Racism in English football?

[rich1uk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20178515

ferguson sticking up for one of his players

[mikesiva]

"David Baddiel has dismissed claims that ethnic origin entitles Tottenham fans to call themselves the ‘Yid Army’ by insisting only ‘three or four per cent’ are Jewish.
Tottenham rallied around their supporters, after Society of Black Lawyers chairman Peter Herbert urged police to prosecute those who hold aloft banners bearing the name ‘Yid Army’ and chant it during games. Club bosses welcomed the police response that there was ‘no deliberate intent to cause offence’ and that it was more a form of self-parody by a predominantly Jewish support. But Baddiel, the comedian and writer who is himself Jewish and a fervent Chelsea fan, is adamant such a line of defence was factually incorrect and that anti-Semitic abuse should be stamped out wherever it occurs."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z2BtkieOyo
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I totally agree with Baddiel here....

[sussexpob]

Is this the same David Baddiel who once did a "Jewish footballers" sketch on fantasy football, where he showed 2 former Tottenham players making Jewish hand gestures because the Jewishness must rub off at White Hart Lane? The third person, Ricky Villa, was then shown by lots of Rabbi's dancing around.... . Quite weird that Spurs aren't Jewish enough to identify themselves as Jewish, yet Jewish enough for him to make jokes about them being Jewish? Double standards? Absolutely!!

As for the Tottenham fans using the term, for a start it would seem that "Yid" is an acceptable term in Israel if used in a positive tone. There is no denying that Tottenham fans use it as such, so put simply, there is an argument that people who find it offensive do so only by supplanting a meaning that is not technically correct.

Personally I think that the fact Tottenham fans have responded to Anti Semitic chants in such a positive and unified manner should be, imo, something that is celebrated. For all the problems that Jews have had through centuries of mass discrimination and racial segregations, the fact that non Jews can stand besides them as brothers against this racism and wear the Jewish badge with pride is surely what the whole damn point of the anti racism message is about????

[sussexpob]

I mean to go further, I have followed Brighton HA since I was a kid, and its part of supporting the Seagulls that every team you play, home or away, chants about homosexuality for 90 minutes.

I am not a homophobe nor gay. I am a proud to be from Brighton though, a pride that includes and embodies the social attitudes of the city I come from and the freedom that homosexuals enjoy there.

When opposition teams resort to the "Town full of gayboys" chants, then of course just like Tottenham, Brighton fans have adapted to play up to the gay element... not in a negative way, but to acknowledge the fact that its something that defines us as a group of people, and that we arent willing to hide that away.

You might call the response homophobic by chanting things like "your number 9 is sexy" or wolf whistling pretty boy players in response is part of that acknowledgement or "your too ugly to be gay" or any number of things, but ask any Brighton fan why they do it and they will all says its in defence of what the town is and solidarity to the gay community.

[Kim]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... -word.html

Makes a lot of sense to me.

[Alviro Patterson]

I mean to go further, I have followed Brighton HA since I was a kid, and its part of supporting the Seagulls that every team you play, home or away, chants about homosexuality for 90 minutes.

I am not a homophobe nor gay. I am a proud to be from Brighton though, a pride that includes and embodies the social attitudes of the city I come from and the freedom that homosexuals enjoy there.

When opposition teams resort to the "Town full of gayboys" chants, then of course just like Tottenham, Brighton fans have adapted to play up to the gay element... not in a negative way, but to acknowledge the fact that its something that defines us as a group of people, and that we arent willing to hide that away.

You might call the response homophobic by chanting things like "your number 9 is sexy" or wolf whistling pretty boy players in response is part of that acknowledgement or "your too ugly to be gay" or any number of things, but ask any Brighton fan why they do it and they will all says its in defence of what the town is and solidarity to the gay community.

This is extended further whenever Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham play an English team there is reference of sheep shagging whether in chant mode or inflatables of sheep thrown about in the stands. Don't see the Welsh getting all offensive, if anything they like to chant "1-0 to the Sheepshaggers".

[sussexpob]

So the police drop the Clattenburg investigation after no one comes forward to give evidence against him, and therefore there is no case to answer! Is this a case of Chelsea being worried that the scrutiny of a legal investigation might pick too many holes in their accusations? Alternatively, you could believe Peter Herbert who made the complaint. He seems to think it evidences an FA and Chelsea united cover up to bury the issue. Seems interesting that Mr Herbert could make a complaint to the police about something he had no evidence to support.

The longer this goes on, the more I think that this Herbert man has much to gain from forwarding the notion that the Premier League is rotten with racism. Seem strange that a man who admits he has been to a football ground only 3 times in his life would suddenly show so much of an interest, and with the notion that a black only union is in the making, it appears to me that he is simply using this as a business opportunity to pick up some high profile and rich clients... after all, if a black union was to be formed, they would need legal representation and support to set themselves up. Wonder who they would turn to?

Recent developments have shown that any player can make accusations and the press jump down on the people responsible. The presses coverage of the Marvin Sordell affair seemed to imply that up to five players were subject to racist taunts at the Den... turns out it was a 13 year old kid sending racist Twitter comments to Sordell, and doesnt seem to be at the ground(although a banner from Millwall fans called Sordell a C*** at the weekend for filing a complaint against the child).

[Gingerfinch]

So, what happens to Chelsea Football Club? Clattenberg's name will always be linked to the 'monkey' jibe.

[sussexpob]

So, what happens to Chelsea Football Club? Clattenberg's name will always be linked to the 'monkey' jibe.

Clattenberg is not out of the water yet. The FA investigation is still to be announced within the next 48 hours.

If that also absolves blame, then indeed, the question is why these allegations were made and the repercussions for those involved.

[Gingerfinch]

So, what happens to Chelsea Football Club? Clattenberg's name will always be linked to the 'monkey' jibe.

Clattenberg is not out of the water yet. The FA investigation is still to be announced within the next 48 hours.

If that also absolves blame, then indeed, the question is why these allegations were made and the repercussions for those involved.

Cheers.

I see Clattenberg is having another free weekend.

[sussexpob]

So, what happens to Chelsea Football Club? Clattenberg's name will always be linked to the 'monkey' jibe.

Clattenberg is not out of the water yet. The FA investigation is still to be announced within the next 48 hours.

If that also absolves blame, then indeed, the question is why these allegations were made and the repercussions for those involved.

Cheers.

I see Clattenberg is having another free weekend.

Well according to what I have read, it seems that the decision or the conclusion of the enquiry has been made earlier this week, and at the moment they are simply preparing for the statement to be released. Clattenberg did go to training for the first time yesterday I believe, so this would indicate that he isnt going to punished. I guess we have to wait for the confirmation.

[Making_Splinters]

If the FA and the Police find no case against Clattenberg then Chelsea should be hung drawn and quartered, not that it will happen though as we all know falsifying potentially career ending charges doesn't actually matter.

[rich1uk]

its the way that lawyer is trying to use this incident to get publicity that is annoying me tbh

its basically the equivalent of an "ambulance chaser"

[Chris de Burgh]

If the FA and the Police find no case against Clattenberg then Chelsea should be hung drawn and quartered, not that it will happen though as we all know falsifying potentially career ending charges doesn't actually matter.

It would be sending out a message if the FA did punish Chelski if the allegations are proved false, however I have to agree that naff all will be done due to a lack of guts at the FA and the officials counting for nothing compared to players in footballs and fans eyes.

[Alviro Patterson]

If the FA and the Police find no case against Clattenberg then Chelsea should be hung drawn and quartered, not that it will happen though as we all know falsifying potentially career ending charges doesn't actually matter.

It would be sending out a message if the FA did punish Chelski if the allegations are proved false, however I have to agree that naff all will be done due to a lack of guts at the FA and the officials counting for nothing compared to players in footballs and fans eyes.

Can't see The FA sweep this under the carpet should Clattenburg be cleared, otherwise it would make a mockery on Respect the Referee campaign. Last thing needed is referee's going on strike.