Mikel John Obi's agent has said that he will ask the Equality and Human Rights Commission to look into the comments Peter Crouch made about foreign players on Thursday.
Crouch To Face 'Racism' Probe?
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Liverpool striker Peter Crouch could be facing a probe into 'racist' comments after Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi reacted angrily to what the forward said in a newspaper on Thursday.

Crouch was shown a red card for a two-footed lunge on the Nigerian at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, and although he admitted he deserved his dismissal, he criticised Obi's reaction, claiming someone like Frank Lampard "wouldn't have rolled around as if he’d been shot".

Angry Reaction

The Chelsea player's agents, SEM Group, have reacted angrily to the Reds star's allegations that foreign players are more likely to cheat, saying in a statement:

“SEM feel the comments were potentially racist to all foreign players, not just black or African ones. We are intending to speak to Trevor Phillips at the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Monday.

"We hope football’s governing bodies, who are meant to be committed to stamping out racism issues, will also get involved.”

“As far as we are concerned, it was a comment made in a very bad light and we’ll be taking it to the highest level," added Obi's personal manager John ****tu.

Mikel John Obi Speaks Out

Obi himself told The Sun: “There is nothing to say to Crouch. All I know is that I am not a diver and will not start doing that now. Foreign players bring a lot to the league. That’s why there are so many here at the moment.

"There is Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov, amongst other top players. They make the league very competitive and we cannot all be bad just because one player feels so. I respect Peter Crouch as a fellow professional," added the Nigerian, who himself is no stranger to red cards for bad tackles.

"But calling me names is way off the mark. I may be a young player but I’m professional enough to accept that football should be played fairly. Everyone saw what happened. Crouch should just focus on his game instead of lamenting and making unfounded allegations about other players.”

Things like this make me so mad, the telly pictures have shown no contact was made with Mikel but he still went down rolling around like he'd been shot. Crouch admits he should have been sent off but was upset by Mikels reaction.

I'm too shocked to know what to say about this, just why are they so bothered. It epitomises everything that is evil about Chelsea football club and their inner circle of associates that they are taking this matter forward. Because its the 'freak' Peter Crouch they have an issue, but if another popular England player made the comments they wouldnt do anything.

Things like this make me so mad, the telly pictures have shown no contact was made with Mikel but he still went down rolling around like he'd been shot. Crouch admits he should have been sent off but was upset by Mikels reaction.

I agree that while Crouch's challenge was reckless, there was no substantial contact. There have been much worse tackles that have not been given red cards. Evertonians will remember Kuyt's tackle in the recent derby match which was arguably a more dangerous one.

"SEM feel the comments were potentially racist to all foreign players, not just black or African ones. We are intending to speak to Trevor Phillips at the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Monday."

-- This is a ridiculous statement. ". . . potentially racist to all foreign players, not just black or African ones." I suppose it would be considered racist as well toward Shevchenko, Peter Cech, John Arne Riise, and Sammi Hyppia? :rolleyes:

Chris

I'm too shocked to know what to say about this, just why are they so bothered. It epitomises everything that is evil about Chelsea football club and their inner circle of associates that they are taking this matter forward. Because its the 'freak' Peter Crouch they have an issue, but if another popular England player made the comments they wouldnt do anything.

Agreed

How is it racism? he is just pointing out that some players roll about to get the ref to do something. Crouch was walking anyway, so no need to roll about the floor. stupid claim of racism.:PDT_Xtremez_12:

where is is racist ? have I missed something ? I read over it twice, and as Gnomie says it's something about rolling on the floor.

Agreed

How is it racism? he is just pointing out that some players roll about to get the ref to do something. Crouch was walking anyway, so no need to roll about the floor. stupid claim of racism.:PDT_Xtremez_12:

There have been too many histrionics from Chelsea players and this is just the latest incident. I suppose it didn't help that their late departed manager, the "Special One" José Mourinho, was himself on the histrionic side, at least verbally, which encouraged physical and verbal histrionics by the team.

Chris

where is is racist ? have I missed something ? I read over it twice, and as Gnomie says it's something about rolling on the floor.

Hi Lindy

The implication is that Crouch's remarks about Mikel rolling around on the floor being something that Frank Lampard would not do, were made because Mikel is a black foreign player and that it is an Englismen versus foreigners thing.

Chris

I don't understand what the problem is.
Footballers aren't famous for their intelligence anyway, which probably accounts for the stupid things they do, or are alleged to do.

Grant Annoyed

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Avram Grant is furious with Crouch, not least because Obi's participation in Sunday's trip to Blackburn is in jeopardy. “Crouch is a very honest guy but he can only be talking about the foreign players who play for his own team," opined the Israeli.

"I don’t think he knows much about other foreign players. I really don’t like it when people talk about ‘foreigners’ like this. We need to think about the person and not his nationality. For me, there are good players and not good players; players that behave nicely and others that don’t.

"I see foreign players that behave well and I see some English players who make bad tackles that take opponents out for a few weeks," continued Grant. "I have heard that Peter Crouch is a nice guy so he needs to look at himself and see what is wrong instead of finding excuses."

It beggers belief what are the chances he will be playing what a trouper:disgust:

its racist now to criticise a foreigner, talk about a chip on your shoulder

Peter Crouch is a good lad caught in a bad situation. Certainly the FA needs to look at the problem of playacting by players and not just view this as a racism issue which would distort what actually happened.

:disgust:

Crouchie acted stupidly, there is no excuse even if (and he most certainly was) provoked. But quite honestly I'd rather have a Peter Crouch who lost his composure on my team than a cheating piece of sh*t like Mikel, rolling around on the floor trying to get another player sent off when there was little or no contact.:rolleyes:

Has Peter Crouch forgot how a certain Mr Gerrard, went up to the ref in the derby match and got a Everton player sent off. Play the game like a man , and take the punisment like a man that goes for all sides.

Has Peter Crouch forgot how a certain Mr Gerrard, went up to the ref in the derby match and got a Everton player sent off. Play the game like a man , and take the punisment like a man that goes for all sides.


Like David Moyes did? Did't hear Moyes complaining last season when Liverpool had two major decisions not given and Everton scored twice. This season the ginga knob is still complaining. Acting like a man as well?

Surely the referee makes his own mind up. I remember a certain Mr Moyes making a big song and dance about penalties not being given for the antics of a certain bald everton player who could win diving medals for Britain. That influenced a few decisions after didn't it...

Horlicks.

Fact. Keith Hackett the refs governing body examined a video of Johnson's none penalties and decided he should have had 8 of them out of 11.

Fact, it was an Everton player scythed down from behind which led the to the Cahill goal in that 3 niller which must still rankle with some. Check it out on youtube, there's plenty on there to choose from.

Fact. Foreigners did bring the play acting in, that's not racist but true check out did such thinbgs happen pre-foreign players when the real hard men were around.

1-1 half time at Old Trafford so we might just do you a favour if you're good since yous couldn't yourselves, incidently, an ugly 2 footed challenge by Hibbert which you'll see tonight, could easily have walked. ;)

But, you wouldn't want that would you - not against Utd.

Edit: Utd edge it with an 88th min pen - oh well, we gave them a good game. Let's hope we go on another 13 game unbeaten run now. :)

This season the ginga knob is still complaining.

That is a racist comment against Red haired people:disgust:

1-1 half time at Old Trafford so we might just do you a favour if you're good since yous couldn't yourselves, incidently, an ugly 2 footed challenge by Hibbert which you'll see tonight, could easily have walked. ;)

But, you wouldn't want that would you - not against Utd.

Edit: Utd edge it with an 88th min pen - oh well, we gave them a good game. Let's hope we go on another 13 game unbeaten run now. :)

Well done, the Battling Blues -- I thought you might have done it. 1-1 or even win. Still you gave Man U a great battle. :handclap:

Chris

claiming someone like Frank Lampard "wouldn't have rolled around as if he’d been shot".

Hows that racist?

claiming someone like Frank Lampard "wouldn't have rolled around as if he’d been shot".

Hows that racist?

Hi Max

I agree: it's not exactly racist. It goes to players play-acting, no matter their race.

However Mikel's complaint seems to be that Crouch made the remark that Lampard, a white man, would not play-act and feign an injury whereas a black foreign player would.

Chris

The comments were targeted at Mikel and Lampard ONLY. It was about Obis style of play being not on par with Lampard i.e. Diving.

For the record the whole Premiership could go into Olympics for diving events. Diving and bad acting (surely a role in Eastenders as a next career step) has totally ruined the game.

John Obi Mikel has been sent off tonight against Everton. It didnt look like a challenge that merited a straight red (ie it wasnt too footed, it was a badly timed tackle but not necessarily a malicious one) but what goes around comes around, I've no sympathy for him.

I totally agree with you there.