Marvin Sordell has questioned Dave Kitson’s apology over controversial comments he made about Raheem Sterling and dismissed his credentials to lead the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Kitson has faced a huge backlash in his bid to replace Gordon Taylor as the PFA chief executive.
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In an interview with talkSPORT in December 2018, the former Reading and Stoke striker appeared to suggest Manchester City star Sterling ‘made himself a target’ after suffering racial abuse during a Premier League match against Chelsea.
On Sunday, Kitson apologised for those comments and admitted he used ‘clumsy language’.
However, Sordell, who was named as a member on the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board last week, says he takes Kitson’s apology ‘with a pinch of salt’.
The former Burnley, Bolton and Watford forward told talkSPORT: “He made those remarks and at the time I was quite disappointed.
“I took that as somebody who didn’t really take, or maybe didn’t really understand quite how damaging racism can be.
“That’s fine, not everybody understands it, not everybody gets it, but to have somebody in the position of protecting these players, they need to be able to understand and to have empathy in these circumstances. I don’t think he showed that at the time.
“We have a duty of care to ourselves as footballers, to be careful with social media”
“I do believe players make themselves a target”
Dave Kitson has his say on the Raheem Sterling incident pic.twitter.com/vFjKywFWDb
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 9, 2018
“He’s since come out and said he was misunderstood, he used the word ‘clumsy’. For me, he’s a very intelligent person, so I don’t think he’s somebody that would mince his words or portray things wrongly.
“I just think at the time, that’s what he said and what he felt and I’m probably sure he still feels that way.
“But it’s not been received very well, and now it’s an important time for him because he wants to run to be the leader of our union. I take his so-called apology with a pinch of salt.”
Sordell, 29, continued: “It doesn’t come across as very authentic. As I said, I take it with a pinch of salt because it’s very different if straight away he said, ‘I was misinterpreted and these aren’t my actually views’.
“It’s not just the fact of the apology or timing of the apology, it just doesn’t seem to me that he understands the effects that would have had on not just Raheem, but on several players and people.
“I don’t think it still resonates with him why what he said is damaging in the fight against racism. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t support him.”
Former England manager Sam Allardyce called Kitson’s attempt to become the new PFA chief executive ‘embarrassing’, while Arsenal legend Ian Wright said the 49-year-old’s involvement would weaken the organisation’s efforts to tackle racism in football.
Taylor, who has held the top job in the PFA since 1981, has come in for criticism over his response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has suspended English football since March 13.
Sordell, who retired from football to protect his mental health last summer, believes the PFA are ‘out of touch’ with its members.
He said: “I’ve been critical of the PFA because I know how much it can do and I know of its potential.
“My biggest gripe with the PFA is I don’t think they’re very proactive and I think that comes down to the fact they’re very much out of touch with the modern day player.
“A lot of people who have worked there have been there for a long time.
“They have a lot of great things in place, but communication is a big thing and when you’re the union that looks after all these players, some protection, communication, these are vital things for football players.
“You look at players who go out of the game at 18, 20, if they’re PFA members, they’re members for life. Some of the former players I’ve spoken to don’t feel that they necessarily are supported in a way that they would like.”
The Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ proposal is aiming to resume the 2019/20 season on June 8, despite the UK recording 29,427 deaths from coronavirus, the highest total in Europe.
Man City striker Sergio Aguero has admitted players are ‘scared’ to return and West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini insists it would be ‘crazy’ to play when there is no coronavirus vaccine.
Sordell empathises with Premier League players’ fears over a premature return to football.
He said: “People won’t take their feelings or opinions into account whatsoever. People want football back on, that’s all they care about.
“People say, ‘they’re on lots of money, they should just get on with it’. I can’t see where money is more important than health in any walk of life, which is quite sad that people can put a price tag on life in that sense. But I guess it’s the world we live in today.
“Football is a contact sport for a start, so it isn’t possible to social distance. Even beyond that, if the football does go on, you have to think about all the other people who are going to work in an environment where they can’t social distance.
“A physio isn’t on £100,000-a-week, and if they have to be in close contact with the players then what about that person? These are people that are paid moderate wages in comparison.
“So it isn’t as straight forward as ‘get it back on’. I have empathy with people because everybody’s situation is different, everybody’s got different circumstances at home.”
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