Racism Against Hamilton!

[emmabro]

No doubt you've all seen this :eek:
can i just say i think it's awful :(
how sad that this sport has finally become one of the many that encounters this !
They say if it continues they may "scrap" the Spanish Grand Prix hmmm:confused:
XxEm

UK sport minister Gerry Sutcliffe has promised to widen the Lewis Hamilton racism scandal by writing to his government counterparts in Spain.

Britain reacted with horror to the translations of foul language and banners directed at F1's only black driver last weekend, and angrily published photos of Spanish test spectators - also accused of throwing rubbish at the McLaren team - at the Circuit de Catalunya mockingly wearing black makeup and curly wigs.

Sutcliffe said the Barcelona events as portrayed by the media were 'sickening' and told British reporters that he will be using official channels to express his condemnation.

"I am going to write to the Spanish sports minister to express our ongoing concern about racism suffered by our sportsmen," he said.

"I'd like to see our government make a really big issue of this."

"Racism should not be tolerated and this brings into question whether the Grand Prix should be held at this track," the MP added.

[Ryan]

It's terrible but I hope the FIA doesn't over react because of a bunch of idiots.

[hk77]

i agree that it is horrible, but i m sure that the british public and fans could be even worse:(

[EIR Loe.307]

I may very well have missed this. Can someone elaborate?

[M.Beer]

um... the title of this thread is a little misleading... it intimates that Hamilton is the instigator of the racism, when in fact he is the victim.

That said, the incidents are a blight on the sport. Very sad that the fanaticism of a few gets taken to such a level that it drags the entire fanbase, and in turn the sport, into the gutter.

Rivalry is healthy. Hate is not.

[Harakimi]

Added the article from F1-Live to make things clearer...

To be honest I kinda excepted this kind of things to come up since it's very common that Spanish football fans (and Italian also) make "fun" out of their rival teams players who are black, every time they touch the ball they make monkey noices, throw bananas to the field etc...

They are trying to make them nervous and stuff. I've watched this document about Hamilton when they talk about the subject of him being the only kid in the grid who is black and he is used to that all other kids mock him and stuff, and also said that he turns it to his favour. So I think Lewis couldn't care less about this recent incident. It's new, but unwanted thing to F1 and I'm pretty sure that if this happens in Spanish GP's, these agitators will be thrown out by track marshals.

[Driverdb]

Not that unexpected really. There are idiots everywhere and motorsport is certainly no exception.

[Blazing Lion]

The incident was really shocking.

[emmabro]

Sorry M.beer for the misleading title of the thread ;)
XxEm

[JoStream]

It was surprising to see, but I media attention was also magnified because of the sensitive nature of racism. As DriverDB said, you'll find these kind of people everywhere.

I don't think that it's helpful that the FIA makes threats, notably public threats, against the organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix. It's the perpetrators that should be focused on. That you generalize it onto Spanish fans, and organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix, as the media has done over the past few days, is not fair and simply doesn't help :mad:

[hk77]

personally i think that the incident is being blown out of proportion. This kind racism happens in football matches all over the world.
With hamilton, it was bound to happen, & im sure that he was expecting it to happen sooner or later. In the end i beleive that it will be in his favour, because obviously being a minority , people will sympathise with him. But i see no valid reason for the FIA or any form of authority to get involved in the matter as it will only escelate the hard feelings between the fans.

On the other hand had he not made all these negative comments about Alonso ( their local hero) this entire incident could have been avoided.

[M.Beer]

Sorry M.beer for the misleading title of the thread ;)
XxEm

hey no prob! ;) I just thought that Lewis had lowered himself to the same type of attacks.


I don't think that it's helpful that the FIA makes threats, notably public threats, against the organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix. It's the perpetrators that should be focused on. That you generalize it onto Spanish fans, and organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix, as the media has done over the past few days, is not fair and simply doesn't help :mad:

Of course it's not right or fair that everyone is equally being punished for the actions of a few, but sometimes the only recourse that will get everyone's attention is to make a grand gesture or take an over the top threatening posture. Perhaps this will be a deterrent to the next group of jackasses who decide they want to embarrass their country and their event.

personally i think that the incident is being blown out of proportion. This kind racism happens in football matches all over the world.

Just because it has happened before, doesn't make it right or mean we should just turn a blind eye and accept it. Hooliganism may be accepted in other sports or in other regions of the world, but when it starts to degrade a sport or endanger the participants (it's my understanding that they were throwing things on the track) then drastic measures need to be taken.

On the other hand had he not made all these negative comments about Alonso ( their local hero) this entire incident could have been avoided.

Did he make racist comments about Alonso's nationality? or did he merely point out that their golden boy had a pissy attitude?
Like I said. Rivalry is healthy. Competition drives the sport. But hate accomplishes neither.

[GreyKitten]

I'm disappointed that a few idiots in Spain have thrown the shadow of racism over a new season that we're all looking forward to so much.

I hope that they don't cancel the Spanish and European Grands Prix - about as likely as hell freezing over, I should think - because I don't see why the huge majority of decent Spanish F1 fans should have to pay the price for these fools.

However, it does seem that there is a bit of a problem in Spain with their surprisingly lenient attitude to racism in sport. Not solely from the fans but also from leading officials. I'd like to see them do something to address this in the near future.

I would also like to see a brief quote from Alonso distancing himself from these events, while he obviously has nothing to do with it the fools with the blacked up faces were purporting to be Alonso fans - I think he should make his disapproval known.

I don't think it will affect Hamilton in the slightest, if it does it will only make him more determined to win - especially in Spain!!

[EIR Loe.307]

I honestly didn't think racism was as big a deal in the rest of the world. The way blacks in the US act you'd think that you could go anywhere else in the world and racism (against blacks) didn't exist. Either way it's still bs that people still can't get over things like color etc.