HE’S not so much the story that keeps on giving, as the story that insists it keeps on giving, writes LIAM BLAKE.
We reached a point not long ago when the weight of comment — much of it vapid — generated by Mario Balotelli’s arrival or non-arrival at Liverpool (take your pick) hit critical mass. Whatever the ongoing frustration, there was simply no point in throwing anything more at what is essentially a mystery/enigma. Up until his recent injury, at least, exasperation arose largely from his questionable form. Now, in his down time, his itchy fingers are ensuring that the only real impact he’s making continues to be off the pitch.
It would be nice to think that media coaching, or social media even, might make a difference, but you suspect it would have much the same impact on the mind of Mario as Brendan Rodgers’ coaching has on his play. And that’s not intended as a comment on Rodgers’ coaching ability — that’s a whole other slew of pieces. That his toe-curling Instagram post was actually made with the best of intentions would make you laugh, if it wasn’t so embarrassing. Fiona May, anti-racism advisor to the Italian Football Federation –she must be busy — almost nailed it when she said she’d like to “find out who he really is, because he’s just a kid – he hasn’t grown up yet.” She can run a blue pencil through the ‘yet’ in that sentence. With Balotelli now 24, no one should be holding their breath.
You’d like to imagine he’d know better by now, if only to realise just how such a post might play out and what the consequences might be for his employers. Here, though, we cross the threshold and venture into another world. Welcome to where Mario lives. He’s no racist, of that there can be no doubt. But it’s possible not to be so and yet still be guilty of using racist language. In attempting to make an anti-racist statement he’s managed to clumsily evoke and reinforce not one but a number of the most banal stereotypes.
I apologize if I’ve offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that (…) pic.twitter.com/UlNeNlEz9M
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 2, 2014
Is it simply a question of intent, then? Perhaps, but there’s a larger question of responsibility. His initial reaction — his true one, before the apology most likely made after a word or two in his ear — was to chide those who dared pipe up with a critique. What was he thinking? (Or should that be ‘was he thinking?’). That having a Jewish adoptive mother offered a cloak of protection, as though the presence of those from ethnic minorities among your friends and family granted you points? Having an Irish mother doesn’t, so far as I’m aware, give me a free pass to re-run cliches we’re thankfully close to forgetting. I’m all too aware of the ‘no Irish, no blacks, no dogs, no Jewish’ approach among landlords and employers that stymied her progress on arriving here in the fifties to think that would be anything but prehistoric, whatever my intentions.
( my Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please)
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 1, 2014
Football, to its credit, takes a lead in the fight against racism. To mix up the sporting metaphors, it’s on the front foot. And sadly, it’s all too evident that there’s a pressing need to remain proactive on the issue. Whilst we seem to have learned what is acceptable and unacceptable to say in polite society, and even in occasionally less polite company in and around football, we seem to have been a little slower in learning what is acceptable thinking. And with good reason. Who is to be charged with the monitoring or influencing of what people think? Insert Orwellian cliche of choice here.
The anonymity granted to users of social media has, unfortunately, allowed for the mass leakage of attitudes that are clearly unpalatable in society. There’s an argument, recently made by Paul Mason in The Guardian — and a strong one in my view — that it might perhaps be best simply to allow people to be offensive if they so wish. Monitoring and regulation of thought and language may simply be counter-productive, inasmuch as it will reinforce the views of bigots who will naturally resist control. Better perhaps to fight the good fight through our response, and lead the way by setting the example. Better to suggest what people ought to think rather than tell them what they can’t think. And just whose job is it anyway to police the online activity of a celebrity footballer? The FA? His club?
In terms of punishment, on balance it’s probably best to let this one go. Balotelli’s not guilty of any kind of intent in any case. How can he be, when he clearly didn’t think? I’m tired in any case of sounding like a severe parent censuring an errant child, but he will keep trying you. What’s best is that he learns. But I don’t envy the person charged with teaching him the lesson.
It would be churlish to take issue with the player expressing his opinion, particularly when he’d done so in the hope of enlightening us, but I find it harder and harder — just as many of his previous employers did — to shrug it off with a cheerily exasperated ‘that Mario, eh? What can you do?’ Stop me if you’ve heard this one before but Rafael Benitez, had he managed Balotelli, might have described him as lacking in ‘game intelligence’. Sadly, his lack of intelligence seems to extend beyond the touchline. There are far less charitable ways of putting it.
I’d still like to see him expend as much energy on the field as he does on Instagram or indoor fireworks. I’d like to see him develop some focus. I’d like to see him move out of the shadow of his complex past — Fiona May was right, he does need to find out who he is. I’d still like to see it work out for him, but he needs to work it out. It’s just that now I’m starting to wish he might work it out elsewhere.
‘Why always me?’ might actually be the right question. But why is he asking us? He might be taking a step in the right direction if he asked himself.
I’m all too aware of the ‘no Irish, no blacks, no dogs, no Jewish’ approach among landlords and employers that stymied her progress on arriving here in the fifties.
So the Liverpool people which a majority of, are made up of the Irish and their descendants, took
this approach towards the Irish, how did that work? Seems to me the people of Liverpool and I am one,
have a history of helping the Irish, one example being the potato famine!
Seems to me you are a biggot and you are sectioning all landlords and employers, plus you are looking for ways to throw stones, way to show your real colours.
People like you are all it takes sometimes, not much of a fan more of a militant.
Well……..this is weird.
Was starting to forget he existed, until this.
How old is Liam Blake ? Interesting that he thinks that Mario should have it all wrapped up by the time he’s 24 or that he won’t mature.
And football doesn’t lead in the fight against racism.
Jesus Christ!
I think what you’re saying is similar to how I feel about it. It’s unlikely the world’s most racially abused sportsman is racist and given his mother is Jewish he’s unlikely to be anti Semitic. I can’t stand it when people bring up the ‘my mother is Jewish’ card in the way you have. In your world any defence of that kind will be pounced upon. It’s almost as much a cliche to jump on it as it is to say it in the first place. Life isn’t 100% this way or 100% that way, there’s normally a balance that you’ll miss. Stop dismissing everything as so black and white. He mentioned the fact that his mother is Jewish to reinforce his view that he’s certainly not anti Semitic, just that he made a mistake because he didn’t pay enough attention. For the record, he’s not racist about black people either, or Mexicans.
I find it fairly offensive the way you talk about him. We can’t all be of the same intelligence level. It almost felt to me reading it that you’re insinuating he’s less of a human being because he’s probably lacked some development due to his upbringing. You suggest he lacks intelligence and he’s like a child but then you expect him to behave less stupidly. All sounds a bit fascist to me. Hopefully mate, in the near future we’ll be able to genetically modify babies and we’ll all think the same and not have to deal with incidents like this.
The reason I feel angry about this is two fold. Firstly, since Mario joined Liverpool I believe he’s made an effort to be more responsible and I think despite what others say, he made an effort on the pitch both in his work rate and his attitude but now he’s made a daft mistake which can be described as many things but certainly not a racist action. He should be given some credit rather than taking a zero tolerance approach on him. After all, isn’t part of condemning him to make him realise he was wrong and improve him as as a person? I’d say you’re gonna drive him over the edge. A case of him thinking it’s pointless trying, I always get it wrong anyway. He may be a role model but actually he’s a human being and if you’re to be believed then one with limitations. Why make an example of him? Someone who genuinely hates racist views. You know there was no intent, you imply it all the way through but you still want to join the circus because it’s Balotelli. You bring up the past and add this to it. I find it cheap which brings me to my next point.
I can see the argument for making jokey stereotyping socially unacceptable, I think that kind of thing perpetuates the myth but why aren’t are people putting their energies into fighting Britain First Facebook pages that are inadvertently slipping into all our living rooms. These people are spreading pure hatred. UKIP are one of our biggest political parties spouting racism in every sentence. This kind of thing has a real influence, yet the only time you hear people talk of racism is when a footballer has done something and something without intent at that. I think some people are out there fighting the battles and some are standing at the back shaking their fist in disgust at the easy targets. It’s the hypocrisy of it all. The FA too, up in arms wanting to set an example whilst presiding over an institution built on an old school tie network of white males.
I just hate the way everyone turns on him. I feel genuinely sorry for him that he’s in this situation. I feel you want to chastise him. Not only do you dismiss his ‘my mother is Jewish’ comment as not possibly being of any merit because we’ve heard it before but you insinuate he only apologised because he was told to. I’d say it’s almost certain he was ‘spoken to’ but he may have wanted to apologise for his mistake. He may even have done it off his own back. We don’t know but why take the more negative view point? Why assume the worst all the time? I think the story here should be the question, are we as a society so eager to show how we’re on the side of right that we’re losing touch with reality somewhat? Replace Mario with Superman on that picture and Balotelli doesn’t retweet it. It was Mario, It was anti-racist until the two snide lines at the bottom, he clicked retweet – as simple as that. Now he’s this unbelievable moron who’s more trouble than he’s worth. I have actually do have compassion for people so I won’t be with you on this one mate.
“world’s most racially abused player” – really?? is there stats on that or something?
Secondly, feeling sorry for a multi-millionaire who’s actions seem to bear no consequences over and over is a tough gig to be honest.
He’s suffered racial abuse all his life, is that enough for you?
So what if he’s a multi-millionaire. it’s completely irrelevant to anything and I’m not gonna judge people on what’s in their bank. As far as I’m concerned he’s a human being and one that’s done nothing wrong in this case so and so I won’t be bringing his past up either. Let’s just stick to the facts.
The bottom line is I don’t wanna see someone who’s suffered vile racism all his life persecuted for an innocent mistake so idiots can show their moral outrage. Target racists not someone who’s a victim of it.
I’m not debating that he has had racial abuse all his life, I am debating the line ‘worlds most racially abused player’ that’s all.
As for the not caring – yeah I dont care about someone who continues to ‘make mistakes’ and never ever learns – that’s got nothing to do with abuse, racial or otherwise, his thinking and that of his group of friends, is at times, boggling to me – but then that may just be me!
This isn’t about his past. This is about him being vilified for a simple mistake so that others can pursue their agenda. David Baddiel wrote a piece the other day and mentioned his retweet whilst mentioning the Gestapo. I’m aware anti Semitism is an issue but fight it where it exists, not where it doesn’t. If Mario had made the picture he retweeted then I’d have no sympathy. The reality is, he’s a victim here too and shouldn’t be made a scapegoat to show the world anti Semitism won’t be accepted. He’s just an easy target and it doesn’t sit well with me.
Another thing that annoys me is the stance of journalists. Years ago journalists had integrity. Now, they feel they can tell us how to think and behave but the truth is, I don’t want to play by their rules. They’re weak men who avoid the real issues because it doesn’t sit well with their bosses. They turn a blind eye to so much that’s wrong in the world and to justify their lack of integrity they pick up on irrelevant issues to show how moralistic they are. They don’t speak for me. I’ll let real journalists like John Pilger do that. Journalists who actually have morals themselves and are not just ‘yes’ men.
P.s If everyone in a position to, did as much good as Balotelli does then the world would be a better place. Mario Balotelli is on the side of good, not evil.
A silly tweet from Mario, perhaps he should have checked the whole picture. But what if he did? He might have thought I a m black, my mother is Jewish , that’s how I see myself! Surely he is allowed a view on his own identity? After all we all have a right to do that, don’t we?
“Football, to its credit, takes a lead in the fight against racism.”
That’s a laugh. Pour out that FIFA Kool aid mate and look at what Robin said above. Pretty shite article.
I don’t agree with the tone of this piece at all. Although my comprehension might have been negatively affected by the fact that your adverts impinge on the body of text (on an iPhone 5s).
Old man,look at my life
Twenty four and there’s so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.
Personally, I can think of plenty of cringeworthy moments at twenty four, and foot in mouth then was as common as the flu.
The title BR holds is MANAGER. This young man, two years younger than my own son, has left his home and family ties behind as have many other youngsters, I assume the parents or guardians would insist or at least assume someone would be around to show some guidance. I accept Balotelli is more precocious than most, but I am getting increasingly annoyed with Rodgers management of both the new recruits and the players shipped out on loan. The treatment meted out to the likes of Borini, whether you consider him Liverpool material or not is atrocious, and BR’s statements are becoming embarassing to listen to. Every knowledgable supporter has voiced an opinion on Balotelli, that he needs a partner up front, as does Lambert, and yet we get the same tactics week in week out. Hanging young players out to dry is not the Liverpool way.
Rodgers is not a LIVERPOOL manager. He has no class, no dignity, and his bad-mouthing players is disgusting.
Plus he knows fuck all
About football…
^^^ This!
Rodgers is an utter disgrace the way he has treated players at the club. Borrini is an example of how inept Rodgers is. Saying that basically it was a panic buy with Balotelli, is no way to manage him – how on earth does he expect Mario to react to that? Trying to flog Borrini to Sunderland when he clearly didn’t want to go, and then ditcihin him in the reserves out of bitterness is disgusting behaviour
I hope one of these days that Borrini and Balotelli hang back in the changing room one day and kicks ten f**** out of the muppet – I hate him, horrible man
At 24 i’d think Balotelli has gone through and achieved more than the author of this piece. He’s a bit daft, it looks like he doesn’t get the style of play. Had he scored a load of goals for LFC would the tone of this piece be any different I wonder?
There are so many things wrong with this article I don’t even know where to begin. Very, very disappointing from The Anfield Wrap.
Liam Blake — probably white, from a Catholic (or ‘Christian’) family, with no first hand experience of racism — should not have undertaken to write an article on this subject. It’s always better to remain silent when you have no idea what you’re actually talking about.
With regard to Mario Balotelli, people expect him to think and behave like a man because outwardly he looks like one, but in reality he’s a very damaged little boy residing in a man’s body. If people understood that, they would see his behaviour for what it is — childlike acting out in a feeble attempt to get the attention he desperately craves and needs. One need only look into his eyes to see it plain as day. Money and toys and fame (or infamy in his case) mean nothing. They will never make him a man.
Brendan Rodgers didn’t want Mario, but he took him in anyway, gave him a chance, and tried to help him. It failed. And now Brendan’s own career is on the line, partly because of it. It’s a sad, sad story from every angle. And the Brutish (sic) media vultures lick the blood off their lips and fingers, relishing every drop, as they swoop in again and again going for the kill and never satisfied till they have it.
Well said, more value than the article being commented on.
Sorry, can’t see how Rodgers has “helped” Balotelli. It is painfully obvious he needs to play with another strike partner. All the talking heads as well as our knowledgeable fans have pointed this out. There have been enough opportunities to try that tactic. If, again, against an unfancied Basel, Lambert is to play and Borini is not on the bench then can we assume Rodgers ego has really gotten the better of him? I hope not, he is beginning to behave like John Gregory.
To the person questioning my statement that Brendan tried to ‘help’ Balotelli, you’re thinking only in terms of Mario’s football skills.
I believe Btendan cares about and tries to develop his players as young men, not merely as footballers. If Mario could overcome some of his personal difficulties, there’s a chance it could unlock his ability to be a better footballer.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, and I feel fairly sure his ‘last chance’ has been played out. Time will tell. Even after all that Luis Suárez did to cause problems for the Club, Brendan and Stevie both refused to say anything negative about him and even publicly expressed love and friendship toward him. Brendan doesn’t give up on people quickly. Hopefully, the fans won’t give up on him and let him ‘walk alone’ after all he did to help them dream again last year after many years of desolation.
This is a poor article, containing a lot of things I strongly, strongly disagree with. But there’s no need for the ad hominem attacks on the writer. Play the ball, not the man.
Liam’s piece here is, ironically, vapid. Just another few lines about Mario and how he needs to wise up. Nothing that hasn’t been written thousands of times over the last half a decade. Liam says there is no point throwing any more frustration his way, then seems to do just that. Would this be the case if Mario had scored 12 so far? Im not sure. For me it makes no difference. Ive made my feelings on Mario the footballer clear. His attitude is fine. He was a very good player. He’s lost some ability due to his body changing and his body type. He is still a good player. He is at the wrong club. He isn’t suited to our style. He won;t be here long term. But we’re talking about Mario the person here, and this article in particular.
Cases of accused racism are rarely black and white. Usually there are a million shades of grey. Mario is the whitest grey I’ve ever seen. But that’s not really what this is about.
Liam writes that Balotelli put his post up with good intentions is embarrassing. It’s not. At all. Why would it be? Is it embarrassing that a 24 year old, who appears to be quite immature, who had an extremely limited education, who had a difficult upbringing and who seems to lack even average intelligence, done something stupid? Is that why we should be embarrassed?
And the idea that as he is now 24, nobody should hold their breath about him maturing ever is absurd.
You are correct to say that the likelihood is Mario apologized after a word in his ear. But this is used as a stick to beat him with. Why? He clearly didn’t understand the reaction. He was probably bemused, given his history, that he was being accused of being racist and antisemitic. So he defended himself in a limited manner, using his mother because if anyone knows anything about him, they know he loves his mother dearly. He was then told why his post was offensive and apologized. In his apology he even thoroughly explained his thought process.
Is it not a strength to admit you were wrong and lay out exactly why you were wrong? Better that than being wrong and sticking to your guns regardless, surely?
Others have pointed out how naive it is to think football takes a lead in combating racism. Football doesn’t do nearly enough. What still goes on football stadiums in Russia, Italy and other parts of central and eastern Europe is a disgrace. And governing bodies handing out heftier fines to players who advertise a bookmakers on their underwear than to clubs whose fans abuse black opponents is, actually, embarrassing.
It is and has always been the most enlightened way to allow people to be offensive if they wish. I despise antisemitism with every bone in my body, but abhor the fact that in many countries it is against the law to deny the holocaust ever happened. If someone believes black people, for example, are inferior to white people, they should be encouraged to say it. Let them expose themselves. Engage with them. As sick as it may make you feel it will be for the greater good. Ask them to provide proof. Then when you’ve wiped the floor with them & others have seen it, that line of thought will disappear without the need for censorship. By refusing to even acknowledge and punitively punishing such ignorant and disgusting views without destroying them with logic only perpetuates them.
While we’re here, stereotyping is not necessarily racism. The PC rejection of even mild stereotyping is so over the top at this point that it takes away from the destructive nature of outright racism. Take Jews liking money for example.
Well, for over a millennium they were persecuted for having the audacity to share the same religion as people who lived centuries before them, who wished for the death of a person claiming to be the son of a fictional lying, jealous, racist (irony, eh?), genocidal maniac. As part of this persecution they weren’t allowed to work in many industries, so they became money lenders. Many Jews took this a step further and became bankers. Many Jews became rich. Many Jews therefore, sent their children to the best schools so they would become successful and rich. Their children’s children done the same. So while the stereotype of Jews liking money may not be funny, it’s hardly the most offensive thing on the internet. Shades of grey. One last point. I don’t give a fuck if the Jews believe they are all one race. They are not. They are a religion, like the hundreds of thousands of other religions that have ever existed. You cannot be racist against Jews. You can be antisemitic. Sorry. Pet hate of mine. Anyway….
Liam then writes Mario should show more focus on the pitch than he does on Instagram and on fireworks. This is just cheap really. It is possible to be focused on football and click “post” on the internet or set a firework off in your downtime. Liam also states he’s finding it harder and harder to shrug Mario’s antics off. But what has Balotelli done since he’s been at Liverpool? At the end of the day, that’s all we should care about, right? What are all the things, since August, that make it so hard to shrug off? As far am I’m aware he’s done next to nothing, both on and off the pitch.
It should be clear to any interested observer that Mario is maturing, if ever so slowly. He tries. He has tried. He is trying. At work he has attempted to change things about his play and it’s not coming off. His responsibility for this is only partial. Away from work, any incidents with him in his last 2 years have been less frequent and less serious than the incidents he used to be involved in, which in any case were often exaggerated or entirely fabricated for the purposes of newspaper sales and internet click-bait.
Therefore I think it’s fair to say he has asked himself “why always me?” In terms of becoming a sensible person with some common-sense, to go along with a clearly good nature, he is on the right path. If only people would see this and get off his back.
The whitest grey you’ve ever seen? Hold on;read that again before you click send.The whitest grey you’ve ever seen?See how easy it is to be racist nowadays.And I don’t think you even meant that.
So,let’s forget about racism for a moment
At 24 years of age Balottelli gets paid a kings ransom and he’s got a high powered and expensive iPhone.Look around you when you go into town.They’re all jabbing their fingers into their phones.Do you think they are responding to urgent messages?Think again.They are commenting on Facebook likes to somebody who is telling them they’ve just just seen a VW Golf in a colour they want or somebody who has just bought a £5000 scarf for 50p in TK Maxx!
And when no incoming messages are forthcoming?Well,there’s always Twitter.
Yes Brian.
I deliberately used a colour spectrum when discussing a post containing somewhat racially offensive material, as people would already have had colour in their head, and because by defending a black man – who has been abused by strangers all his life for simply being that – by calling his character white grey I was showing that he has more good in him than bad and is by no means some racist fucker who deserves the amount of negative press he’s got and the probable punishment to come.
Hi Chris Mc,
No offence intended and I hope none taken.I understood what you were saying.My point was that it is so easy to twist something into racism or to interpret a comment as racist.
But I stand by what I said about a new generation of social mediaholics.They want their voices heard and that’s all it is! It doesn”t make them racist.It’s just that everybody has easy access to broadcast an “off the cuff” opinion on anything nowadays.
Just like you and me really.