[madsteve]

A foreign player is twice as likely to get a red card as a British player in FL matches. A black player is 50% more likely to get a red card as a white player.

This doesn't mean that foreign players or black players are dirtier or picked on by referees but it is significant.

Over 90% of yellow cards issued for simulation have been given to foreign players.

Interesting stats there. I can somewhat see how we came to this point regarding foreign players. Since the early 90's when more and more began to join the ranks of the English leagues we started to see both the positive aspect in the flair they brought and the negative, which is generally their legs turning to spaghetti as soon as you get near them.

20 years on in the UK and simulation still tends to be an act committed by foreign players. Rivaldo 2002 WC anyone? That one was exceptionally embarrassing for football.

It would be ridiculous to suggest racism doesn't exist in the game but those stats certainly suggest it, if correct.
How many non-white refs are there? I can only remember Uriah Rennie..

Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any current non-white referees. There was Rennie & a guy called Singh who wore a turban. There are a couple of non-white Assistants but it is tough to enough to be a referee; even tougher to be a black referee.