Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he disagrees with Reading striker Jason Roberts’s decision not to wear a Kick It Out T-shirt.
Roberts said he will not wear the T-shirt in protest at what he perceives to be the campaign group’s lack of action in combating racism in football.
“I think everyone should be united. I don’t know what point he’s trying to make,” said Ferguson.
“He really should be supporting all the other players who are doing it.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger added that if black players did not back Kick It Out, then their actions would make the campaign “not credible”.
Kick It Out’s annual awareness drive started on Thursday and runs until 29 October.
Players have traditionally worn shirts promoting the work of the anti-discrimination group, but Roberts has told BBC Sport he will not wear one.
Referring to the high-profile incidents involving John Terry and Luis Suarez in 2011, he added: “I find it hard to wear a T-shirt after what has happened in the last year.”
Chelsea captain Terry was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 by the Football Association for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match at Loftus Road on 23 October, 2011.
Liverpool striker Suarez received an eight-match ban and £40,000 fine for the same offence against Manchester United’s Patrice Evra following a Premier League game on 15 October, 2011.
Roberts, whose Reading team travel to Liverpool this Saturday, said he knew of other black players who were considering not wearing the T-shirts this weekend.
The 34-year-old added: “I’m totally committed to kicking racism out of football but when there’s a movement I feel represents the issue in the way that speaks for me and my colleagues, then I will happily support it.
“I think people feel let down by what used to be called ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football’. People don’t feel like they have been strong enough.”
But Ferguson added: “If everyone believes in it you should do it together, we shouldn’t have sheep wandering off, I think it gives the wrong message.
“All the players are wearing it. I have only heard that Jason Roberts is different. But he is very different: he plays a game and is in the studio 20 minutes after it. That is a great privilege.”
Wenger added that there is less racism in the English game now than when he first joined Arsenal in 1996, while conceding that the fight against racism is “never won”.
“Against stupidity the best way is information, knowledge of things and examples of behaviour, of attitudes,” said Wenger.
“It is not only racism, black and white, it is against all kinds of insults we still have in the stadiums. We must fight more against it.
“You look at some faces when you walk around the pitch, what they shout at you is scary. That is, for me, racism.
“There is still a lot to do, but I think it’s good that society fights against it.”
Source: BBC Sport
