Hi all. I would like to hear your opinions on the Gibbs ban. Here is my view.

I believe that one is allowed to express ones opinion. If people (irrespective of skin colour) behave like animals, I believe that a person has a right to call these people animals. For example, I believe that Englands soccer hooligans are animals. Does this now mean I am a racist. Absolutely ridiculous. There were a few Pakistan supporters at the ground, who swore at Harris and even hit Ntini on the head with a Pakistan flag. Correct me if I am wrong but civilised people do not behave in this way and I believe that these fans were rightfully called animals. If SA supporters had behaved in an uduly manner and had Gibbs have called them animals, would his comments still be labelled racist. I cannot understand where the racist part comes in. Yes, Gibbs is a professional and his comments were insulting but that is about it. His comments were not racially motivated. Unfortunately, nowadays, nobody can say anything about Pakistan because it will be taken as an insult to the whole nation and the "racist" word will come up again.

What are your views.

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

If he'd only said the animal comment, perhaps your line of argument would have been correct, but at it is being discussed in the other thread, it is pretty clear, that was not the only thing he said. And that his animal comment too perhaps (or at least arguably) was not directed at just those spectators alone, but at a more wider spectrum of people, from a specific origin, and therefore tantamount to being considered racially offensive.

Besides, I also do not agree with your line of thinking that players have a free reign with regarding to expressing their opinions...coping flak from crowds is very much unfortunately part of the modern day game now, that is not to say I am defending those who do act in an "uncivilised manner" as you suggest too, but their idiocy, and provocation however, is no justification for others to fall to their level and act in an uncivilised manners them selves (and calling anyone animals, even if they really are behaving like animals, knowing that the stumps mics are on, and that there are strict regulations in place with regards to what can and cannot be said, Gibbs' remarks were definitely uncivilised too (especially if you also believe the report that he also called them hyenas), in addition to being racially offensive.

The ban was completely justified.

Zainub, Can you please point out where in Gibbs's comment he refers to the entire nation of Pakistan.

About the stump mikes, It may be on but the public never actually here what comes form it. If were heard everything the keeper and slip fielders said, cricket would have an R18 rating and no kids would be able to watch. So I do not understand your argument. Like I said before, if in Gibbs's opinion those fans behaved, like animals, he is well within his right to call them animals. Ok Zainub, tell me what you think of George Bush. If it is insulting, then based on your argument, you will be making racist comments as well. It really is silly. While I agree that Gibbs was unprofessional by making those comments, here in SA we have freedom of speech.

I think that make insulting comments is not as bad as going into the crowd with a bat and trying to assault someone, can you remind me if and how long Inzi was banned for this.

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

Not relevent, g_f.... That was many moons ago and doesn't have any bearing on this ban for Herschelle.

Now, if someone could give me the official transcript of what Gibbs said, then I can make a decision as to whether the ban was justified. I've heard about 5 or 6 different views on what he said which veer from comical to racist! I can't decide if the ban was justified until I know what he actually said!

I agree Andy I was just telling Zainub that after Inzi attacked a fan, we didnt say that the whole of Pakistan are violent "lunatics".

Anyway, Gibbs basically called the fans "bloody animals". That is confirmed, there are other statements but they differ from website to website. Some other statements include "Hyennas from a zoo" and "f***ing Pakistanis"

Like I pointed out on the previous thread, those fans are probably South Africans of Pakistani descent.

What is your "neutral" view.

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

He does not say any where that he was referring to the entire nation of Pakistan, but he doesn't say anywhere that he wasn't either. He used a four letter expletive in front of the word Pakistanis, I can well assume, he referred to the whole of Pakistani. Especially given his captain has now come out saying that Pakistani fans all across the globe (including effectively me) are dangerous. I am entitled to my opinion.

And I'm not sure how long Inzi's ban was (I have a bad memory) but I'm not sure it was as long as it should have been, it should been longer then Gibbs' ban. As I said, no matter what the provocation is, and how severe or unruly it is, it is NO justification for others to fall to their level too. You do say that that incident did not promt you to think of entire Pakistanis as lunatics, but your captain, certainly does think, that the action of the few make the whole of the Pakistani supporters dangerous, so I can take offence, as I have.

And also like I said before, Gibbs' comments may or may not have been racially motivated, but that fact is that people do find that racially offensive, for which he will have to pay the price, weather you like it or not.

Its a tough one this. My first instinct was that Herschelle had been very harshly dealt with. At that stage, I'd heard he'd said something along the lines of, "They're animals! They're all F****** animals". Frankly, considering the circumstances, I thought it was a bit foolish of Gibbs, but nothing demanding a ban!

However, it becomes a lot worse looking for Herschelle as soon as he starts mixing in expletives and nationalities.

What really leaves a nasty taste in the mouth to me is that (from what I've heard), the PCB insisted, or at least visited Chris Broad to demand some action against Herschelle. That will not win them any more friends considering the current furore over the Asif/Shoiab drug scandal.

From the other side though, Gibbs really seems to be a little short of grey matter at times. The number of times I've seen his name in the news over some contraversy is a little sad. I really like Herschelle and his skill, but he seems destined to be remembered for the scandals rather than those crashing cuts and drives that he plays.

I think that is the crux of the matter, Andy....

As Zainub says, it all comes down to whether Gibbs was talking about the handful of plonkers in the crowd, or whether his comments were about Pakistanis in general. Until we know what he said, exactly, it's hard to pass judgment.

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

Well, He was clearly pointing to the fans who swore at Harris, so this proves that he was only talking about a select few and not the entire Pakistan. You also havent answered my question. Those fans were probably South African.

Well, I have said before that the captain has no brain and should shut his mouth permanently. What Smith says has no bearing on Gibbs


Agreed, I believe smith and Arthur could have been fined at least. Smith is not helping the situation wiith his stupidity. He should shut up and let Cricket SA make the public statements.

Well, he has paid the price hasnt he. Pity Asif and Akhtar did not pay their price.

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

Complaining about racism never brings you any friends Andy. You just get called hypersensitive, which is a nice way of hiding away your own hidden prejudices. Anyway, I personally opine that Gibbs comments were racially motivated, it can however, be argued that they were not so, but what cannot be denied is that they did end up being racially offensive (which is different to racially motivated as you’ll know) and he ought to have been punished for them in some way or the other. Perhaps, you are right, and he just said it because he "lacked gray matter", and not really because he intended to discriminate. I do not really have a problem with this argument, (though I'd still disagree with them with respect), but to defend his comments altogether like Gibbs_fan is suggesting, saying that its okay, to say everything that he did... now, that…that I do have a problem with.

And finally, I think, I’m getting in the danger of repeating my self far too often on this subject matter, so this is going to be my last post regarding the Gibbs saga.