BBC radio pundit Craig Ramage SACKED for claiming ‘all the young black lads needed pulling down a peg or two’ at Derby as full-back Max Lowe hits back in racism row: ‘I do not think it is acceptable to be judged by the colour of our skin’
- Craig Ramage appeared on the BBC Radio Derby Sportscene show
- He said ‘young black lads’ in the team need ‘pulling down a peg a two’
- Ramage began his career at Derby, where he played between 1988 and 1994
- Kick It Out chief Troy Townsend and Derby players have led the condemnation
The BBC have axed a commentator after his racist stereotype-filled rant in which he criticised ‘all the young black lads’ at Derby and claimed they need ‘pulling down a peg or two.’
Angry and upset Derby defender Max Lowe led the condemnation of ex-Rams midfielder-turned-broadcaster Craig Ramage and BBC Radio Derby, who also came under fire from anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out, first-team coach Liam Rosenior and other former players at the Midlands club.
The shocking comments sparked a major backlash which included widespread calls for the BBC to take action.
Craig Ramage made some incendiary remarks about the ‘young black lads’ in Derby’s team
They quickly launched an investigation on Sunday which was concluded swiftly and said in a statement last night: ‘These were entirely unacceptable comments and we will no longer be working with Craig.’
Speaking on BBC Radio Derby’s Sportscene show following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Huddersfield, Ramage, 49, said: ‘When I look over and look at certain players, their body language, their stance, the way they act, you just feel, hold on a minute, he needs pulling down a peg or two.
‘So I’d probably say that about all the young black lads, all the young advice if they wanted it, that, you know, it’s about, when you are struggling for form, you are going through a sticky patch, it’s about going back to basics, working hard, and doing the right things.’
The station edited former England under-21 midfielder Ramage’s offensive sweeping comments out of the podcast of the show the released on Sunday.
Max Lowe has led the criticism of Ramage’s comments made on BBC Radio Derby Sportscene
Troy Townsend wrote this on Twitter after reading Lowe’s comments on social media
That move led to initial accusations that they were attempting to brush the issue under the carpet but came too late to prevent the outrage that followed Ramage’s comments
Left-back Lowe, an unused sub against Huddersfield, was left deeply upset and his fury was shared by his Derby teammates.
But he felt compelled to stand up and speak out to highlight the issue via a lengthy social media post, slamming Ramage’s ‘archaic thoughts’ and expressing his disappointment at the station’s failure to challenge or distances themselves from them.
Lowe said: ‘Racial ignorance, stereotyping and intolerance negatively affects the image of impressionable young footballers and creates an unnecessary divide in society.
‘As a professional footballer at an ambitious, high-profile Championship club I know that my performances will be scrutinised and I have no problem with that whatsoever – but I do not think it is acceptable for myself and my teammate Jayden Bogle to be judged by the colour of our skin.’
The comments came after Wayne Rooney’s Derby were held to a 1-1 draw by Huddersfield
KIO chairman Sanjay Bhandari, who confirmed the organisations support for the affected Derby players, said: ‘These comments are shocking and the views expressed are the kind of thoughtless racist stereotypes that we heard 50 years ago.
‘We do not expect to hear them lazily trotted out in 2020. I expect effective action to be taken by the BBC.’
KIO head of football development Troy Townsend added: ‘It’s embarrassing that BBC Derby have provided a platform for this type of racial stereotyping. No amount of education will stop this ignorance.’
Derby first-team coach Liam Rosenior, Rams ambassador Michael Johnson and ex-striker Darren Bent all brought further attention to the situation.
A Derby statement read: ‘We have been in contact with the BBC throughout the day and underline that we do not in any way condone any form of discrimination.
‘We take comments like these extremely seriously, we do not tolerate them, and stand shoulder to shoulder, together as one with all our players.’