What's this all about then?

[Andrew Camp]

EU Youth Chess Championships

The ECF has issued the following statement:

“We are aware of certain allegations in relation to some members of the English delegation in a youth tournament in Austria that ended yesterday. The ECF is taking the matter extremely seriously and has initiated an investigation. A further statement will be issued as soon as possible.”

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Could it be this?

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/08/498834.html

[Andrew Zigmond]

Steve Giddins has picked up on the story for his latest blog. He's right that this is a lot more serious than some of the other issues being debated on this forum. It's probably best that due process takes its course for this one and that unhelpful speculation is avoided.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Steve Giddins has picked up on the story for his latest blog. He's right that this is a lot more serious than some of the other issues being debated on this forum. It's probably best that due process takes its course for this one and that unhelpful speculation is avoided.

Good point. Though a recent blog post has given more details. It shouldn't be difficult to find.

[Roger de Coverly]

Good point. Though a recent blog post has given more details. It shouldn't be difficult to find.

It isn't. At one level it's a feud between families thrown together for the duration of a chess tournament who seem to have taken a serious mutual dislike. The coach and head of delegation being stuck in the middle. Mureck has usually had a reputation as a friendly tournament, as compared, for example, with the hazards of travelling to, and playing in Georgia.

[Peter D Williams]

Good point. Though a recent blog post has given more details. It shouldn't be difficult to find.

It isn't. At one level it's a feud between families thrown together for the duration of a chess tournament who seem to have taken a serious mutual dislike. The coach and head of delegation being stuck in the middle. Mureck has usually had a reputation as a friendly tournament, as compared, for example, with the hazards of travelling to, and playing in Georgia.

It sounds far more serious than just a feud between families thrown together with talk of Racism going on if the article is correct.We can not in any way allow our great game to be seen in anyway to have racism rearing its ugly head and this matter must be looked into at the highest level of the ECF. we must have answers and quick! Racism is against the law and the police could become involved if any of this is true.

[Geoff Chandler]

Steve Giddins is 100% correct on this.

http://stevegiddinschessblog.blogspot.c ... t-get.html

The Olympics are nearly over and the what the media call
the 'Silly Season' is just about to start.
It has been highlighted recently in Footbal and a journalist with half a nose
could use this as a follow on story.

There has obviously been some misunderstanding but it needs dealt with.

They will contact the ECF.
They need to all stand together on this one.
No hand wringing, no heads in the sand.
No trying to score points for what has been said or done in the past.

A carefully worded statement needs to be prepared saying in effect 'no story here'.
CJ is ideally placed to squash this before it blows up.
He needs all the details and that is ALL the details so he will not
get caught out with a trick question.

I assume a member of the ECF board has or intends to pay a visit to the family in question.

[Andrew Camp]

Steve Giddins is 100% correct on this.

http://stevegiddinschessblog.blogspot.c ... t-get.html

The Olympics are nearly over and the what the media call
the 'Silly Season' is just about to start.
It has been highlighted recently in Footbal and a journalist with half a nose
could use this as a follow on story.

There has obviously been some misunderstanding but it needs dealt with.

They will contact the ECF.
They need to all stand together on this one.
No hand wringing, no heads in the sand.
No trying to score points for what has been said or done in the past.

A carefully worded statement needs to be prepared saying in effect 'no story here'.
CJ is ideally placed to squash this before it blows up.
He needs all the details and that is ALL the details so he will not
get caught out with a trick question.

I assume a member of the ECF board has or intends to pay a visit to the family in question.

Excellent post. Now, what do you think will actually happen?

[Geoff Chandler]

Someone will start a thread on wether or not we call ourselves
chess players or chessplayers so the Daily Mail will get it right.

OOPS! it's already started.

[Jonathan Bryant]

A carefully worded statement needs to be prepared saying in effect 'no story here'.

Well that would be fine, but we dont know if there's a story here or not yet. There might not be for all I know, but starting with the assumption that "there is no problem" is not a great way to begin an investigation. It's certainly no way to squash a story in the press.

[Andrew Camp]

Someone will start a thread on wether or not we call ourselves
chess players or chessplayers so the Daily Mail will get it right.

OOPS! it's already started.

[Peter D Williams]

Steve Giddins is 100% correct on this.

http://stevegiddinschessblog.blogspot.c ... t-get.html

The Olympics are nearly over and the what the media call
the 'Silly Season' is just about to start.
It has been highlighted recently in Footbal and a journalist with half a nose
could use this as a follow on story.

There has obviously been some misunderstanding but it needs dealt with.

They will contact the ECF.
They need to all stand together on this one.
No hand wringing, no heads in the sand.
No trying to score points for what has been said or done in the past.

A carefully worded statement needs to be prepared saying in effect 'no story here'.
CJ is ideally placed to squash this before it blows up.
He needs all the details and that is ALL the details so he will not
get caught out with a trick question.

I assume a member of the ECF board has or intends to pay a visit to the family in question.

This is much bigger than the ECF. If the family make a complaint of racism to the police which from the tone of the article I believe is highly likely, then this will spiral out of the ECFs control before you can blink The police and the CPS quite rightly take any hint of racism very seriously and an investigation will begin that will involve everyone that was involved in the trip and anyone else who had communications with the participants during this time.

I don’t think a “no story here” is the right statement to make. I believe the ECF should make clear their abhorrence to any form of discrimination; they need to be completely transparent in this. I assume the ECF have an anti-discrimination policy

[Mick Norris]

Peter

Have you read the comment from Jack on the indy media blog? I'm not sure it could be any clearer

[Jonathan Bryant]

The police and the CPS quite rightly take any hint of racism very seriously and an investigation will begin that will involve everyone that was involved in the trip and anyone else who had communications with the participants during this time.

Is this a matter for the British police? Since it all happened abroad, it's not clear to me that it's within their jurisdiction. I'm no legal expert, but perhaps it's best we don't get carried away with ourselves here.

I agree with your fundamental point, however, that a full and transparent inquiry is essential (regardless of the outcome).

[Peter D Williams]

Peter

Have you read the comment from Jack on the indy media blog? I'm not sure it could be any clearer

Hi Mick

Yes I have, but is this an official statement as it differs from the one on the ECF website? Also not everyone will view the comments posted just the story and that is what will stick in their minds. It really is crucial that the ECF act immediately and establish the facts whatever they are and lets all be honest they don't have a good track record of this. If there is no substance in the allegations (and I sincerely hope there isn't) then this needs to be out in the public domain sooner rather than later - if the ECF are slow or if the family have already made a complaint to the police then it will be taken out of their hands.