What did Frei say to Clinton?

[Plastic Paddy]

The heat is being slowly turned up ahead of tomorrow night...

:eek: PP

---

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1298648,00.html

Morrison wants revenge for Frei's 'racist' jibe

Matt Scott in Basle
Tuesday September 7, 2004
The Guardian

Clinton Morrison added an extra edge to Ireland's already fraught World Cup qualifier in Switzerland tomorrow by claiming he had been racially abused during the two sides' meeting here last October.
The Birmingham striker insisted he had not forgotten an alleged racist remark made by the Swiss striker Alexander Frei during the 2-0 defeat last year. That match was conducted in a bitter atmosphere, with Frei's exuberant goal celebrations prompting Mark Kinsella to aim a water bottle at him from the touchline.

Frei will be unavailable for tomorrow's fixture since he is currently serving a ban for having spat at Steven Gerrard during Switzerland's Euro 2004 meeting with England.

"They did us last year in the European Championships," said Morrison, "and there were a lot of things going on in the game which weren't nice.

"Hopefully we can take the form we showed against Cyprus forward and get another win. I am a bit disappointed [Frei misses the game] because he made a remark to me in the game, which I owe him one for.

"It was like a racist remark. I don't really want to repeat it. He said it on the pitch which I went mad about. I will get him when he comes to Dublin."

[petef]

Good old Clinton, showing a bit of passion, I think the boys are really up for this one.

[Littlest Hobo]

SORT THE B*STARDS OUT, FCUKING DO EM ALL :mad:
Victory at all costs.....anything else will be failure.

Even the Norn Ireland gaffer said they were crap after their game in Zurich a few weeks back.

Reckon this team will do the job.....
Given
Carr O'Brien Cunningham Finnan
Reid Keane Kavanagh Duff
Robbie Clint

[thejollyrodger]

Everyone should boo Frei when he comes to landsdowne...scum bag :mad: :mad:


At least Clinton looks up for it :)

I WANT REVENGE :D :D

[concanta]

I am wound up for this game too. Attitude is the key - if we are patient and bold when necessary then we win - simple as that. We have 3 major changes since last year - we have cunningham keane and ansdy reid - they have lost chapuisat and Stiehl

PS - anyone know somewhere in kilburn that will show the match - think its on sky extra

[Peadar]

Everyone should boo Frei when he comes to landsdowne...scum bag :mad: :mad:

I'll be belting out a few bars of "Are you watching, Alex Frei?" tomorrow night... :D

[Littlest Hobo]

fCUKING Carpet bomb the B*stards :p A little over the top I know...but the tension is gettin to me, come 2morrow nite I'll be flyin that plane over basle and droppin the payload......clusterfcuk em all :p

[Plastic Paddy]

fCUKING Carpet bomb the B*stards :p A little over the top I know...but the tension is gettin to me, come 2morrow nite I'll be flyin that plane over basle and droppin the payload......clusterfcuk em all :p

Ever so slightly OTT... :rolleyes: It's only a game after all, and that's pretty tasteless talk.

:ball: PP

[koneinc]

There is NO excuse for racism, ever! :mad:

Come on the boys, stuff the swiss! It's revenge time! :ball:

[razor]

Let's hope he signs for the H*ns then........... ;)

Or get Cathal Dervan to order it. ;)

[Littlest Hobo]

Ever so slightly OTT... :rolleyes: It's only a game after all, and that's pretty tasteless talk.

:ball: PP

Just buzzing lad :) don't get all up tight ;)
It'll be war 2morrow alright :D

[Bowsy]

Never thought a game against the Swiss would become such a grudge match but it is. I really want a win in this game mainly for the 3 points but also to show those cocky gits what for.

Also, what a charming young man Frei is - spitter, liar, racist. His mother most be so proud.

[Peadar]

His mother most be so proud.

I'm sure his father would be too if his mother only knew who that was :D

[Volltreffer]

Personally I don't believe the racism thing. Might as well have been some misunderstanding.

Accusing someone of racism is a serious matter. I'm very cautious in such cases, especially when the people involved speak different languages and the victim "doesn't want to repeat" what was allegedly said.

Think about it.

[blobbyblob]

Frei hits back at Morrison's 'racist' claims
Tuesday September 7th 2004
Todays Irish Independant



IRISH striker Clinton Morrison sparked off a war of words last night by claiming Swiss striker Alexander Frei racially insulted him.

Morrison claimed that Frei made the remarks during last October's Euro 2004 qualifier in Basel which Switzerland won. The Birmingham striker vowed to "get him when he comes to Dublin" for next year's return qualifier.

Morrison didn't make an issue of it in the aftermath of last October's game but ahead of tomorrow's World Cup qualifying Group 4 clash he has expressed his acute disappointment that the Rennes striker is banned.

"He made a remark to me in the game, which I owe him one for. I am disappointed he ain't playing but we'll see him again at Lansdowne Road hopefully.

"It was like a racist remark. I don't really want to repeat it. I'll just keep it to myself. He said it on the pitch which I went mad about but I will get him when he comes to Dublin. We will have it out there," said Morrison.

Morrison's accusation was put to Frei last night and he denied he had made any racist remarks towards the Irish striker.

"All I can say is that at Rennes I play with about 15 coloured players and that I have never had the slightest problem with any of them," said Frei.

"It is easy to make these accusations and maybe one player whom I have played with will say that I once threw a bottle at him."

No stranger to controversy, Frei's over-exuberant goal celebrations in front of the Irish bench prompted substitute Mark Kinsella to fling an empty water bottle in his direction.

And in Euro 2004 he received a three-match ban for spitting at England's Steven Gerrard. He initially denied the charge and was cleared but new television evidence, discovered by a Swiss TV technician proved his guilt.

Morrison knows the best way to make his point would be to score the winning goal tomorrow and the Birmingham striker reckons he's quite capable of that after ending a barren run of 778 minutes without an international goal last Saturday against Cyprus.

"I got a goal after a year without one and, hopefully, I can take that form into this game.

"I'm just pleased to have got the goal. I was a bit unlucky with a few others which I should have put away but I hadn't had any football for the previous two weeks."

The 25-year-old striker is hell bent on revenge against Switzerland and confident that it will be third time lucky against the Swiss. "We owe them one and, hopefully, we can take the form we showed against Cyprus forward and get another win."

Morrison was part of the 2002 World Cup squad but didn't get any playing time at the finals in Korea and Japan. But the experience has whetted his appetite and he's now eager to return to that stage.

"It is a big thing for me to get to the World Cup finals. Obviously, I was disappointed not to take any part at the last finals under Mick McCarthy.

"He had his team and all of the players who had helped him qualify did well for him so fair enough. Hopefully, if I am part of this squad that qualifies for the World Cup, I would get more of a chance to play at the finals."

And Morrison believes that Ireland can qualify automatically through Group 4 without having to take a chance in the play-offs.

"Everyone says that the French are the favourites but we're not thinking like that. We just want to win as many games as possible." Like everybody else in the country, Morrison has been mesmerised by the emergence of Andy Reid and he forecasts a bright future for the Nottingham Forest player.

"I don't think he'll be playing in that division too much longer. I think a top club will take him in January. He's got marvellous talent and could do it in the Premiership.

"A few clubs want him. I know Tottenham badly wanted him. We've the same agent and I know my agent is looking forward to getting him out in January. I'm surprised he didn't go anywhere this time," said Morrison.

A week ago, just minutes before the transfer window closed, Birmingham City signed Dwight Yorke from Blackburn Rovers to increase the competition Morrison faces for a place in the attack at St Andrews.

But Morrison says he is ready for the battle with Yorke, Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell.

"I ain't bothered about Birmingham signing Dwight Yorke. The manager had spoken to me about it and explained that he wanted four quality strikers at the club.

"I have got to battle but if I keep performing and doing well for Ireland the manager will know about it and I will have proved that I am good enough to be in the team," said Morrison.

Morrison now has six goals from 23 games for Ireland, 15 less than his strike partner Robbie Keane, who equalled Niall Quinn's scoring record on Saturday, and he is gunning for more.

"I'm not going to catch Robbie but I will try my best, starting against Switzerland."

Gerry McDermott

[Adrianovic]

I do like Clinton, he comes across as one of the most passionate Irish players, even if his links to Ireland might not be as great as others. I haven't seen someone look so happy to score for us than him on Saturday since Robbie against Germany.

Beating the Swiss in their own back yard would be sweet.

Ade

[Volltreffer]

It was like a racist remark.
What's this supposed to mean? Was it racist or wasn't it?

You should know what you're talking about when you make such accusations. I suppose he has no idea himself what the "remark" actually was. :rolleyes:

[jofyisgod]

Ok-not being funny now at all. Clinton is from London. He has a very strong London accent. Living in London, i can confirm that the people here add the word 'like' into the middle of sentences for no reason. This may explain this.

Anyway Volltreffer, Frei's rep isn't great-stop sticking up for the scumbag.

[Volltreffer]

Anyway Volltreffer, Frei's rep isn't great-stop sticking up for the scumbag.
1. I'll stick up for whoever I feel deserves it.
2. Frei's reputation in Ireland or in Switzerland? Who dou you think knows him better, the Swiss or the Irish?

I could call your Clinton a scumbag because I'm convinced he's playing a dirty game here, but I won't. After what happened in Portugal it's so much easier to attack Frei - clever move to make use of that fact.

Maybe I'm just a bit more critical as to things written in newspapers than you are.

What about just looking forward to an interesting game (unfortunately with some important players missing - I hope not only on our side ;) )?

[Volltreffer]

Living in London, i can confirm that the people here add the word 'like' into the middle of sentences for no reason. This may explain this.
Thanks, always willing to learn. I only knew the habit of adding the word "like" at the end of every sentence.

Still don't believe a word of it.

[GavinZac]

. Living in London, i can confirm that the people here add the word 'like' into the middle of sentences for no reason.

whereas we put it at the end, like.

[Volltreffer]

Thanks for your confirmation.

[Fergie's Son]

I'd have to agree with Volltreffler here. At this point, there is an allegation of a racist comment and nothing more. We cannot, and must not, pillor Frei based solely on Morrisson's comments. Personally, I think Morrisson is full of it. He would have been all over this after the game and not one year later. Throwing the term "racist" around is very dangerous and totally inappropriate.

[Volltreffer]

If part of the crows boos him tomorrow, will he call them racists?

I wouldn't be surprised.

[dynamo kerry]

Just because Frei or anyone else for that matter plays with people of different races and has loads of mixed-race pals doesn't mean he (or anyone else) is incapable of knowing how to wind someone up on the football field. Clinton is up to god knows what but Ireckon he's just trying to show he's well up for this game.

Frei has already shown his temperment isn't what it should be. (Excessivly inappropriate celebrations last year - spitting at people at the world cup, lying about it)

Volltreffer, a racist comment could just as easily be of an Irish context as it could be in terms of someone's skin colour. Racist is an unbelieveably over-loaded word in modern PC culture. Let's keep that in mind. Making a racist comment in a football game does not inherently have "evil" undertones.

Frei is obviously a good ball player. I am however startiing to think he's an idiot. Clinton ain't far behind mind you. But he's our idiot. :D

[Volltreffer]

Frei has already shown his temperment isn't what it should be. (Excessivly inappropriate celebrations last year - spitting at people at the world cup, lying about it).
Inappropriate celebrations: unusual thing for him. Maybe he felt provoked by something as well?
Spitting: you're right here.
Lying: untypical. I'm still convinced he was "encouraged" to do so, to say the least - and I'm not alone there. Frei is a very impulsive person, but he's also someone who will (usually) accept responsibility for his own mistakes. That's the reputation he has over here.

Making a racist comment in a football game does not inherently have "evil" undertones.
It does for me and for many others.

[dynamo kerry]

.

It does for me and for many others.

This is what I mean about racist being overused. HE could have just said


Thick micks which would be racist but not necessarily evil. Impulsive,stupid and insulting certainly. But I wouldn't call it evil.

It almost certainly isn't enough to get someone banned. The media and so on would have you beleive that racism is only against someone of a different skin colour when in fact there is much more to it than that.

[Volltreffer]

Whatever he said (if he said anything), if it was an impulsive thing he almost certainly said it in German or in French.

[Volltreffer]

But surely he doesn't unterstand Swiss German ... (Basel contry dialect ;) )

I think we'd better leave it. Believe the one thing or the other. Just don't let it poison the atmosphere in the stadium.

[dynamo kerry]

fair enough.

storm in a tea-cup most likely.

2-1 Ireland. 9-1 on paddypower :D

[eirebhoy]

Morrison was on Newstalk 106 just after 7.00. He said he doesn't want to talk about the incident before the match.

[Plastic Paddy]

But surely he doesn't unterstand Swiss German ... (Basel contry dialect ;) )

I think we'd better leave it. Believe the one thing or the other. Just don't let it poison the atmosphere in the stadium.

It shouldn't. The vast majority of people will see through this for what it is - heightened tensions before an important match.

Enjoy the game tomorrow, by the way. Just don't enjoy it as much as we do. ;)

:D PP

[eirebhoy]

I think we'd better leave it.
Good idea. :) Just wondering, do the Swis public know much about the Irish players other than Keane, Keane and Duff? How do they rate Duff (ahead of Yakin?)? Also Given and Carr? Is Yakin getting his game at Stuttgart? Do the Swiss rate us above or below you?

Sorry for all the questions, I just like to see how our players are regarded in other countries. :)

[Eh Weh]

"[QUOTE=Littlest Hobo]SORT THE B*STARDS OUT, FCUKING DO EM ALL :mad:
Victory at all costs.....anything else will be failure. "

Spot on! This is a grudge match as far as im concerned, we can put them out of it tommorow night with a win, cause they wont beat us in Dublin again and France will hopefully get their act together and beat them home and away. I cant actually believe the resentment im feeling towards them, i hope Keane breaks a few of them in half! If we lose tommorow..............

[Volltreffer]

Good idea. :) Just wondering, do the Swis public know much about the Irish players other than Keane, Keane and Duff? How do they rate Duff (ahead of Yakin?)? Also Given and Carr? Is Yakin getting his game at Stuttgart? Do the Swiss rate us above or below you?

Sorry for all the questions, I just like to see how our players are regarded in other countries. :)
I don't think the Swiss know that much about Irish players.

Duff ahead of Yakin? I would never have thought of comparing these two players, their qualities are so different. Yakin isn't playing in Stuttgart at all, which is why he's not in great shape (I don't mean physically, but he's lacking self-assurance). He played some excellent passes though against the Faroes, hopefully he will also do so tomorrow. We rely on that.

There's a lot of respect for your team, with both teams complete I wouldn't rate one above the other though. ( I can't tell you how other people see this.) For tomorrow I have to say you're the favourite in my eyes, especially if Spycher and Wicky can't play. We're sorely missing Streller and Frei. But then again I hope that 18-year-old Vonlanthen can annoy you a bit (or even more).

[speedking]

Morrison's accusation was put to Frei last night and he denied he had made any racist remarks towards the Irish striker.

"All I can say is that at Rennes I play with about 15 coloured players and that I have never had the slightest problem with any of them," said Frei.

LOL. What is that supposed to prove? Sounds similar to the excuse that one famous manager and co-commentator once came up with...

http://members.boards.ie/pornapz/ron.jpg

[Fergie's Son]

What else is he supposed to say? This is the danger of such a unilateral comment, there is nothing he can really do to defend himself. Let's look at it this way, Morrisson never mentioned the alleged comment after the match itself. Eleven months have gone by before Morrisson suddenly "remembers" the awful comment by Frei. No-one else has been able to corroborate or support Morrisson's claim that Frei said anything at all. Therefore, we must assumed that Frei is innocent until proven otherwise. I think Morrisson just lost the run of himself and allowed such a stupid, yet pernicious, comment to get out. Shame on him.

[Feech]

what a loser - how can you make a remark that is "like a racist remark"??

It either is or it isn't.

and it hurt him so much he only mentions it - not what it is mind - 11 months later knowing he won't be facing the player in question.

shut up Clinton you gimp.

[razor]

Maybe he called him "Irish".
:eek:

[Junior]

"[QUOTE=Littlest Hobo]SORT THE B*STARDS OUT, FCUKING DO EM ALL :mad:
Victory at all costs.....anything else will be failure. "

Spot on! This is a grudge match as far as im concerned, we can put them out of it tommorow night with a win, cause they wont beat us in Dublin again and France will hopefully get their act together and beat them home and away. I cant actually believe the resentment im feeling towards them, i hope Keane breaks a few of them in half! If we lose tommorow..............

numpties the pair of ye.....

[Lionel Ritchie]

what a loser - how can you make a remark that is "like a racist remark"??

It either is or it isn't.

and it hurt him so much he only mentions it - not what it is mind - 11 months later knowing he won't be facing the player in question.

shut up Clinton you gimp.

I think this was explained before I'll try puncuating what he may have said in his LANDUN drawl ..."it was, like, a racist remark" or "it was ....like ...a racist remark" in much the same way that we Limerick folk or our Corkonian neighbours might call Clinton "an awful muppet who owes us a couple o'goals like" :D

I wonder if Clinton and roy get on well. They both like bad* rappers, they both have their little bad* rapper catchphrases and intonations. Maybe they should make a record... :eek:

*Poor quality as opposed to Bad Ass

[drinkfeckarse]

Maybe he called him "Irish".
:eek:

:D :D : D

[eirebhoy]

Let's look at it this way, Morrisson never mentioned the alleged comment after the match itself. Eleven months have gone by before Morrisson suddenly "remembers" the awful comment by Frei.
Who said it was awful? He could have called him anything that Clinton felt didn't deserve punishment by FIFA/UEFA. The reason he brought it up now is because we're playing the Swiss and he said he wanted to celebrate in Frei's face if he scored.

If I was in college in Africa and I someone said something about my skin, I wouldn't go and tell the dean. I'd like to get my revenge in another way.

[razor]

I'd like to get my revenge in another way.

Of course, but would you tell the whole world about it in advance.
:confused:

[eirebhoy]

Of course, but would you tell the whole world about it in advance.
:confused:
He's not going to go up and purposely injur him. All he wants to do is celebrate in his face as he said himself. Nothing wrong with telling that to the public.

[Junior]

He's not going to go up and purposely injur him. All he wants to do is celebrate in his face as he said himself. Nothing wrong with telling that to the public.

These things inevitably backfire. Let him score first, then he can do all the celebrating in his face that he wants. His plan will probably fall at the first hurdle me thinks!!

[blobbyblob]

I think Clinton Morrison is fluent in a variety of languages though. Mr Frei picked the wrong guy...

Pity about his english

[koneinc]

Pity about his english

:rolleyes:

Meooow! Saucer of cream for Table 2?

[speedking]

Maybe he thought he was Frei from Futurama and he called Morrison "Bender".

Ok that wasn't funny. :o

[Fergie's Son]

Nothing wrong with getting pumped up for the game but to make up something like this is just wrong. Morrisson should apologize as he has tarred Frei without a shred of proof. More than a little dangerous when everyone is willing to accept one side's story of a racist comment. Indicative of PC-ism (or neo-marxist thought control) gone out of hand.