Arsenal stars in storm over Spain coach racist slur
Fri 08 Oct, 9:57 PM


LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal stars have demanded FIFA act against Spain national coach
Luis Aragones for his racist slur of Thierry Henry.

Aragones stunned the football world by calling Thierry Henry a black piece of
shit which he said was intended to gee up Henry's Gunners team-mate Jose Antonio
Reyes during a Spain World Cup training session on Wednesday.
It was captured on Spanish TV and provoked outrage everywhere.

He has since apologised.

But Arsenal's France star Robert Pires, England defender Sol Campbell and
Brazilian Gilberto Silva have demanded action.

"You have to nail that guy. He should be sued for racial aggression," Pires told
The Sun newspaper.

Campbell said: "There is no excuse for this. There can be no room for racism in
football."

And Gilberto added: "His remarks were absolutely inappropriate. This matter must
be investigated by the authorities."

Englands squad have trained for World Cup duty this week in T-shirts proclaiming
Lets Kick Racism Out Of Football.

And Campbell, who has suffered racist abuse on England duty in Slovakia and
Macedonia, added: "This sort of thing has happened before with various TV
pundits and the English FA are right to take a firm stance against it.

"People within football have to be sensitive to the fact we are in a world game,
with participants from every race and colour.

"We have to rise above the people in some countries where they sometimes shout
abuse at players.

"Maybe Aragones was trying to wind Jose up and get him going for a game. But if
he did say that, then hes wrong."

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "We would like to evaluate Aragones words
before making any comment. FIFA have asked for a report and it would be
important for us to learn of their findings."

England play Spain in a friendly in Madrid next month and some players have even
suggested a boycott if Aragones is still coach.



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