Jason Roberts decision not to wear the “kick it out” t-shirt as a protest at what he perceives to be the groups lack of action and leadership has sparked much debate, but it’s easy to understand why he’s become so frustrated when yet again this week we see vile scenes in Serbia against the black England under 21 players. Yet the Serbian Football Association have the audacity to state on record there was no racial abuse at that game.

Is Jason Roberts in the wrong? (via web.orange.co.uk)

By Rob Boulton.

The actions of FIFA and UEFA in punishing the Serbians will be key in showing whether racism is taken seriously at the very top levels of the game, as nothing less than a lengthy ban for the national side and the expulsion of their club sides from European competition will be deemed as adequate punishment for a country continually ignoring a savage racism problem. Few actually see any more than a slap on the wrists and a menial fine being dished out as ‘punishment’, and Roberts is right to question what value there is in black players being paraded in t-shirts fighting for a cause that doesn’t appear to be backed in any way by the sport’s governing bodies.

With the Luis Suarez and John Terry cases being dealt with in such different ways, interpretation is clearly key in dishing out relevant punishments in this country – but this ‘problem’ is actually the worst kind of social disease and needs to be stamped out of sport and society all around the world.

Is Jason Roberts right not to protest against the ’Kick It Out’ scheme? Tweet us @talkingbaws or comment below. Watch out for Gino De Blasio’s blog tomorrow.