What did Frei say to Clinton?

[Plastic Paddy]

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

PP

---

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...298648,00.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
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


At least Clinton looks up for it

I WANT REVENGE

[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

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

[Littlest Hobo]

fCUKING Carpet bomb the B*stards 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

[Plastic Paddy]

fCUKING Carpet bomb the B*stards 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

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

PP

[koneinc]

There is NO excuse for racism, ever!

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

[razor]

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

Or get Cathal Dervan to order it.

[Littlest Hobo]

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

PP

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

[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

[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.

[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.