'The Football Writers' Association is concerned by the recent bans imposed on The Sun by Liverpool FC and Everton FC.
While the FWA understands the upset caused by the presence and views of columnist Kelvin MacKenzie, the organisation feels that its members, the football journalists, are being unfairly punished for actions which have nothing to do with them.
The FWA has always believed in the fundamental principle that all of its members have a right to carry out their jobs and should not be banned because of the actions of others.
Following discussions at National Committee level, we believe the clubs should reconsider these bans and work with the FWA and Premier League to resolve the situation.'
“We have complete and utter sympathy with the feelings of anyone connected with Hillsborough.
“I was at Hillsborough and I am very aware of the views of our members of what happened after.
“We do not condone the kind of journalism that has upset people repeatedly, most recently with the Ross Barkley case - which was almost a perfect example of the type of journalism not to dirty your hands with - but we can’t be responsible for the ethics of our employers.”
“We just wanted to show a little bit of support for people who simply want to report on football and give their families some of the proceeds of that.”
Mr Barclay said he believed there were around 24 committee members who decided to make the approach - with two of those currently employed by The S*n.
He said he would be more than happy to conduct an overall vote of all members - thought to be around 340 - to see if the decision would be supported.
1. It isn't a freedom of speech question, S*n journalists can still report on LFC matches and news through TV coverage/sources etc.
2. LFC is 1/20 of the PL and 1/92 of the PL and EFL. Even if they had no sources on LFC there is plenty of other football coverage they can fill their rag with.
3. LFC are a private limited company, they have no duty to be 'held accountable' by anyone other than their shareholders and of course, as a football club, their supporters and the wider community in which they operate and abide by the rules of the PL, FA and relevant legislation.
4. If the FWA is so concerned about their members being affected by the actions of others, have they made representations to the S*n about how their lies affect their members and asked them to think about fact checking their output?
5. The freedom of the press comes with responsibility, something many journalists these days seemingly have no idea about, rather they think they can write whatever they like with no responsibility for facts and accuracy and then moan about any comeback as curtailment of their freedom. OK, report what you want, but be aware that private individuals and private companies have no requirement to engage with you, it is not an inalienable right.
6. If you don't want to be held responsible for tarnished by the ethics of your employer and disagree with their ethics, work somewhere else.
7. Not including the S*n journalists, 6% of members of the association came forward and made 'the approach', committee members or not (and it does not say how many committee members there are) perhaps the Chair of the organisation should have polled his members before making it public.
8. There are a group of people who were unfairly punished for actions of others, the families and survivors of Hillsborough, who were unfairly punished and continue to be punished by the actions of the SYP et al and the ensuing cover up enabled and abetted by the, specifically the S*n and journalists in the MSM. Where was the voice of the FWA then?
9. Paddy Barclay is a dickhead
10. The S*n can go fuck themselves.
