Thomas Partey charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to three women

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I expect it's just a stock photo that they use for everything seeing as the majority of the population is white, and you're thinking too much about it.

Maybe your last paragraph is correct, but only really if people are going to be oversensitive...

I’m absolutely not the sensitive type and nor do I spend my days moaning about our ‘woke’ society. I think people are too easily offended generally these days wherever they sit on the political spectrum.

I also think in many respects the trend towards positive depictions of people from ethnic minorities within the media in films and dramas over the course of the last few decades has been both necessary and welcome.

But this is different; this is a factual piece about a man being charged with rape and I do not accept that there was no human input to the content of that photo and that it just ended up there. Especially given its loose relevance to the subject matter at hand. Ultimately someone at editorial level has made a conscious decision to put that photo up there, having looked at it and decided within a factual piece, that it’s an appropriate photo to depict what happened. On many levels it is not.

I can’t be sure of this, but I’d say it was very likely that the person did so considered, within a factual piece, what was used was more appropriate than a photo of a black man in handcuffs, or for that matter, the player himself. I find that slightly sinister and as I said before, and it deserves repeating, a black man in handcuffs where a white player had been arrested is inconceivable.

It’s therefore a form of doublethink and double standards that damages (albeit in marginal ways) race relations because it allows some white racists to justify their hateful, horrible views.

I see it as an example of the fear of causing offence crippling us operating honestly as a society which is unquestionably something that makes the situation worse, not better.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

We dont know that at all. They could have just searched for "person in handcuffs" and used the first one they found without thinking of colour of skin.

How would you have reacted if they’d put a back person in handcuffs where a white person had been charged with rape was white, without ‘thinking of the colour of skin’?

 

[Lowtower]

Has that weird Arsenal fella that waffles on here said anything about Partey?

Trophyless and Classless that club.

 

[M16 citeh]

Pitifully embarrassing virtue signalling that the charge of a black man gives rise to the deployment of a white person in handcuffs as the photo that accompanies the headline.

Imagine if it was the other way round.

But there's no negative historical connotations of white people being racist unlike the way that black and Asian men are perceived and portrayed as this. When there is no historical grounds of discrimination, there can't be racism. 'whiteness' is not a protected characteristic it's just a simple identity factor and a majority identity at that.

 

[mattcity5]

How would you have reacted if they’d put a back person in handcuffs where a white person had been charged with rape was white, without ‘thinking of the colour of skin’?

This isn't a 50-50 thing, white or black. The 2021 census had 82% of the UK as white, just 4% black. If they'd have picked out an image of a black person in handcuffs for a white rapist, that would absolutely be racist. As it is, they've used the image that covers 82% of the population. It's not going to be right all the time, but using this one every time is a safer approach than trying to adjust for each arrest and getting it wrong sometimes.

 

[Blue Mist]

The one question that should be asked is why it took years for the police and then CPS to investigate and charge him.
From both the victims and suspects point of view this is a disgraceful delay.

 

[Whether or not]

It does surprise me mate. I genuinely thought we'd be better than that. I know there's little love from City fans for Arsenal after the letter writing incident but we were always known as the 'Bank of England club', classier and more ethical than our loopy neighbours down the road.

I knew of course that Partey was under investigation but it had been so long I assumed it was just some woman trying to get her moment of fame and it would be dismissed as it had been so long with no charges. What a fool I am, and thousands of other Gooners too. Many of whom are women.

The fact it's gone to him being charged indicates the CPS reckon there's a decent chance of conviction and I'm certain club insiders would have knew some of this stuff. So honestly mate I couldn't give a fuck about the next season until this is investigated and heads roll. Heck we could do a treble this season and we'd just be known as the rapist club and our players tarnished with that. Fuck that.

I can see that you are very unhappy with Arsenal over this, and rightly so. I’m just interested, is your view representative of Arsenal fans generally.

 

[mexico1970]

When there is no historical grounds of discrimination, there can't be racism. 'whiteness' is not a protected characteristic it's just a simple identity factor and a majority identity at that.

All a bit woke university bollocks for me, racism is defined as the different treatment of someone because of the colour of their skin.

If someone treats me differently because I am white they're a racist.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

But there's no negative historical connotations of white people being racist unlike the way that black and Asian men are perceived and portrayed as this. When there is no historical grounds of discrimination, there can't be racism. 'whiteness' is not a protected characteristic it's just a simple identity factor and a majority identity at that.

Do you think ‘blackness’ is a protected characteristic, because if it is this must be part of the Equality Act that I’m not familiar with.

 

[bridgeno1]

I can see that you are very unhappy with Arsenal over this, and rightly so. I’m just interested, is your view representative of Arsenal fans generally.

I'd say it's pretty representative yes. Many are in shock as we'd presumed the investigations were going nowhere and now we are wondering what the heck the club knew about it and why we kept playing him.

 

[hilts]

Should you not play someone who hasn't been found guilty of anything? I think the time it takes to get to court.is the problem

 

[dickie davies]

Even Stevie Wonder saw this one coming.

Yesterday.

Thought that was Paul McCartney

 

[Gordyola]

Comparing City with Mendy and Arsenal with Partey
Whilst on bail Mendy was allowed to to play it was only when he breached his bail that City suspended him as he was released with further conditions that limited his location and therefore was unable to fulfill his contract Partey didn’t breach his bail so was able or fulfill his contract

Mendy never played for City after he was first arrested, charged and initially refused bail.
His pay was stopped when he breeched bail conditions and found himself behind bars.

So I was correct. He never played for City after he was arrested / charged.

He played for City whilst on bail after, he was first arrested and charged and remained under investigation
The CPS looked at the evidence gathered by the Police and decided to prosecute him, he would then be re-relased on bail
At some point he breached his bail was, this before he was charged or after Im not sure
City suspended him after he breached bail he was arrested and spent time in prison I think bail was refused at some point but subsequently he was released

Like I said he was allowed to play whilst on bail

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

The one question that should be asked is why it took years for the police and then CPS to investigate and charge him.
From both the victims and suspects point of view this is a disgraceful delay.

I wonder if after seeing the Mendy case where most assumed it was a slam dunk case, the CPS wanted to ensure the Met Police did a better job and were more cautious.

 

[Gordyola]

Should you not play someone who hasn't been found guilty of anything? I think the time it takes to get to court.is the problem

Dependiing upon what they are guilty of yeah I would agree
There are stages and remember until someone has been tried and a verdict come to they remain innocent
Firstly after an initial investigation the police will arrest and charge normally release on bail
CPS would look at the Police evidence and proceed to prosecute and a trial would follow

At which point does a club suspended a player? Partey was under investigation for two years

 

[hilts]

Dependiing upon what they are guilty of yeah I would agree
There are stages and remember until someone has been tried and a verdict come to they remain innocent
Firstly after an initial investigation the police will arrest and charge normally release on bail
CPS would look at the Police evidence and proceed to prosecute and a trial would follow

At which point does a club suspended a player? Partey was under investigation for two years

It's not just about his wages either, for a professional footballer taking over 3 years out of someone's career cannot be fair if they are innocent. How does the club cover the fact a player is being mysteriously dropped for 3 years.

 

[stonerblue]

Well that is a coincidence Starmer , freebie Arsenal match going fan and previously head of CPS

ffs.

 

[danielwood5]

I’m absolutely not the sensitive type and nor do I spend my days moaning about our ‘woke’ society. I think people are too easily offended generally these days wherever they sit on the political spectrum.

I also think in many respects the trend towards positive depictions of people from ethnic minorities within the media in films and dramas over the course of the last few decades has been both necessary and welcome.

But this is different; this is a factual piece about a man being charged with rape and I do not accept that there was no human input to the content of that photo and that it just ended up there. Especially given its loose relevance to the subject matter at hand. Ultimately someone at editorial level has made a conscious decision to put that photo up there, having looked at it and decided within a factual piece, that it’s an appropriate photo to depict what happened. On many levels it is not.

I can’t be sure of this, but I’d say it was very likely that the person did so considered, within a factual piece, what was used was more appropriate than a photo of a black man in handcuffs, or for that matter, the player himself. I find that slightly sinister and as I said before, and it deserves repeating, a black man in handcuffs where a white player had been arrested is inconceivable.

It’s therefore a form of doublethink and double standards that damages (albeit in marginal ways) race relations because it allows some white racists to justify their hateful, horrible views.

I see it as an example of the fear of causing offence crippling us operating honestly as a society which is unquestionably something that makes the situation worse, not better.

It's the standard graphic the Met Police use on their news releases for when someone is charged. They use the same unique graphic design for every category of their news releases; arrested, brought to justice, investigation started, etc.
You can see them all here;

Metropolitan Police

Media enquiries only - newsdesk@met.police.uk For all other contact with the Metropolitan Police please visit www.met.police.uk, call 101 or in an emergency always call 999

news.met.police.uk

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

It's the standard graphic the Met Police use on their news releases for when someone is charged. They use the same unique graphic design for every category of their news releases; arrested, brought to justice, investigation started, etc.
You can see them all here;

Metropolitan Police

Media enquiries only - newsdesk@met.police.uk For all other contact with the Metropolitan Police please visit www.met.police.uk, call 101 or in an emergency always call 999

news.met.police.uk

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Ok, fair enough. I stand corrected.

Although it’s still a wank graphic irrespective because most people who are charged with an offence aren’t placed in handcuffs, or even arrested. Also there will have been a conscious decision about the profile of that person in there, but I have much less of an issue with that because I accept a generic photo to convey such a message that depicts a black man in handcuffs is definitely something to avoid. I completely get why that would be ill judged.

My issue was in respect of this particular arrest, and I was wrong about that, as it was more process driven than conscious. I still think it’s a sinfully shit graphic, though.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Innocent until proven guilty.

And there will always be schemes to frame wealthy individuals and then extort them for money - and if that fails - to go to the police with false claims to convince other targets to pay.

That said... having supposedly engaged in activity that would rise to the level of police filing charges - innocent or not of the criminal allegations... well, do you trust the judicial system to sort the wheat from the chaff? I do.

At the very least Partey seems to be promiscuous - whether or not he's a rapist, the upcoming trial will tell. And having a character such as Partey in your side in the first place... well that's 100% the fault of the club.

We (Man City) faced a similar situation with Mendy. And I think that we failed to vet Mendy on his personality, in the same way that Arsenal have failed to vet Partey. Consensual or not, sex with someone you don't know, repeatedly, is probably going to cause your club issues, sooner or later. And sexual promiscuity probably could have been discovered prior to a big signing.

Each signing - large or small - in modern football - for a top club - is a multi-million pound proposition. Spend a few pounds - tens of thousands - to vet your signings. And if this is already in place at Arsenal - well, find out why it failed with Partey and fix it. And for City - hopefully we've learned our lesson with Mendy.