- Former Norwich City manager Stuart Webber sparks anger among players
- Webber claimed five star players could go to prison if things don't work out in football
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Former Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber reportedly sparked the anger of Raheem Sterling and several other black players after he made comments in an interview with a local newspaper.
Webber, who left the Canaries in November, told Pinkuan that Sterling, Max Aarons and three other black players would be in jail if it weren't for football.
The remarks were made in an article in which Webber talked about his plans to climb Mount Everest for charity next month.
“We want to help those who really need help, not the privileged,” Weber said. I've seen it with young soccer players.
“Johnny Law doesn't mind me saying it, but he, Abu Kamara, Max (Aaron's), Jamal (Lewis), Raheem (Sterling), when they were at Liverpool I had to make it in football because the alternative could be prison or something else.
Following the shocking comments made in the interview, which was published on Saturday and is still available online at the time of writing, the Mirror reports that all players and their families are furious, shocked and deeply sorry. He reported that he was offended.
One of the players reportedly contacted Webber directly and asked for an explanation.
Webber understands he made a grave mistake regarding his comments and is believed to have apologized after speaking with some of the players and their families.
However, the Mirror also claims they have not yet spoken to Sterling or any of the Chelsea forward's family.
Webber was Liverpool's director of recruitment from 2009 to 2012, while Sterling joined Liverpool in 2010 aged 15.
Webber went on to serve as head of scouting at QPR and Wolves before becoming Huddersfield Town's sporting director from 2015 to 2017.
The 39-year-old then moved to Norwich, where he held the role for six years until stepping down in November.
The other four players Webber mentioned are linked to his time at Norwich, including right-back Aarons, who spent his career at Carrow Road before joining Bournemouth for £7m in August.
Luiz, meanwhile, broke into Norwich's squad during the same period, left to join Newcastle in 2020 and is currently a left-back on loan at Watford.
Lowe, 20, is a winger and one of Norwich's stars, while Kamara has been on loan at Portsmouth this season after joining the Carrow Road club's academy aged 10.
Local media outlet PinkUn has also reportedly come under fire, raising questions about how Webber's comments were not refuted in the interview.
Troy Townsend, head of player development at anti-racism charity Kick It Out, said: “We are racially profiling current and former players.” Is it football or prison? What a complete disgrace! ”
There was also a furious public reaction from the players' families, with Aarons' mother Amber accusing Webber of “casual racism.”
She wrote on X that she was “shocked by Stuart Webber's casual racism and blatant disrespect for all black players and their families.” As the mother of @maxaarons2 and a good friend of @jamal_lewis1's mother, I know that there is no way those boys would have been in prison today. ”
Lewis' mother, Katrina, also said: “That's not true at all…'' Very unprofessional comment!!! Stuart, how can you make that assumption? '', Aarons' mother replied: She said: “Racism is inherently racist. I can't think of anyone more professional and level-headed than the players SW has labeled.”
The newspaper reports that Amber juggled business duties with taking Aarons to training and matches during his academy days, while the player's father Mike hired a £70-an-hour skills coach to help the right-back's career. It was reported that he was employed.
Aarons also originally played for Luton University's youth team, but left while taking his GCSEs to better balance his football and studies.
Meanwhile, Lewis' mother Katrina worked on community projects in Belfast and coached her son in athletics when he was young.
Luiz, who won 34 caps for Northern Ireland, founded his own mental health charity and campaigns against racism alongside Gareth Bale, Rio Ferdinand and Marcus Rashford, while also campaigning online. He also took part in a campaign to stop hate. 3 years ago.
Webber's comments similarly sparked anger from multiple Norwich fans, with the remarks labeled “disgraceful”, “terrible” and “disgraceful”, while others called Webber “a horrible person” He urged them to apologize for their speciesism.
Webber's opinion on the five players comes after Webber made controversial comments about women's soccer last year.
Speaking in May, the 39-year-old openly admitted that he does not follow women's football, despite investing in that aspect with the club playing in the FA Women's National League First Division South East. Admitted.
“I don't watch women's soccer,” he told The Athletic. “I watch enough men's soccer that I don't really care about it when it comes to TV broadcasts. If I don't watch it, I'd like to watch other sports as well.”
“That's a choice I think is OK.”
Norwich women's team played their first game at Carrow Road in April, when they faced Ashford Town, with 7,585 fans in attendance.
Webber added at the time, “I wasn't interested in women's games, so this was the first time I watched a women's game.” It's okay to admit that. ”
