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Ruud Gullit (file pic).

Ruud Gullit: 'Almost impossible' for a black person to speak out

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling allegedly received racist abuse from a Blues fan, sparking widespread debate over racism in football and society.

IT IS ALMOST impossible for black people to speak out against racism, says former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit, because they take on a “victim role”.

The issue of racism was thrown into the spotlight last week when Raheem Sterling allegedly received racist abuse from a Chelsea fan during Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The England international then took to Instagram to condemn the language used, and hit out at media outlets for helping to “fuel racism” with biased news coverage.

Gullit, who ended his playing career at Chelsea and took charge of the club between 1996 and 1998, told BBC Sport: “The biggest problem for us is to talk about it.

“Because the moment you talk about it people say, ‘He puts himself in a victim role’, but it’s not that.

If you want to have a head figure speaking out against racism, it’s almost impossible that a black person can do that because people see them and say, ‘It’s him again, he’s always moaning’.”

“I talk from a very privileged position and I am happy with the position I have, but I cannot speak for people who are not in my position, who are struggling,” Gullit added.

“I hope things change and people see it is not because we want to complain but because it’s there.

“I hope people who are in a different position to me get listened to.”

Gullit featured in a discussion on BBC programme Football Focus which also included former West Ham and Montreal Impact midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

Having his say on the issue, Reo-Coker said: “Raheem deserves support from his fellow pros, he has taken a big stand and done a very brave thing.

It would be great if some other players would support him and have the belief and confidence to go out and be themselves.

“But in England, black players are still afraid to speak out because they don’t want to be so-called ‘blacklisted’.”

Sterling helped City secure a 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday by heading home a 69th-minute effort, just four minutes after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had halved the champions’ two-goal lead.

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Sep 4th 2018, 8:49 PM

    Is anyone after actually reading the story? All proceeds including advertising and sponsorship are going to the charity. I’m not getting the negativity here. Some people seem to think it should be free to air so they can sit on their holes safe in the knowledge that they contributed nothing and enjoyed their free spectical compliments of the Miller family

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    Mute John
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    Sep 4th 2018, 9:24 PM

    @Tommy C: 100%…..this place never ceases to amaze me.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Sep 4th 2018, 6:50 PM

    Typical on a channel that you have to be a subscriber to. They could have shown this on one of their free to air channels

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Sep 4th 2018, 6:59 PM

    @Declan Moran: You’d make a great tv executive.

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    Mute Gareth Keenan
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    Sep 4th 2018, 7:02 PM

    @Declan Moran: better on eir than not at all though surely

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Sep 4th 2018, 7:11 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: yeah i guess. Bleed people for every penny you can eh

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Sep 4th 2018, 7:55 PM

    @Gareth Keenan: except it’s on virgin

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Sep 5th 2018, 9:28 AM

    @Declan Moran: did you miss the bit where all proceeds including advertisments and sponsorships are going to charity?

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    Mute Peadar O'Comain
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    Sep 4th 2018, 8:29 PM

    Doesn’t the article say that all proceeds from the broadcast will go to charity. Moan moan moan

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    Mute Eugene Tyson
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    Sep 4th 2018, 7:17 PM

    They should donate the subscriptions to the charity cause.

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    Mute Conflex
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    Sep 4th 2018, 11:17 PM

    @Eugene Tyson: They are. I’m not sure how the article was unclear on that

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    Mute Mark McDermott
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    Sep 5th 2018, 10:04 AM

    @Conflex: Some people can’t read.

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    Mute Eddie Mc Keown
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    Sep 4th 2018, 8:20 PM

    Shame on you virgin making profit from this match.
    All proceeds should go to charity.

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Sep 4th 2018, 8:30 PM

    @Eddie Mc Keown: I’m fairly sure they are paying a nice bit of money so they can show the match,so that means the chairty are getting money for it too.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Sep 5th 2018, 6:47 AM

    @Eddie Mc Keown: read the article ….

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Sep 5th 2018, 1:38 PM

    @Eddie Mc Keown: moron

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    Mute Joe Barry
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    Sep 4th 2018, 10:54 PM

    ticketmaster are making money on it also

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Sep 5th 2018, 1:41 PM

    @Joe Barry: is tickets.ie owned by Ticketmaster?

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    Mute thomas
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    Sep 5th 2018, 4:24 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: no

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