Here is another take on the story....

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/pakspin/ar...oblem.php#more

Albeit, written by a Pakistani blogger. However, it does raise interesting issues. Did Saffer players go beyond acceptable sledging on the field? Did that contribute to the bad behaviour of the fans?

Personally, I don't think so. I think the fans were morons, and would've behaved badly, regardless of what went on the field. But sledging in the southern hemisphere can teeter on the border of what's acceptable.

But, until I know exactly what Gibbs said, I cannot pass judgment one way or another....

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

He said,

I'm sure someone will try to defend what he said.

I agree with you. RSA have, IMO, always been too agressive on the field. However, I think we need to be careful here. Accusations of racism are very serious and, from what's been reported, I'm not convicned.

1. The use of the word 'animals.' Realistically, I can't see how this is racist. It's a term that gets thrown about when people behave badly. It's true that racists may, in the past, have used similar phrases. But we have to remember that Gibbs is of mixed-race, and (given he was directing these comments at his team-mates) would probably have been heard by Ntini and Amla.

2. Re his other comments. Had England been playing RSA, and the same thing had happened and Gibbs had have said 'F***ing English' does anyone seriously believe he would have been charged with racism? I agree this is very sensitive, and Gibbs' comments were ill-advised, but we would be better off dealing promptly (and harshly) with genuine incidents of racism in cricket (Lehman's despicable outburst, for example) rather than seek to find them.

I posted that before I read Ninjaman's post - wasn't aware of the exact content. If that's true, then I withdraw what I've just said! The ICC have, for once, got it right.

That is definitely not what he said. Where did you get this. Eeveryone know he said "bloody animals" and not f*** animals. Do not just post false info here without a source. you are falsely accusing Gibbs of making those statements.

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434, world record for the shortest period. Whos choking now?

Until the last two words, I wouldn't have called this quote racist. However, the last two words changes everything.

That's so unfortunate.

Because the fans in question were behaving like animals! But that last generalisation sunk it for him....

As a mixed-race South African growing up under apartheid, he should've known better!

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

Do you have an exact quote, gibbs fan?

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

Posted this on the other thread.............for what little it's worth.


Sorry it's taken so long to respond, work comes first and all that........

On the basis of what Rachel and Zainub have mentioned I don't think it's racist. Bear in mind the context of some allegedly appalling behaviour by SOME Pakistani fans, Gibbs's comments were, I imagine, aimed at that section of the crowd and their behaviour specifically. Describing their behaviour as that of animals or hyenas is in no way racist and no, Zainub, he was not in doing so likening all Pakistanis to hyenas, so please drop over-sensitive "So to be specific not only did he calls Pakistanis animals, but he compared us specifically to Hyenas.". What's all the "us" about ? The very context you quote (referring to the fans' behaviour) explicitly makes a nonsense of your subsequent comment that he was tarring all Pakistanis with the same brush. You reaction is the same as was seen from so many people after the Oval last year, when there was all that nonsense about the entire nation of Pakistan being insulted by what happened. Get a life guys, it's only sport. In no way should you, as a Pakistani, have been insulted by the fact that the Pakistani team was called for ball tampering. That so many people did, to me, suggests a significant lack of perspective, but that's just my opinion.

As for the "f****** Pakistanis".......not convinced that's racist in this context either as in my judgement the use of the word "Pakistani" was not used in a derogatory sense (i.e. no-one was using the word "Pakistani" as an insult). If someone called me a "f****** Indian" or "f****** English" in this situation I wouldn't consider it racist, as the motivation for the comments was not the identity of the people in the crowd but their behaviour.

There's no doubt what Gibbs allegedly said broke the ICC code of conduct, and that he should be punished appropriately should he be found guilty. But a racist ? Not on this evidence.

Link: Reuters

South African Herschelle Gibbs is to lodge an appeal against a two-match ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for making derogatory comments about Pakistanis during the first test on Sunday.

Gibbs had been due to face a Cricket South Africa (CSA) disciplinary hearing chaired by Judge Mervyn King.

However, King said in a statement released on Tuesday that Gibbs, with the assistance of the SA Cricketers' Association, intended to appeal against the ICC findings and the suspension, and therefore the hearing had been postponed.

"As the ICC findings and suspension have a bearing on CSA's disciplinary matter, I have postponed the hearing until after Herschelle Gibbs' appeal proceedings have been completed by the ICC", King said.

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After Gibbs got into this trouble, it was reported by Supercricket that Gibbs has the support of the whole team behind him..

I agree. I don't know what will happen now that he has stated he'll lodge an appeal. Maybe it's just some sort of delaying tactics? Dunno.