Reds legend condemns Fat Ron

Last updated : 24 April 2004 By Kevin Smith
"I have known Ron for many years, and although his comments were totally unacceptable and unpleasant I have never believed he is a racist," said Barnes.

"I am not here to judge him and only he knows in what context these remarks were meant. Regardless of whether he said these things in private or off air there is no place for this kind of talk today.

"From my own experience 20 years ago these sort of remarks were normal talk in football, on the pitch and in the dressing room. But just because someone makes these type of comments doesn't automatically make them a racist.

"There are many true racists out there who don't make comments because they know it's socially unacceptable but manifest it in other ways."