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Team Sky suspend Gianni Moscon for six weeks for racial abuse

Italian rider attended team disciplinary hearing today after racially abusing FDJ's Kevin Reza...

Team Sky has suspended 23-year-old Italian rider Gianni Moscon from racing for six weeks for racially abusing the FDJ rider Kevin Reza at the Tour of Romandie last week.

in a statement released this evening, the UCI WorldTour team said:

Following a disciplinary meeting with Team Sky concerning an incident at the Tour of Romandie, Gianni Moscon has been given a formal written warning and suspended from racing for six weeks. He will also attend a diversity awareness course.

Gianni recognises that his behaviour was wrong and how seriously Team Sky take this kind of incident.

He apologised to Kevin Reza after the stage and again to him and his team the following morning, and this apology was accepted. Gianni knows that there is no excuse for his behaviour and that any repeat will result in termination of his contract.

The sanction is separate to any that may be imposed on Moscon by world cycling's governing body, the UCI, which said at the weekend that it is investigating the incident.

Moscon, who comes from Trento in north east Italy, is a rising star within Team Sky.

Last year he won the overall at the Arctic Tour of Norway, and just three weeks ago finished fifth at Paris-Roubaix.

While he wasn't named in the team's squad for the Giro d'Italia, which starts on Friday, his suspension comes at a busy time of the season and will rule him out of participating in races such as the Tour of California.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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40 comments

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips | 6 years ago
1 like

He's an ignoramous.

Would not be acceptable in other sports in countries.

UCI shows how pathetic this sport is.

To say that to a fellow sportsperson is disgusting.

Hey UCI/Sky/British Cycling you won't be getting my money for merchandise.

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Gizzard | 6 years ago
1 like

//memes4.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/White+nationalists+are+the+same+as+sjws+_2eae70dec61c3d4656514513bc51ac84.jpg)

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Argos74 | 6 years ago
3 likes

It's like Mornington Crescent. When someone says the H word, the game ends. Sadly I missed this game, which is a great shame, as I could easily have nabbed a no handed double switchback Baron Greenback reference for triple points after 22 posts.

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
5 likes

Only 2 pages before Hitler was mentioned?  What took you so long?

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
0 likes

How is it working for you though?

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tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
5 likes

To be in a social position where the complaint is not having more money is one that real minorities and the oppressed would love to be in. I'm from a white working class background, probably one of the poorest, shittest little backwater towns in the whole of the UK, but after working in youth justice in Lewisham, you learn what disadvantage in this country really means. Money you can make more of. You can marry up. You can send your kids to private school. It's all there. This country has it all if you're enterprising enough. You can fake it too. I faked it when living in London. Was able to ponce around the House of Lords and people would take you seriously. Would get treated with respect at the now defunct Commonwealth  Club. I just learned not talk much to not give myself away. 

Try being born black. You just don't know. I wouldn't have if I didn't take that job. They can't walk down the street without being harassed by cops, without being mistrusted by shopkeepers. It's in every single part of their life. And you'll never know it, even if you move abroad, because white privilege is real - you get treated better being white than you will by being a coloured national in many eastern countries. 

Wealth and class issues will be eternally relative. On a more light hearted note:

https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/may/03/how-do-britains-highe...

1%'ers feeling poor 

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Gizzard replied to tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
0 likes

unconstituted wrote:

To be in a social position where the complaint is not having more money is one that real minorities and the oppressed would love to be in.

 

What a surprise , as usual those who expound the pseudo-left nonsense that is priviledge theory want to claim that being called rude names is worse than starvation or homelessness.

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tritecommentbot replied to Gizzard | 6 years ago
3 likes

Gizzard wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

To be in a social position where the complaint is not having more money is one that real minorities and the oppressed would love to be in.

 

What a surprise , as usual those who expound the pseudo-left nonsense that is priviledge theory want to claim that being called rude names is worse than starvation or homelessness.

 

Convoluted, reductionist bilge. At least if you're going to be a tit, put some effort into it. Here, try this next time - These sharia loving Guardianistas think name calling is worse than Koran wielding-gang rape syndicates that have taken over Our Country.

The fuck is 'pseudo-left' anyway. In lieu of an educated comment write 'psuedo', or 'faux' in front of a random word and hope you get a free pass? 

 

 

Avatar
Gizzard replied to tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
1 like

unconstituted wrote:

Convoluted, reductionist bilge. At least if you're going to be a tit, put some effort into it. Here, try this next time - These sharia loving Guardianistas think name calling is worse than Koran wielding-gang rape syndicates that have taken over Our Country.

The fuck is 'pseudo-left' anyway. In lieu of an educated comment write 'psuedo', or 'faux' in front of a random word and hope you get a free pass? 

 

Typical identity politics silliness, when confronted with something that refutes the daftness of your claims, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, cry out "reductionist" and accuse your opponent of bigotry. After all it's impossible to refute such acussations and excuses you of the need to defend your own position. The ad-hominem attacks are just the icing on the cake.

 

As far as "pseudo-left" goes, person who has spent the thread making gratitious generalizations based on skin melanization, here's something from the jewish virtual library:

Hitler's first written utterance on political questions dating from this period emphasized that what he called "the anti-Semitism of reason" must lead "to the systematic combating and elimination of Jewish privileges. Its ultimate goal must implacably be the total removal of the Jews."

 

It is, of course, worth overtly pointing out that the disgrace that is Naziism is a form of identity politics...

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brooksby replied to Gizzard | 6 years ago
1 like

Gizzard wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Convoluted, reductionist bilge. At least if you're going to be a tit, put some effort into it. Here, try this next time - These sharia loving Guardianistas think name calling is worse than Koran wielding-gang rape syndicates that have taken over Our Country.

The fuck is 'pseudo-left' anyway. In lieu of an educated comment write 'psuedo', or 'faux' in front of a random word and hope you get a free pass? 

 

Typical identity politics silliness, when confronted with something that refutes the daftness of your claims, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, cry out "reductionist" and accuse your opponent of bigotry. After all it's impossible to refute such acussations and excuses you of the need to defend your own position. The ad-hominem attacks are just the icing on the cake.

 

As far as "pseudo-left" goes, person who has spent the thread making gratitious generalizations based on skin melanization, here's something from the jewish virtual library:

Hitler's first written utterance on political questions dating from this period emphasized that what he called "the anti-Semitism of reason" must lead "to the systematic combating and elimination of Jewish privileges. Its ultimate goal must implacably be the total removal of the Jews."

 

It is, of course, worth overtly pointing out that the disgrace that is Naziism is a form of identity politics...

I now formally call "Godwin". Discussion over: we can all go home .

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beezus fufoon replied to tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
2 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Try being born black.

been there, done it - got accused of cultural appropriation

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RTB replied to tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
0 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Blah blah, blah, blah...

- you get treated better being white than you will by being a coloured national in many eastern countries. 

 

You do realise (I guess you don't) that using this word in the context you did is racist and then you compound and emphasise your error by segragating it from 'white'.  That is pretty shocking, offensive to some, and is indicative of lazy, subconscious embedded thinking not some innocent mistake.

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
3 likes

The UK is still a mostly white country. With plenty of white poor people. We are only really living in an era of consumerism once we got past WW2. Before that it was pretty much subsistence living for most people, grind yourself to death in a factory. The is no  priviledge in the UK that isn't more likely to be a class based one rather than a race based one. Who has the 'white priviledge' when the majority is white? Toffs that's who.

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Leviathan | 6 years ago
2 likes

Yeah, but what did he say? A lot of you are pissing in the wind here.

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S-J | 6 years ago
0 likes

Unlike Global warming, racism does not exist. It's a total myth. Stop complaining and get on with life.

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Simmo72 | 6 years ago
10 likes

Football is a 5 to 10 match Ban so about en par with what Sky have done.  Of course, he could be sacked, his family flogged and his house burned down, or we can accept that Sky have applied a first punishment to someone who engaged their mouth before using  their brain and with the threat of contract termination if he does the same thing again.  

 

Do you believe it was the first time is happened in cycling, No, of course not but at least 1 team is making a point of handling it.

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Gizzard | 6 years ago
2 likes

People being sexually inappropriate and calling each other extremely offensive names has "put the planet in the shite spot it's in today". Not an economic system predicated on infinite growth, wasteful overuse of resources and ignoring the deleterious effects of said system by labelling them as externalities. No, ethnic slurs are responsible for the increasing destabilization of our climate!

Also, anyone who disagrees in any way with the assertion that sexual inappropriateness or obscene invective is responsible for all the evil in the world belongs to a group I claim is synonymous with fascists but really just means everyone I don't like.

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Jimmy Ray Will | 6 years ago
6 likes

Ah... you see, I believe that we are all racist... to a degree.

its human nature to be suspicious of the different and unknown... ignorance at its finest. 

How we act on that basic human nature, is also what makes us human. 

Not using racist language, moving past your subconcious prejudices etc etc... it is something that has to be worked at by everyone at times.

Depending on your upbringing / nationality, you have to work harder to not be outwardly racist, but at a level, its in all of us. 

if you don't acknowledge that, then you are a liar (general comment, not looking at anyone in particular).

So thats my starting point. 

So... in this case, if racially orientated language was used within a heated argument (as admintted)... then yeah Moscon's a prick, and deserves a sanction. Everyone move on. 

However, there is a difference between the above and actively going at Reza simply because he is black... to abuse someone simply because of colour is far more serious in my opinion, and Moscon should be shown the door and never allowed back. That is not my understanding of the situation.

My point is, there is a difference, there is a scale.

The way you guys are calling for Moscon's head on a plate is akin to sending a drunk bloke down for life for groping a girls bum in a nightclub. Its absolutely not acceptable, but its not violent, premeditated rape either.

 

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to Jimmy Ray Will | 6 years ago
8 likes

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

Ah... you see, I believe that we are all racist... to a degree.

its human nature to be suspicious of the different and unknown... ignorance at its finest. 

How we act on that basic human nature, is also what makes us human. 

Not using racist language, moving past your subconcious prejudices etc etc... it is something that has to be worked at by everyone at times.

Depending on your upbringing / nationality, you have to work harder to not be outwardly racist, but at a level, its in all of us. 

if you don't acknowledge that, then you are a liar (general comment, not looking at anyone in particular).

So thats my starting point. 

So... in this case, if racially orientated language was used within a heated argument (as admintted)... then yeah Moscon's a prick, and deserves a sanction. Everyone move on. 

However, there is a difference between the above and actively going at Reza simply because he is black... to abuse someone simply because of colour is far more serious in my opinion, and Moscon should be shown the door and never allowed back. That is not my understanding of the situation.

My point is, there is a difference, there is a scale.

The way you guys are calling for Moscon's head on a plate is akin to sending a drunk bloke down for life for groping a girls bum in a nightclub. Its absolutely not acceptable, but its not violent, premeditated rape either.

 

 

Full on clown show in here today. Groping a woman or shouting racist abuse at a minority may be something the abuser can 'move on' from, but it's not something the abused can. Abuse of both these natures carves an emotional history that is ultimately destructive personally and as should be massively-fucking-evident-to-even-guys-like-you-who-feel-a-bit-gropy-and-racist is socially destructive. It affects us all. Racism, bigotry and sexism have put the planet is the shite spot it's in today. It's the heart of everything that went wrong. 

 

So no, when you call someone the N word, or grab some random woman's arse, we won't be moving on Jimmy, we'll be sticking the boot into you as hard as we can. Go and cry about it to your buddies on the alt-right.

Avatar
Jimmy Ray Will replied to tritecommentbot | 6 years ago
4 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

Ah... you see, I believe that we are all racist... to a degree.

its human nature to be suspicious of the different and unknown... ignorance at its finest. 

How we act on that basic human nature, is also what makes us human. 

Not using racist language, moving past your subconcious prejudices etc etc... it is something that has to be worked at by everyone at times.

Depending on your upbringing / nationality, you have to work harder to not be outwardly racist, but at a level, its in all of us. 

if you don't acknowledge that, then you are a liar (general comment, not looking at anyone in particular).

So thats my starting point. 

So... in this case, if racially orientated language was used within a heated argument (as admintted)... then yeah Moscon's a prick, and deserves a sanction. Everyone move on. 

However, there is a difference between the above and actively going at Reza simply because he is black... to abuse someone simply because of colour is far more serious in my opinion, and Moscon should be shown the door and never allowed back. That is not my understanding of the situation.

My point is, there is a difference, there is a scale.

The way you guys are calling for Moscon's head on a plate is akin to sending a drunk bloke down for life for groping a girls bum in a nightclub. Its absolutely not acceptable, but its not violent, premeditated rape either.

 

 

Full on clown show in here today. Groping a woman or shouting racist abuse at a minority may be something the abuser can 'move on' from, but it's not something the abused can. Abuse of both these natures carves an emotional history that is ultimately destructive personally and as should be massively-fucking-evident-to-even-guys-like-you-who-feel-a-bit-gropy-and-racist is socially destructive. It affects us all. Racism, bigotry and sexism have put the planet is the shite spot it's in today. It's the heart of everything that went wrong. 

 

So no, when you call someone the N word, or grab some random woman's arse, we won't be moving on Jimmy, we'll be sticking the boot into you as hard as we can. Go and cry about it to your buddies on the alt-right.

 

Is this an example of the commentary cited about the 'left' of jumping down the throat of anyone with differing viewpoints to their own? I am not sure if I anywhere justified either racial or sexual abuse, but lets not worry about that, lets focus on pushing your mandate. 

I like the way you acuse me of racial and sexually abusive behaviour, without any evidence... classy move. 

But, hey lets play this out, can you confirm that you believe a life sentence is appropriate for arse groping, and also, without knowing what was said in the confrontation highlighted, what should we be doing with Moscon? 

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
1 like

Regardless of what Sky have done, why have the UCI not done anything yet in terms of a penalty?

How much investigation do you need. Did he say it and admit it? Seems that way. Now do something.

Then again this is the UCI so it's better to act on anecdotal evidence of disc brake injuries than actual admittance of racism. File this under swept under the carpet.

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Grahamd | 6 years ago
6 likes

As with many employees I am subject to various professional standards set by my employer, together with regulation through my professional body. Should I fall below the standards expected I am accountable to them, not a public flogging.

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mattsccm | 6 years ago
4 likes

Pray tell us, as you are obviously part of Sky's management team, excatly what was said.

Of course if thats something you can't do maybe just not bother to comment.  You don't know how serious this was but he was doomed the moment it popped up.

I assume that you never ever make any comment about some ones origins. Never joked about the Irish or Scousers? Commented on Essex girls?  Doubt it.

Finally I see a conumdrum. Are you entitled to your veiw point? If yes so is he. If he isn't nor are you.

Biggest problem in cycling today. Ill informed self proclaimed authorities poking their nose in where its not needed and stiring for thier own gratification and self gloryfication

 

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MonkeyPuzzle replied to mattsccm | 6 years ago
6 likes

mattsccm wrote:

Finally I see a conumdrum. Are you entitled to your veiw point? If yes so is he. If he isn't nor are you.

Racist abuse isn't a point of view. It's abuse. If I was found to have racially abused a colleague, "minor" abuse or not, I'm pretty sure my feet wouldn't touch the ground.

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Jackson replied to mattsccm | 6 years ago
4 likes

mattsccm wrote:

I assume that you never ever make any comment about some ones origins. Never joked about the Irish or Scousers? Commented on Essex girls?  Doubt it.

Finally I see a conumdrum. Are you entitled to your veiw point? If yes so is he. If he isn't nor are you.

This is so stupid it almost hurt to read. "If somone on the internet is also racist, Gianni Moscon is perfectly entitled to racially abuse people at his place of work." He's not "entitled to a viewpoint" racing for Team Sky. Should he also ask Castelli to do him a loose white jersey and a pointy white UCI-legal helmet with some eye holes cut in it?

dinosaurJR wrote:

Fucking epic guys! I literally just bought a new pitchfork last week. Besides which its been an absolute age since we lynched anybody round these parts. I'll bring the matches too, if one of you guys brings the rope and the petrol? 

Seriously gents, what the fuck is going on here?

I know right gents? What's the world coming to when one of our white bretheren can't even racially abuse a black guy without being accountable to his employer?

State of some of these comments makes you wonder a bit about the fanbase.

Avatar
nadsta replied to mattsccm | 6 years ago
4 likes

mattsccm wrote:

Pray tell us, as you are obviously part of Sky's management team, excatly what was said.

Of course if thats something you can't do maybe just not bother to comment.  You don't know how serious this was but he was doomed the moment it popped up.

I assume that you never ever make any comment about some ones origins. Never joked about the Irish or Scousers? Commented on Essex girls?  Doubt it.

Finally I see a conumdrum. Are you entitled to your veiw point? If yes so is he. If he isn't nor are you.

Biggest problem in cycling today. Ill informed self proclaimed authorities poking their nose in where its not needed and stiring for thier own gratification and self gloryfication

 

I have more sympathy for Moscon's heat of the moment racial abuse than I do for your calm and calculated defence of casual racism. You are a cyclist, you're in a minority. You should know better. 

 

(And I have zero sympathy for Moscon)

Avatar
brooksby replied to mattsccm | 6 years ago
4 likes

mattsccm wrote:

Pray tell us, as you are obviously part of Sky's management team, excatly what was said.

Of course if thats something you can't do maybe just not bother to comment.  You don't know how serious this was but he was doomed the moment it popped up.

I assume that you never ever make any comment about some ones origins. Never joked about the Irish or Scousers? Commented on Essex girls?  Doubt it.

Finally I see a conumdrum. Are you entitled to your veiw point? If yes so is he. If he isn't nor are you.

Biggest problem in cycling today. Ill informed self proclaimed authorities poking their nose in where its not needed and stiring for thier own gratification and self gloryfication

 

Biggest problem in cycling today: defenders-of-racism who can't spell!

Avatar
Rapha Nadal replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
4 likes

brooksby wrote:

mattsccm wrote:

Pray tell us, as you are obviously part of Sky's management team, excatly what was said.

Of course if thats something you can't do maybe just not bother to comment.  You don't know how serious this was but he was doomed the moment it popped up.

I assume that you never ever make any comment about some ones origins. Never joked about the Irish or Scousers? Commented on Essex girls?  Doubt it.

Finally I see a conumdrum. Are you entitled to your veiw point? If yes so is he. If he isn't nor are you.

Biggest problem in cycling today. Ill informed self proclaimed authorities poking their nose in where its not needed and stiring for thier own gratification and self gloryfication

 

Biggest problem in cycling today: defenders-of-racism who can't spell!

Quite normal for UKIP voters & Daily Fail readers wanting to "take their country back".

Avatar
RTB replied to Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
2 likes

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Quite normal for UKIP voters & Daily Fail readers wanting to "take their country back".

Irony and hypocrisy much.  You criticise one demographic but fail to grasp your own stereotyping and offensive commentary.  Just using the words "take their country back" is a racist slur so what does that make you?  Yup a 'racist'.

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to RTB | 6 years ago
3 likes

RTB wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Quite normal for UKIP voters & Daily Fail readers wanting to "take their country back".

Irony and hypocrisy much.  You criticise one demographic but fail to grasp your own stereotyping and offensive commentary.  Just using the words "take their country back" is a racist slur so what does that make you?  Yup a 'racist'.

 

No it doesn't. Take your poxy alt-right card tricks and stick them.

Kippers aren't a minority, oppressed group. They're mostly older white men with every right and privilege the UK can throw at them. They're just such snowflakes they can't handle the slightest of those privileges removed from them, ie. the right to spout line-crossing hatred. 

A good article that puts the classic intolerance paradox into modern practical context.

https://academic.oup.com/icon/article/11/4/835/698757/On-constitutionali...

 

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