(Image Source: Flikr/dannymol)


BY LAUREN ZIMA

Language barrier, or racist remark? That’s the question in the UK after Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was charged with racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

It all started at an October 15th match. Post game, Evra said that Suarez had called him a “negrito” at least 10 times during play. After a month-long investigation, the Football Association has announced Suarez will be charged, though they wouldn’t say with what. Suarez says he will plead not guilty, arguing that the word is not an offensive term in Uruguay, where he’s from, and that he didn’t mean to insult Evra.

CNN points out that there may be some truth to that defense. The outlet spoke with Mark Sawyer, director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Politics at the University of California Los Angeles.

“ … generally, negrito is not considered a racial slur in Latin America, Sawyer said. In fact, it frequently has a positive meaning. ‘It's often a term of endearment,’ he said.”

But a writer for the pro-Manchester United blog 7Cantonas says there’s simply no excuse.

“The connotations and repercussions of using the ‘N’ word are now obvious to anyone in civilised society and have been for years.”

The language divide issue has sparked a national debate, especially since FIFA president Sepp Blatter addressed the issue -- and instead of calming things, he amplified them. When asked if there is racism on the field, he told CNN:

“There is no racism. There is maybe, one of the players towards the other -- he as a word or a gesture which is not the correct one. But also, the one who is affected by that, he should say, ‘It’s a game. We are in a game, and the end of the game, we shake hands.’ This can happen.”


Fans are now calling for Blatter’s resignation. But SBNation points out that, even if he’s convicted of charges, Suarez might not face such serious repercussions.

Suárez is too valuable to Liverpool for any finding of guilt to lead to their seeking to dispense with his services.”
 

Sports News

Liverpool's Suarez Accused of Racial Abuse

November 18, 2011
(1:58)
Language barrier, or racist remark? That’s the question in the UK after Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was charged with racial abuse.
   
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