RACIST RON'S AT IT AGAIN
mirror.co.uk
Jan 22 2005
"How is China's population so big? They've the best contraception..their women are so ugly"
By Andy Lines
FOOTBALL'S anti-racism campaigners were appalled and astonished last night at the latest gaffe by disgraced TV analyst Ron Atkinson.
The former Man Utd and Aston Villa boss has spent months trying to resurrect his lucrative career after his "n***er" insult aimed at Chelsea's Marcel Desailly last April.
But on Thursday night, at a dinner at another former club Sheffield Wednesday, he was at it again - with a joke about Chinese women being "the ugliest in the world". Kick It Out, the group trying to eliminate racism in football, said: "It seems completely incomprehensible that someone who has gone to great lengths to clear his name should come out with this.
"He seems to be consistently insulting about people because of their race.
"In this day and age you cannot make jokes about race."
A diner at the fund-raising gathering at Wednesday's Hillsborough's stadium complained to the Mirror and said: "I just could not believe what I was hearing.
"I would have thought that given what has happened to him in the past 12 month, he would totally avoid any references to race issues.
"I mean it is not a difficult subject to steer clear away from, is it?
"I was really quite surprised at his naivete and ignorance."
Atkinson, 65, says he "can't believe" the latest storm and claimed he cracked the joke in connection with a story about a visit to China in the late 1970s by his then club West Bromwich Albion.
On the trip, an Albion player was asked about what he thought about the Great Wall of China. He is said to have replied: "Once you've seen one wall, you've seen them all."
Atkinson followed the story with this "joke": "I can't understand why there is such a population problem in China as they have the best contraception going - Chinese women are the ugliest in the world."
Sheffield Wednesday club historian Keith Howard was among 264 guests at the dinner.
He confirmed Atkinson had made the remark, but said nobody had taken offence or raised it as issue.
Mr Howard said: "Ron gave a speech almost an hour long. The vast majority was about his managerial career. He made very very few jokes.
"But I did hear the one about the Chinese. Certainly no one took offence and he actually got a laugh.
"There was a comedian on afterwards and he was far worse, taking the mickey out of the Irish, Jews and coloureds.
"I don't think anyone was offended by what Ron had to say and he got a very good reception. Supporters appreciated him turning up."
Atkinson lost his job with ITV after calling Chelsea's Desailly "a lazy f*****g n***er". He wrongly thought he was totally off air but the comment last April was broadcast in the Middle East.
A nurturer of black talent in his West Brom days, Atkinson apologised profusely and recently returned to TV. Now his hopes of a major comeback seem doomed.
Atkinson said: "I cannot believe anyone has complained about anything I said. I went there to help them out and to raise money. I stayed for ages and did photographs,
"I can't believe this, I just can't believe this. I can't say anything now. I've been ultra-careful about everything. It was an easy evening and everyone enjoyed themselves."
Leni Renton, director of the top London modelling agency Modelplan, said: "Mr Atkinson does not know what he is talking about.
"Chinese women are amongst the most beautiful in the world. We have several on our books and they really are very beautiful and incredibly hard-working."
