If Sadio Mane was racially abused for missing a penalty kick, I would blame ‘the good people of Liverpool’. But when its Paul Pogba of Manchester United who has been mercilessly hounded on social media, racially and horribly, for missing his penalty on Monday night, I have to blame the good people of Croydon, Hammersmith, Norwich, Stranraer and Bangkok. But whoever they are, wherever they’re from, it is just vile and disgusting behaviour which, to be honest, is nothing to do with the social media channels which are just vehicles for people’s thoughts. Even when those thoughts are vile and disgusting. And horribly racist.

That is racism. Pure and simple. And should be dealt with accordingly. Though who can do that ‘dealing’; the clubs, the police, instagram? is a more difficult question. And where these views come from, why they’re even part of anyone’s dialogue, that’s pretty interesting too.

If you call Pogba an idiot for taking the penalty in the first place, call him a tosser for missing it, call him anything you like about his attitude, his skills, that is not in any way racist. That’s what all footballers have to endure. The flip side of the 300,000 quid a week you earn to do your job in public view. You’re allowed to comment on such things, its almost your job as a fan. Particularly a disappointed fan. But the colour of the player under attack is completely irrelevant. Even white players miss penalties, so I’ve heard.

Similarly, calling out Prince Harry for being a bit of a nob over eco-friendly travel on a private jet is not racist at all. And yet that’s what its being called. Numerous people have gone public with their own attacks. Saying, basically, that any criticism of Harry or Meg is down to racism. Some stupid actress went further “why don’t you say what you mean; that you don’t like a black woman in the royal family!!!!” Meg’s best mate said pretty similar. That these ‘attacks’ on Harry & Meg (like mine on Tuesday) are just ‘racism’. Which is, obviously, complete bollocks. I love Harry and Meg. Especially Meg. But if you act in a hypocritical way, as Harry did, it is just stupid. And to NOT be allowed to mention it because he is married to a black woman would be racism in itself. Because it means that no non-white person could ever be criticised in any way as that would be racism. Even if you’re just commenting on the cakes he/she made on Bake Off.

The only way round the problem is to hold everyone of every colour in complete contempt, be rude to the lot of them, insult everybody, then at least you’re consistent and can’t be accused of singling any specific race/gender/religion for special treatment. That’s my approach. Other than the French, obviously.

Happy Thursday

A xxxx