Of course a coach would say he is supportive of his player, the same way all of us as partisans of NZF would have been quick to support the boys and believe they are have done the right thing. But I really do doubt that the majority of people in the world will agree, if they have no particular dog in the fight and once they hear the details.
I'm not as quick as a few others in this thread to believe that this man, in his heart, despite his experience as a minority in a society which some in this thread have been very quick to label as racist, is a bigot who thinks Michael Boxall is racially inferior to himself. All I know is it seems almost certain at this point that he used a word that is widely considered acceptable for black people to say, and I have no right to say that that is wrong or was used with racist intent. Even if he did, you could never prove it. I think the All Whites have messed up badly here.
I've also been wondering why it was Joe Bell who led the boycott, and not Darren. Perhaps Darren did not agree with the stance? He's certainly been very quiet.
I'm not as quick as a few others in this thread to believe that this man, in his heart, despite his experience as a minority in a society which some in this thread have been very quick to label as racist, is a bigot who thinks Michael Boxall is racially inferior to himself. All I know is it seems almost certain at this point that he used a word that is widely considered acceptable for black people to say, and I have no right to say that that is wrong or was used with racist intent. Even if he did, you could never prove it. I think the All Whites have messed up badly here.
I've also been wondering why it was Joe Bell who led the boycott, and not Darren. Perhaps Darren did not agree with the stance? He's certainly been very quiet.
Qatari player who launched the insult probably isnt a racist at heart, he may be complettely rational and accepting of allcultures in his day to day life. Does that make any difference? NO! He said what he said, it was insulting, offensive, directed at Boxall and deemed unaaceptabe by the wider NZ playing group. I doesnt matter that the Qatari was darker skinned than Boxall, it doesnt matter that Bell led the walk off (assuming he did, as captain I'd expect this from him). It doesnt matter that the coach is staying clear of the media, along with NZF he's come out in support and then let due process take it's course.
Nobody, white, black, brown or any other colour in between has the right to racially abuse another player!
What you're arguing is that people with dark skin cannot be racist - which is ludicrous.