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- 10 years ago
Former England star John Barnes believes football can only eradicate racism once the problem is removed from society.
Rio Ferdinand and Jason Roberts refused to wear Kick It Out T-shirts in the weekend's annual awareness drive to highlight a perceived lack of action.
But ex-Liverpool winger Barnes believes racism is a much wider issue.
"You can't target racism in football as long as it exists in society," he told BBC Sport.
"We're trying to do it the wrong way round.
"A lot can be done but all we can do in football is target and tackle the symptom, and getting rid of racism - you have to target the cause."
Rio Ferdinand and Jason Roberts refused to wear Kick It Out T-shirts in the weekend's annual awareness drive to highlight a perceived lack of action.
But ex-Liverpool winger Barnes believes racism is a much wider issue.
"You can't target racism in football as long as it exists in society," he told BBC Sport.
"We're trying to do it the wrong way round.
"A lot can be done but all we can do in football is target and tackle the symptom, and getting rid of racism - you have to target the cause."