WHEN STUART PEARCE HAD TO SAY SORRY
THE FA were asked to defend Stuart Pearce’s appointment yesterday after it was pointed out the new caretaker manager has had to apologise in the past for an alleged racist incident of his own.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor had to intervene after it was claimed Pearce made a racist jibe at England team- mate Paul Ince during a match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United in December 1994. “I
have spoken to Stuart and he will be ringing Paul to apologise,” Taylor said at the time. “Stuart regrets what he said. It was said in the heat of the moment. He is sorry and I am sure Paul will accept the apology in the manner in which it is intended.”
Despite the fact Pearce’s appointment leads directly from the allegations of racism against John Terry, Club England managing director Adrian Bevington refused to be drawn on Pearce’s past. “We’re not going to go back over extensive grounds today in that respect,” he said. “I certainly can’t talk about the comment you’re raising.”
Pearce’s brother Dennis is an active member of the British National Party and stood for them as a candidate in the 2009 European elections.
However, Bevington was able to take a position on this issue. “Stuart has made it clear that he is not involved in his brother’s political beliefs,” he said.
“I don’t think we can get to the realms of being judgmental on someone because of what their brother or any sibling’s views may be.”
Indeed, Pearce said in 2008: “My brother’s views are his own and do not in any way reflect mine.”
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/301229/When-Stuart-Pearce-had-to-say-sorry
