Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has revealed that clubs prevented his attempts to bring players involved in high-profile racism cases last season together for face-to-face discussions.
Taylor is referring to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's alleged racial verbal attack on Manchester United captain Patrice Evra as well as Chelsea captain John Terry's alleged racial abuse towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
"I tried to put [the players] together but I found that very difficult to do without the backing of the clubs," Taylor told The Telegraph.
"The minute that both occasions happened I was in touch with the clubs and the players and immediately it was extremely difficult. It is tribal and they were putting the wagons round.
"The problem lies in the fact that players are not just human beings but players of value belonging to a club and [the clubs] feel they owe the players loyalty and need to be united and solid. If the club is not seen to defend them when they're in trouble they've got themselves into a difficult position."
Terry was acquitted of a racially-aggravated public order offence. However, the Football Association, who issued an eight-match ban to Suarez, can still take action against the England international.
Danielle Joynson
