Slater’s racism rant fosters divide

Source: News Limited.

Sunday morning’s paper is usually a relaxing read. Not so for former Socceroo and FOX Sports football pundit, Robbie Slater.  On opening the sport section of Fairfax’s Sun-Herald, he was disgusted to find an article by longtime Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) media adversary and former teammate, Craig Foster, on the appointment of Jim Magilton as Melbourne Victory coach.  Slater, so incensed, decided to vilify Foster through social media network, Twitter, that afternoon.

“OK, here goes.  I am sick of the continual attacks, and in my opinion, racist comments from Craig Foster on British people.  His article in today’s Sun-Herald, in my opinion, is a racist column and it is beyond me how he continually gets away with these vile articles.  You have disgraced yourself.  What a way to welcome someone to our great country and please, Jim Magilton, do not think this is the way that decent Australians welcome people from other countries,” said Slater.

It is well documented that Foster, and SBS, take a more multicultural view of football.  Hence the title of weekly football show, The World Game, aired on Monday nights.  Unlike FOX’s weekly roundup show, FOX Sports FC, The World Game covers more than Australian and English (primarily, Barclays Premier League) news and views.

Foster is revered for his analysis and firm opinions on what’s happening in the A-League.  Many viewers (particularly those new to the game) have branded him arrogant, patronising and unrealistic.  Often accusing him of bias towards his beloved continental football, and overdoing his praise of Barcelona.  It would be fair to say that he undoubtedly prefers Spanish, Italian and even German football to the English game.

“Who, Craig, do you think you are to tell the Victory of who they should employ and of what race.  Why do you pretend to know what and who is a good coach?  You have never coached anyone and why is nationality important?  British people have made a massive contribution to the history of our game and continue to do so,” continued Slater.

They most certainly have.  Throughout our grassroots clubs across the country, you’ll find them.  Barking non-stop from the sidelines, instructing developing footballers to “kick it long” and “fight for the ball” or perhaps, “keep it simple, lads.”  Those who’ve been in the game long enough, particularly the volunteers, know this beast.

Is Foster a racist for preferring a different style, to want the foundations of a developing league to be built on modern progressive football?  Would Slater call him a racist if he preferred a fine Spanish wine to an English lager?  Please.  One look at Foster’s Facebook page would highlight his tolerance and acceptance of all races, colours and creeds.  His ambassadorial role for refugee humanitarian organisation, Football United, is a shining example.

Slater’s sticking up for Magilton, his former Southampton teammate, and his monocultural employer, Premier Media Group by supporting his personal and professional relationships over the longterm interests of the game.  This type of loyalty is not uncommon.  It happens every day in corporate Australia.

“It is surprising that you dislike the British so much because after all, they gave you a career playing in the, guess what?  The Championship.  You didn’t mind the British then did you?  Good money you earned and you enjoyed it all with the help of an Englishman, Terry Venables.  The best you ever had, didn’t you once say?  A man who saw more in you than anyone else did,” Slater added, in an attempt to paint Foster a hypocrite.

If Slater actually bothered to apply critical thought to Foster’s article, he may have noticed his comments were aimed at the direction of coaching, systems and methodology in Australia.  Instead, Slater chose to focus on one paragraph which, at best, implies an institutionalised xenophobia still exists.

Foster believes, “It harks [Magilton's appointment] to both the historical reliance on Britons who built and quickly populated the coach education ranks in Australia and the beginnings of the A-League, when the immediate reaction of clubs was to import at a feverish rate from the mother country.”

This is a well-established view at SBS.  Slater was quoted as saying, “SBS is now redundant” not so long ago.  Why?  Because Australians only like English football or perhaps, they prefer to pay to watch the game that used to be free.

SBS’s football father, Les Murray, used to talk about this stuff on air with the late, Johnny Warren.

In his book, By the Balls (Random House Australia, 2006), he writes, “I’m sure Johnny would join me in shouting that Australia is a submissive football culture, deep in the throws of a colonial mentality, paying undue homage to motherland influences that are beyond their time and regressive to our football interests.”

“He would say that we should listen to the ‘wogs’, allow them to influence us.  Johnny never used the word ‘de-ethnicisation’ though he did campaign for football’s ‘Australianisation’: something he defined as the increased use of Australian players and coaches, giving our kids a go; and being pro-active in shaping our own football identity.”

It’s worth noting that it was Johnny who saw something special in Foster and invited him on the show, kick-starting his media career.

In an attempt to rile Foster, Slater said, “What is this pedestal you have put yourself on?  It is not the one the late and great, Johnny Warren, stood on.  He would be ashamed of you!  And, who are you to preach with your dark secret?”

“Well, bugger you.  You upset my 82-year-old father, who had a tear in his eye after reading your crap.  Yes, he is English but back to your secret.  Explain to all your followers why you are the only Socceroo to have been, to my knowledge, effectively banned, never to be selected again, after a disgraceful incident following a World Cup Qualifier in Tahiti.  Maybe the true legend who got you out of that Tahitian jail should have left you there!  Hang your head in shame.”

The Socceroos coach at the time was Frank Farina.  Those inside the game who know this so-called “dark secret” must be laughing.  It’s an absolute storm in a teacup.  I recall Farina doing a few things that got him in trouble during his stint as Brisbane Roar coach, no?  What about Slater’s good mate, Mark Bosnich.  Is he a Saint?  What, Slater’s never made a mistake before?  His emotional intelligence mirrors that of a toddler, to bring that up as blackmail is juvenile.

Perhaps the most amusing part to his dummy spit was his suggestion that Les Murray should reprimand him.  For what?

“And Les Murray, you should haul him into your office and tell him his comments are unacceptable.  After all, he does work for the excellent multicultural channel, SBS.  Surely, they can’t be happy with this sort of behaviour.  Enough is enough!  And that’s all I have to say about that!”

SBS is an “excellent multicultural channel” now.  Wasn’t it redundant?

In Chapter 15 of Johnny’s gospel, Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters (Random House Australia, 2002) he states, “Australia’s best coach is SBS.”

“[SBS] has singularly been the most influential organisation on the development of football in Australia.  From youngsters first being introduced to playing the game to internationals strutting their stuff in the most celebrated competitions, SBS has enhanced the knowledge and understanding of the world game in Australian fans and players alike.”

“SBS is a network with viewers from all sorts of backgrounds and allegiances.  Even when an Australian team has been playing, objectivity has had to be maintained at all times.”

If only Slater could understand, there’s a bigger picture.

Foster and his views on football, clearly articulated in his first book, Fozz on Football (Hardie Grant Books, 2010) has an unwavering passion.  That is, to see Australia reach a consistent and well-respected place in world football.

Instead of being emotional, single-minded and down right childish, Slater would do himself a world of good by thinking before he jumps to conclusions.  Australians typically love a larrikin, a boofhead, a glass half-full type of character.  In that regard, Slater wins the popular vote.

Foster is a different animal.  He is critical, often mistaken for negative, because he understands the historic struggle from the grassroots to the Socceroos.  The game is supposed to be fun, but someone has to get serious about its future.

The game, its players and fans lose in this kind of civil war of competing ideologies.  For those of us who have spent tens of thousands of dollars or more on football, watched and supported the game during the National Soccer League era (and prior to), packed the car for inter-State trips or flown around the world to support the Socceroos, and now embraced the A-League: we deserve better.

In response to Slater’s comments, Foster has come out today and said, “Whilst some of the comments yesterday were serious and warrant further action, I’m pleased an important issue is given oxygen for debate.”

Slater has defended his comments today on FOX Sports News.  He’s not one to back down until ingloriously proven wrong.  Remember his condemnation of Harry Kewell regarding his place in the Socceroos?  The embarrassing on-air feud?

This debate will divide the football fraternity.  On Twitter last night, there were so many tweets flying around that both “Robbie Slater” and “Craig Foster” were trending.  A personal and potentially defamatory attack on a former teammate isn’t the sort of trend to be proud of.

Slater, play the ball and not the man.