Posts
Loading ...I haven’t seen or heard the incident my self, but from whatever I’ve read (at Cricinfo and elsewhere from those who have heard what he had to say), I cannot see how anyone can defend Gibbs really.
Regardless of whom the initial comment “they’re like b***** animals” was directed to, if it was just those particular people in the crowd, or all people of that origion in general, and even regardless of how poor or animal like the behaviour was, for Gibbs to express that knowing the stump mikes are on, as you say, was in no way right. You expect civilised adults like Gibbs to not fall to the level of uncivilised adults (like those spectators who abused Harris).
The fact that he finished it all of wih all to unspectacular “f****** Pakistanis” made the accident completely unforgivable. One could have argued the initial statment was not neccesserily completely racist (just downright very rude and uncivilised), but the end totally removes any doubts that might have been present about what his “intent” was in saying them.
But yeah, I’m glad he was punished, I’m actually plesantly surprised. My own estimate was that Gibbs that this woud have been something like a least a level one offence, with a minimum fine of 100% of the match fees or a one-match ban, or something like that, but I think that was because I forgot the referee was Chris Board, who is one of the harsher ones the circuit.
I also read that Gibbs “apologised” (yeah right) for the “offence he caused” but pleaded not guilty to the charges them selves (thus in effect his apology didn’t mean anything!). Oh how I detest these “sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offense” kind of apologies. And, apparently this is not it, as Cricket South Africa have said he’ll have to appear in front of their disciplinary committee too on Tuesday, I’m presuming this means he could face fuhrer penalties and/or reprimand.
Interesting to read though what Smithy Boy had to say on the matter, I quote from Cricinfo’s reports:
“South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith, agreed that Gibbs’ punishment was merited, but added that his players had been heavily provoked during the match. “Herschelle was down at third man and he was copping a lot of abuse and I think even racial abuse,” said Smith. “The worrying thing is that Pakistan always have a large support base around the world. Security needs to be looked at. “There was an incident where Makhaya [Ntini] was hit on the head by a Pakistan flag going up the stairs,” he added. “The guys were provoked and that is why they are angry but we understand that what Herschelle did was wrong.”
What in all the world does he mean by “he thinks”, I mean, seriously, I’m stunned, can he think? I didn’t even know, this is breaking news More seriously, did he really try to suggest that all Pakistani spectators across South Africa will be the same? Or wait a second, he’s actually trying to say that all Pakistani spectators across the globe will be the same! So affectively, he’s also calling me a potentially uneducated mindless racist mob! Needless to say, I’m highly offended.
I’m not sure I like Mickey Arthur’s attempts to defend Gibbs either, here’s what he said:
“South African coach Mickey Arthur added he was not happy about the stump microphones. “They are a bit intrusive,” he said. “What is said on the field should stay on the field.”
So he is effectively saying that if you say something racially offensive on the field, its fine because its said on the field! There is reason to debate if stump mics should be or should not be muted for general audience at home, but it should certainly not be muted for the match referee, whose primary job is to check exactly what is said on the field! How Arthur can suggest something so naive like that is bit beyond me. And now I’m thinking South Africa might well have been let away lightly by Board, perhaps there is case here for the Coach and Captain to both have been reprimanded for their comments!
