25 January 2024 , 11:41
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Mark Robins says Coventry City will walk off the pitch from now on if any of their players suffers racist abuse.
The Sky Blues’ boss issued the ultimatum as he dealt with the fall-out this week following the incident at Sheffield Wednesday during which winger Kasey Palmer was targeted. Images from the match last week show a member of the Hillsborough crowd making gestures at the former Chelsea trainee.
The Owls have condemned the actions in the strongest terms possible and have issued a video this week highlighting their commitment to rooting out the problem. However, Robins says that the episode has sparked conversations among the hierarchy at the west Midlands club - and that they will take direct action if happens again.
Ironically, the Sky Blues return to the scene tomorrow when they travel back to south Yorkshire for a Fourth Round tie in the FA Cup. Robins said: “There’s been a lot of talk this week that if it happens again, we’ll walk off the field. That’s got everyone’s backing.
“And I think if it happens again, I think that’s what we should do. The players should be - and are - aware of that. They have the backing of the owner, Doug King. He’s come out and said it. It needs to be said so that everyone understands the consequences.”
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Mark Robins made a passionate speech (Anna Gowthorpe/REX/Shutterstock)Robins made an impassioned speech, asking for society to ‘grow up’ and painted a depressing picture of the impact it has had on Palmer during the past week.
He said: “Kasey’s been okay. But that’s not to say it hasn’t impacted him, because it has. Unless you’ve experienced racism, you can’t understand how it feels. There’s no place for any type of racism in society, let alone on a pitch or in a stadium.
“This is so important. It has to stop. The perpetrator should be caught, dealt with and made an example of. Kasey’s posting on social media, asking if it will ever change, is damning on a particular section of society because the vast majority are normal thinking people.
“I think he has behaved brilliantly within all of this. He’s an example. And I think he will look to make a difference where he can on the back of it. He is a grown-up. He will want to lead by example by his family. We’re there to support him through that. There’s been a spotlight shone on the situation, hopefully that can be dealt with but it’s the wider issue.
“We have to ensure this changes. You look at that and try to make a difference and do so in a positive way. People have been experiencing racism for a long time. It’s got to change. We should be more evolved than we are showing.
"There has to be wider-ranging consequences as well as has been alluded to. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has come out and said what he thinks - let’s see now what he does in terms of backing it up.”