Stoney: It's time for change
TranscriptThe United Women's manager feels the Government must do more to tackle online discrimination...
Casey good to talk to you ahead of a big game at the weekend, but first of all, we’ve got to talk to you about something that has overshaowed this week, and it’s once again players receiving more racist abuse on social media, and one of those being Lauren James… “Yeah, listen it’s disgusting, utterly unacceptable. She’s 19 years of age, a young girl. Irrelevant of her age, I don’t know… I spoke to her and told her it’s hard for me to understand as a white person who has never experienced it. But it’s important I stand up for her, stand next to her, support her. As a club, we massively support her and I know as a club we do an awful lot in this area to make sure players are supported, that we fight against discrimination and racism because no person should ever have to experience that. It’s totally unacceptable and I think the government and social media platforms need to do so much more.” As you said, it’s totally unacceptable and it has no place in society. Just to check, how is Lauren doing? How are the club helping her through this? “I think she is an extremely brave young women to stand up and speak out, knowing that she is probably going to face more of it. I think the club have supported her, obviously the diversity officer has been in touch and understands more than anyone what Lauren is going through. I think as a club we have supported her. As a head coach I will continue to support her. I think the sad thing is that when I speak to her it’s almost water off a duck’s back and it’s common practice. That really is said. I don’t want her to feel that; I don’t want to feel it’s acceptable. I don’t want her to feel like it’s the norm because it shouldn’t be. She should never have to face that, nobody should. No, of course. How important is it for her to speak out and it really is time for change now, isn’t it? “It’s important for her to speak out, but it’s important for me, as a white person, to stand up and speak out and say it’s unacceptable. It’s important as a club that we stand up and speak out. It’s important that everyone who fights against racism daily, stands up and has a voice. It’s time for change. The government have to do more. There has to be stricter policies. Just because you sit behind a keyboard does not give you right to discriminate against anybody.”