Exclusive – Mortimer tells Palmer: ‘Racist abuse is not banter, it’s illegal’
Paul Mortimer has told Carlton Palmer racist abuse is not banter, it’s illegal.
But Mortimer, the ex-Charlton midfielder and now the Player Engagement Manager for anti-racism campaign Kick It Out, insists those views are ‘not helpful’.
“Any form of racist abuse on the pitch is illegal. And that’s something that needs to be understood,” he told Colin Murray.
“He [Palmer] is highlighting the behaviour of the victim, not the perpetrator who is doing something illegal. And that has to be dealt with.
“He’s not speaking for all players. He’s speaking about his opinion based on his experiences. I can tell you from talking to players that racism is still an issue in the game that needs addressing.
“His views are not helpful. If you take some of the high-profile cases, the kids know everything that is going on.
“One of my children came home from school and told me they had been racially abused. What do I tell them - laugh it off? It’s just a joke? Is that how I should educate my children?
“When you talk about players being racist on the pitch, when they come off the pitch does that mean those feelings are gone? Is it exclusively for the pitch?
“People who think that way don’t only think that way on the pitch. They are the same off the pitch. Those people don’t need to be just punished, but educated as well. Education is the key. People have to understand exactly why it’s unacceptable.”
FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed racism could be solved by on-field handshakes, but Mortimer insist that viewpoint is nonsense.
“That’s unacceptable,” he added.” I’ve suffered racist abuse on the street and on the pitch. So I should accept it for 90 minutes and then shake my abuser’s hand? That would mean I’m colluding with him.
“This is not banter, it’s abuse.”