Crooks blasts Wenger and Mourinho for failing to back Toure's boycott threat

By John Drayton

PUBLISHED: 13:32 EST, 25 October 2013 | UPDATED: 17:48 EST, 25 October 2013

Pundit Garth Crooks has hit out at Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho after neither manager fully backed Yaya Toure’s threats to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Manchester City midfielder was the victim of racist abuse during his side’s 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday and warned UEFA that black players may avoid playing in the tournament in five years time unless the country deals with the problem of racism at football matches.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes until evidence of the abuse has been proven a boycott would be the wrong action to take, while Jose Mourinho, sympathetic to Toure’s demand for UEFA to tackle racism, took the same stance as the Frenchman.

Making his feelings clear: Yaya Toure tells referee Ovidiu Hategan about the abuse from CSKA Moscow fans

Targeted: Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero inform referee Ovidiu Hategan of the abuse from CSKA Moscow fans

Disappointed: Garth Crooks believe Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger should have fully supported Toure

Disappointed: Garth Crooks believe Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger should have fully supported Toure

However, Kick it Out trustee Crooks was angered by the pair’s comments and said: ‘How many more times are black players going to have to suffer this nonsense in order to play football?’

‘For Wenger to ask for further evidence is extraordinary given the fact that Yaya heard the evidence reported and his club have backed their captain on the night.

'I am equally disappointed with Jose Mourinho’s comments, about how he feels that black players should go into a hostile racial environment in order to show them how good they are.

‘Now there is a man who has never had to suffer racial abuse.'

Arsene Wenger
Jose Mourinho

Opinions: Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho believe boycotting the 2018 World Cup would be the wrong move

Crooks, who played as a striker for Tottenham, Stoke City and West Brom during a 14-year playing career, was 'desperately disappointed' with the comments made by Mourinho and Wenger and feels they should fully support players who become victims of racist abuse.

‘I really expected modern managers such as Wenger and Mourinho to support Toure and other Premier League players,' he said.

‘If that is the best they can say on this issue, I suggest they stick to what they know.’

 

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Crooks should start the boycott himself and give everyone a break from his unctuous, pompous and inexplicable presence on television.

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Is that not what the racists want ... for black players not to turn up and play!! YaYa saying black players wont go plays into the racists hands! Play the game .. if racism is evident then action can be taken.

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When are people like Crooks going to learn that these small minded football fans do this stuff because they get a reaction, and in most cases, an over-reaction. UEFA & FIFA should only act against these events if the complaints are done through the right channels and not through the media/TV. Then they can ban the club from the Championship league.

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Nobody cares what Garth thinks, the guy hasn't got two brain cells to rub together.

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The premier league has no problem with racism FACT get a grip crooks your employed by the bbc the most liberal organisation in the world!! Remember which side your bread is buttered and carry on being an awful pundit!!!

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The racists want a World Cup without any black players.... Black players boycotting the World Cup gives them that..... It would seem Garth Crooks is a little blinkered & that Mourinho & Wenger actually have the right idea! That said FIFA certainly need to pull their finger out and take some serious action, another minuscule fine will simply provide more evidence that whilst they promote an anti racist stance they do very little to back it up.

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Evidence or no evidence.... we all know it exists ... and it is disgusting that fellow human beings are expected just to put up with it. I am white man brought up in apartheid south africa and have seen what hate can do ... stamp this out now ... black players of the world unite ... you dont need to put up with this ... its being going on far too long... boycott all competitions until they sort it out ... I live in England and I know we still have a long way to go but goodness me the Europeans are so far behind that they dont even get it ... pathetic really

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Please Garth shut up , who is going to listen to you so boring . Ban the team in question from the competition for 5 yrs but boycotting the WC not going to happen . Hit the club that offends heavily ,all of them

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I think Garth is one of the worst football pundits....ever

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History has Jesse Owens turning up in Berlin and wiping Hitlers nose in it as one of anti racisms great moments , boycotts have a history of being forgotten about as quickly as they are done. For that reason I think Garth Crooks is so far off the mark on this one and Jose's response more fitting. That said someone has to do something , the problem is it won't be a latter and co.

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