the same sort of dosh as the Manc scumbags (which ones I hear you ask – probably both I reply).
Well worth the 5 quid I forked out for it on Amazon.
We’ve got no chance of beating Norwich tomorrow, we’ll lose 3-0.
JUST KIDDING!!!!!
I bet you were all just getting ready to hit the ‘Thumbs Down’ button!
It’s great that the Interlull is finally over – at last we’re back to REAL football!
Norwich WILL be tough – they’re a a decent side which play good attractive football – but I reckon we’ll nick it 2-1, with the Dutch master bagging at least one of them.
Anything negative here?
only Arsenal play attractive football (maybe swansea too)
…and, if you believe Sepp Bladder, ladies in tight shorts.
So, he’s alienated women, gay people, anybody who feels they are or might become the victim of racism or other discrimination, FIFA’s sponsors, the various British FAs, the British press, any potential competitor for his job, and anybody who loves football. When oh when is he going to irritate somebody who can actually make him go away?
Nothing negative apart from your assumption that we would hit the ‘thumbs down’ without reading the rest of the post.
😉
Either 10 people have done exactly that…. or…. 10 people are thinking that they have cleverly used the negative old ‘thumbs down’ in a positive and exciting new way.
Hahahahahhaah you still got a bunch of thumbs down. I gave you an up just to even it out.
I bet we take it 3 nil. We’re rolling now.
I’ve given you a big, fat greenie too. Yours is a sensible approach to take into the coming match. The last thing we need is one of those “We thought we could relax a bit because it was ‘only’ Norwich” casual attitudes.
And humour too. Who’da thunk it?
Point proven
Not really. If his thumbs up vs thumbs down were a football match then he’d usually be getting slaughtered 40-3 every game. “I think there’s a chance of a draw this week, Steve”.
You can kick Sepp Blatter in his NUTS and then go shake hands with him. All is well!
The comments? I did not see them from where I was seated. Good ole arsene 🙂
Racism is not fine when followed by a handshake.
Taking a piss is fine when followed by a handshake.
…but just the once, or you’re playing with it.
Arsenal can’t blame Blatter if Emerites leave. Blame the FA and the press & media making so much out of alleged racism
The recent non stop comments by the press & media due to some yet to be proven lightweight alleged comments by Suarez & Terry is really over the top