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'Racist' footballer's Twitter rant

9:47am Tuesday 15th November 2011 in News Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Richard Vernalls, @rvernallsWN #worcsnews

'FRIENDLY BANTER': Lee Smith 'FRIENDLY BANTER': Lee Smith

A Worcester City Football Club player who likened killing illegal immigrants to a video game said it was just friendly banter.

Lee Smith, who plays on the right wing for Worcester City, is now facing an internal club probe over comments he posted on the Twitter social media network on Armistice Day.

The comments sparked an online row, with some branding Mr Smith a racist – a claim he denies.

Mr Smith, aged 28, said he stood by comments on his personal Twitter account that illegal immigrants should leave the country saying, “It is my right to write what I think – but I didn’t mean any offence.”

On November 11, he posted: “Respect to all the heroes 11/11/11 now to all the illegal *****, **** off out of are country all call of duty could become a reality – kill um.”

He later posted that the comment referring to the popular online game was “banter” and said “I’m no racist”, telling the Worcester News “a lot of my friends are black”.

He deleted the post after he was contacted by the News, and has since apologised saying “I did not mean to offend anyone”.

Asked if he was serious about killing illegal immigrants he said “no”.

Mr Smith, who signed for Worcester from Nuneaton Town this season, said that he did not initially know that his Twitter could be read by anyone who stumbled across his webpage.

“To be honest Twitter is quite new to me, and I thought only people like my friends could see it,” he said.

“I am not going to apologise because what I said is what I think, because a lot of the illegal immigrants have taken jobs from people here.”

One poster, Nathan Walker, posting as Hullablue, replying to Mr Smith said: “You are a nasty piece of work who wants to kill people of other nationalities, our forefathers fought against idiots like you.”

Another called the timing of his announcement, on the day when all the dead who fought in Britain’s war are remembered as “tasteless”.

Shortly after speaking to your Worcester News, Mr Smith posted: “I’m no racist or fascist and if anyone was offended then I’m sorry.”

Colin Layland, city’s vice-chairman, said he had not seen the comments and no official complaint had been made.

“I cannot comment yet as this is the first I have heard of this,” he said.

“I will need to investigate what has been said, and speak to the player involved.”

• Follow the Worcester News on Twitter - @worcesternews

Comments(25)

CJH says...
10:29am Tue 15 Nov 11

What a complete and utter moron.

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MJI says...
12:32pm Tue 15 Nov 11

Disliking illegal immigrants is NOT racism.
.
Racism is hating someone due to their ethnic origin.

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uscebao says...
12:37pm Tue 15 Nov 11

It's xenophobia, not racism

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pinkfluff says...
12:43pm Tue 15 Nov 11

I think he went a bit further than "disliking them"

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Vergil says...
1:13pm Tue 15 Nov 11

Sounds as though Smith has killed off one too many brain cells heading that football of his!
It's acceptable to have views and opinions on immigration but to then reference immigrants to being killed like those in a war game - doh!
To come out with the classic line "a lot of my friends are black" is just priceless! Well, that obviously makes it alright then!
Somebody please give this bloke a lesson on how to use social networking sites and how to engage his brain before his mouth!

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pinkfluff says...
1:22pm Tue 15 Nov 11

I agree Vergil, that classic "a lot of my friends are black" line made me cringe!!

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scott.hannaford says...
3:21pm Tue 15 Nov 11

Nothing wrong with the comment - it's just the modern equivalent of Kenny Everett's immortal "round them up in a field and bomb the..........rds"

it's not xenophobia, or racism. His comment was about ILLEGAL immigrants - not legal ones, or any particular creed, race or culture.

Had his comment been about ILLEGAL file sharers, or ILLEGAL anything else, this would be even more of a non story.

His comments were NOT racist or xenophobic.

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drowningnotwaving says...
3:48pm Tue 15 Nov 11

this was not aimed at specific race, religious or gender group so not a ' ISM

'

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pinkfluff says...
3:57pm Tue 15 Nov 11

Kenny Everett was a comedian and he was funny. Lee Smith is a footballer and is not funny. However, if he wants to try his hand at a bit of comedy then I would suggest he tires a different forum so that his comments are not misconstrued.

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Doogie 46 says...
4:56pm Tue 15 Nov 11

I agree with scott.hannaford - not much of a story really - certainly not worth the front page headlines on the WN news stands this morning.
Hope we`re not going back to the "good old days" when any comment containing the word "immigrant is automatically labelled racist.
Nontheless Smith doesn`t come across as the brain of Britain.

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pinkfluff says...
6:01pm Tue 15 Nov 11

What are you talking about Frank?? Lots of people of all races and origins emigrate to all over the world. I think that's quite a blinkered view of the world you have there.
Am I reading something totally different to some of you guys.......the twitter comment REALLY does say.... On November 11, he posted: “Respect to all the heroes 11/11/11 now to all the illegal *****, **** off out of are country all call of duty could become a reality – kill um.” .......that's pretty offensive and tbh even though it's not my comment I'm ashamed to have it in my comment box!!

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fred titmus says...
6:13pm Tue 15 Nov 11

doesn't look like the WN asked Mr Walker for permission to use his name in this piece according to...

http://www.barrowafc
.net/conf/viewtopic.
php?id=23838

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Georgie Dragon says...
10:46pm Tue 15 Nov 11

I think that this is clear example of rule 21.

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Twonie11 says...
7:53am Wed 16 Nov 11

I can't see anything wrong with what he said, if everyone was honest and was given the freedom to say then 99.9 per cent of people would love to speak up and give there view..... How can it be wrong hence ILLEGAL. What is this world coming to.

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pinkfluff says...
9:57am Wed 16 Nov 11

I am offended! I think it is wrong to kill people because you don't like their actions. I believe it is wrong and the comment is unfair and I find it offensive.

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Say_no_to_Nunnery_Way says...
10:08am Wed 16 Nov 11

I can't see any racism in this comment at all. Is the Worcester News so desperate for a story that they'd trawl Twitter looking for the odd bit of sensationalist garbage written by a semi-professional footballer? OK, there could be some offence, I mean, the idea of killing people who overstay their visas (and this is a majority of illegal immigrants - Aussies, New Zealanders, South Africans working for cash in bars) is a stupid comment, but not even mildly racist. Wouldnt it be nice if the Worcester News could get their teeth into a proper community story, like the decimation of the football club that Mr Smith plays for, unfortunately, a local community story like that just doesnt seem to interest the Worcester News.

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Twonie11 says...
11:52am Wed 16 Nov 11

Say_no_to_nunnery_wa
y, well said its right why don't they write about something worth reading it's so stupid and definalty NOT RACIST.

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whyme says...
4:16pm Wed 16 Nov 11

I would image Mr Smith would be well within his rights to sue the WN for the headline of this story which clearly calls him a 'Racist' footballer.

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Endconreignforever says...
12:42pm Thu 17 Nov 11

Sorry..I am the son of an Immigrant and that came here 40 years ago and has contributed more to this society than this young man. I was born here and I also have a brother in Law serving in Afghanistan at the moment. Whether racially intended or not, this comment was stupid. After what happened in Norway recently we should not condone this kind of behavior. He should be banned from playing football again in any league. This comment doesn't come across Racially motivated but I can see how it could be perceived in that way but it encourages violence towards other people which playing with fire. Young people are impressionable and as we have seen in US could take this literally. The Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world mostly due to all the foreigners that play in it. No place for these attitudes,Lee you are no Hero.

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MJI says...
1:06pm Thu 17 Nov 11

I read somewhere it was a response for a rude comment about 11/11.
.
WN should remove the racist comment as it is wrong.
.
The footballer should put brain in gear first more often.
.
His only crime is being foolish.

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toofaraway says...
1:14pm Thu 17 Nov 11

@ Endconreignforever. You and your family are not an illegal immigrants, his comments were aimed at illegal immigrants. Rightly they should be returned from where hence they came and apply for legal immigration. I am not justifying his comments, they were very foolish and unfortunate, add to that his naivety at thinking they would not be seen and you have one football with egg on his face, but he has not made racist comments, just stupid comments.
WN have yet again sensationalised what should have been at most a by-line in the sport section if not a total non-event.

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Endconreignforever says...
1:55pm Thu 17 Nov 11

Yes your right my Family were not illegal immigrants..and like I said i didn't think his comment was racially motivated although i could see how some might see it that way. Does this make what he said right?..WN have done the right thing, this guy should loose his right to play football after these comments...I think they are disgusting and he should be punished after Norway where so many children were killed these comments are very concerning. Society should have no place for such stupidity and I can't stand the small minded attitude of "He isn't racist, just foolish" sounds like Tori banter to me. He should have thought harder before he wrote such comments. No wonder Worcester City has so few supporters.

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Endconreignforever says...
2:03pm Thu 17 Nov 11

Ok so maybe I am being a little impulsive in saying he should loose his right to play football. What he should do is give up his spare time and help Immigrants settle into their new homes. Take them on tours around the city, spend time with them. Better to educate than add to a problem. Maybe talk with some of the victims of the Norway disaster. Maybe then he will think twice and help educate others.

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longpete says...
12:20pm Fri 18 Nov 11

"Lee Smith, who plays on the right wing ..." - says it all.

"**** off out of are country" - and he'd fail the English test now given to candidates for UK nationality.

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Biggles says...
10:55pm Sun 20 Nov 11

It doesn't strike me as racist.
.
Middle England just waits to be offended.
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He expressed an opinion, others may or may not agree.
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I couldn't care less who I offend, I suggest he takes the same approach, if you don't like him, don't associate with him ...... or follow him on twitter etc.

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