Ron Atkinson has now insulted the Chinese

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » Community Discussion Forums » Shanghai Open Chat

Author

Message

cornsey1011

Wonder Wit

Joined: Mar 23, 2003
Posts: 3781
Location: Shanghai...looking for a new abode
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 24, 2005 - 06:52 PM
Post subject: Ron Atkinson has now insulted the Chinese

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Football/Race-row-flares-as-Ron-does-it-aga in/2005/01/23/1106415461352.html

Quote:

Having already made an offensive remark about black people, Ron Atkinson has now insulted the Chinese.

Controversial English football pundit Ron Atkinson has become embroiled in another racism row after making insulting comments about Chinese women.

Atkinson, who was castigated last year for calling former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly a "f---ing lazy, thick " during a TV broadcast, has caused fresh offence during a speech at a fund-raising event at his former club Sheffield Wednesday.

Atkinson allegedly told his audience at Hillsborough Stadium: "The Chinese people have the best contraception in the world - but I can't understand why there's so many of them because their women are so ugly."
Atkinson, who also managed Manchester United and Aston Villa, was forced to resign as an ITV pundit and Guardian newspaper columnist in April last year over his Desailly remarks after Chelsea's loss to Monaco in a Champions League semi-final.

The 65-year-old defended himself against the latest accusations on Saturday, telling the Sheffield Star newspaper: "I cannot believe anyone has complained about anything I said.

"I went there to help them out and to raise money. I stayed for ages and did photographs. I can't believe this - I just can't believe this. I can't say anything now. I've been ultra-careful about everything. It was an easy evening and everyone enjoyed themselves."

Atkinson also tried to defend his slur by claiming he was talking about a visit to China in the late 1970s during his time with West Bromwich Albion. He said an Albion player was asked what he thought of the Great Wall of China and the player quipped: "Once you've seen one wall you've seen them all."

During the 1977-78 season Atkinson became the first English manager to field three black players in the same team. He nicknamed the trio the Three Degrees, and arranged a photo-shoot with the real Three Degrees, who were touring Britain at the time. The black American singers wore WBA shirts; the players wore fur coats.

Atkinson has repeatedly got into trouble for offensive remarks. At the 1990 World Cup he described a Cameroon player as "absolutely brainless", then added off-air: "I'll only get into trouble if his mother's back home watching the game sitting up a tree."

He also described one of his black Albion players, Cyrille Regis, as looking like "a bruised banana" in Wolverhampton's yellow strip.

A spokesman for football's anti-racism campaign, Kick It Out, said: "This stuff is poisonous, really. Essentially he really doesn't understand what he is doing in making these comments. They are deeply offensive. He seems to be consistently insulting about people because of their race. In this day and age you cannot make jokes about race."

Leni Renton, of leading London modelling agency Modelplan, told The Mirror: "Mr Atkinson does not know what he is talking about. Chinese women are amongst the most beautiful in the world."

I'll be honest, I don't know this guy from a hole in the ground, but man, if this guy thinks Chinese women are ugly I can't imagine what he must be sleeping with back home in the UK. Maybe that 5 girl group of ugly women (I guess pack would be more appropriate) Spice Girls have had their way with him or something.

Who makes statements like this anymore. I can't believe people even let him speak in public.