1) monkey is complete and utter racial abuse. It stems from use to describe black people as a sub-human species. In Europe, it led to the "Kick it Out" movement to stamp racism out of football - search for it on the web if you have the time.
2) It is routine in Europe for clubs whose fans do monkey chants or have banners about monkeys to be fined millions of EUROS, to have fans banned FOR LIFE and to be forced to play the next match in an empty stadium as punishment.
3) A number of black footballers have left international and European club games in tears at the abuse they have been receiving from crowds, knowing it is directed at their skin colour.
4) Yes I agree that it is odd for Australia to sledge then claim racial abuse. BUT, the world has determined that some forms of sledging are OK but that racial abuse is unacceptable IN ANY FORM.
5) We know beyond a doubt that Harbhajan said it before, Symonds felt he didn't know how offensive it was, so he warned him that there would be trouble if it was said again.
6) I agree that the evidence made public is insufficient to convict Harbhajan, so the appeal should sort that out easily enough, that's what the appeal is for. Or else Proctor has other evidence which we'll see eventually.
Either way, racism has no place in sport. If the cricket nations prefer, ban all sledging and turn the microphones up. But what will Sreesanth and Andre Nel do??? :)
