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Bye Bye, Fat Ron... (commentator resigns after using racial slur on air)
This is a 0% surprise me, Atkinson's commentary has always been basically a mixture of xenophobic disrpesting of foriegn players, I say good riddance, a lot of people are saying he has been made a scapegoat, but you dont just "accidentally" use racial slurs, those are obviously the terms in which he thinks and the kind of person that he is, and he is not fit to broadcast his offense views to sports fans... let him go join the British National Front if he wants to.
btw - he called Marcel Desailly a "Fucking lazy n******"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...io/3648051.stm
Quote:
Atkinson quits over racist slur
Atkinson has won awards for his work as a pundit
Football pundit Ron Atkinson has left ITV and the Guardian over a racist comment about a black Chelsea player.
ITV said Mr Atkinson was "devastated and very sorry" after a comment made in the wake of Chelsea's Champions League game against Monaco on Tuesday.
His contract to write a weekly column for the Guardian has been terminated by "mutual agreement", the newspaper said.
Mr Atkinson told BBC Radio Five Live he did not remember making the comment about Marcel Desailly.
The comment was heard on some Middle East channels which broadcasted a live feed after ITV went off-air.
I was talking to myself really - just having a pop
Ron Atkinson
Profile: Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson talking on BBC Radio Five Live
"To the people I offended, particularly Marcel Desailly, I would apologise for the comments I made," Mr Atkinson said.
"It was not an intentional comment, but it was an unfortunate one.
"I did not even know I had said it.
"I have worked with more black players, I would think, than any other manager in the country and I bet none of them has ever heard me say it to them."
An ITV spokesman added: "We do not in any way condone the comments.
"It was a regrettable lapse by a respected and experienced broadcaster who has been part of the ITV sports team for many years.
"We have discussed the situation with Ron Atkinson, who is devastated and very sorry for any offence caused by his comments.
Desailly (blue shirt) in action during the game against Monaco
"He immediately offered his resignation which we have accepted."
Mr Atkinson, 65, has provided summaries at five World Cups, six European Championships and many other major matches for ITV including Champions League and FA Cup finals.
The former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager pointed to his track record of bringing on black players during his coaching career, particularly at West Brom.
Piara Powar, director of football's anti-racism campaign Kick It Out, condemned Mr Atkinson's comments and said he was not surprised the commentator had resigned.
"I think it is always disappointing to hear someone of his stature make the type of comment that he has," he said.
"I have to say, regardless of his record, that sort of terminology (Mr Atkinson used) is just simply out of bounds."
But Mr Powar stressed that it was important to acknowledge that Atkinson had a good record of working with black players during his time as manager of Aston Villa.
A spokeswoman for the Commission for Racial Equality said: "Obviously it's disappointing that someone in a position such as his should make those comments but he has resigned - he has done the right thing."
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for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."
The Gospel of Thomas
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