In these troubling times when online certainly accusations of the most ungodly nature are hurled around quite casually, where facts are lost to feelings, it is worth giving today’s announcement from the FA, an actual read. Opposed to blasting buzzwords such as BAN and RACIST all over the place, which is very easy to do when one removes critical thought from the field of play.
The full statement from the FA read:
Dele Alli has been suspended for one match with immediate effect, fined £50,000 and must undertake an education course following a breach of FA Rule E3.
The Tottenham Hotspur FC player denied that a social media post breached FA Rule E3(1), as it was insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, and constituted an “Aggravated Breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin and/or nationality. However, it was subsequently found proven by an independent Regulatory Commission.
Full PDF
Indeed, I pointed out at the time our views on what the boy Alli had got up to as he waited for his flight. Was this video racist in nature? In my opinion, no. Ill-advised? Certainly. As with so much of the world these days, this is simply something that some/many people have found distasteful. Which is a totally different kettle of gender-neutral fish.
Thankfully the matter is over, the fine will be paid, the Manchester United game will be missed and the footballing world can be put back on its axis.
— Dele (@dele_official) June 11, 2020
Dele took to Twitter this afternoon to apologise. It’s an apology most normal people will take to be meaningful.
What we need now, is a nice long period of no distractions. No boot throwing, no videos, no armed robberies, no commercial deals, no anything that isn’t this young man delivering his elite football skills for Spurs.
