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PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor accuses clubs of preventing racism peace talks

Taylor hits out at 'tribalism' within clubs
© PA Photos
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor says that he tried to resolve the racism issues between Luis Suarez, Patrice Evra, John Terry and Anton Ferdinand behind closed doors.

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has revealed that clubs prevented his attempts to bring players involved in high-profile racism cases last season together for face-to-face discussions.

Taylor is referring to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's alleged racial verbal attack on Manchester United captain Patrice Evra as well as Chelsea captain John Terry's alleged racial abuse towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

"I tried to put [the players] together but I found that very difficult to do without the backing of the clubs," Taylor told The Telegraph.

"The minute that both occasions happened I was in touch with the clubs and the players and immediately it was extremely difficult. It is tribal and they were putting the wagons round.

"The problem lies in the fact that players are not just human beings but players of value belonging to a club and [the clubs] feel they owe the players loyalty and need to be united and solid. If the club is not seen to defend them when they're in trouble they've got themselves into a difficult position."

Terry was acquitted of a racially-aggravated public order offence. However, the Football Association, who issued an eight-match ban to Suarez, can still take action against the England international.

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2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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