[Archived] Racism in Football

[Guest Rovers4Good]

This is a very touchy subject at the best of times and it's been highlighted recently due to John Terry and Luis Suarez but can we get rid of Racism in the game?

I know we have a very good understanding of this in our country but in other countries i don't think they understand and even care as much as us but something has to be done to get rid of this in our game as in the Premiership there are so many different nationalities that racism should not be tolerated and tough punishments for those who participate.

I know it's not just in and around football that this happens and it's an everyday part of life for some but if you start off with high profile cases then surely it should be the same in every walk of life?

One more thing i find very difficult is that i play sunday pub football and there are a few asian teams we have to play against and they are racist between themselves and was astonished when we last played them when one of them didn't get a decision his mate walked up to him and said it's because your a b***k c**t which i was extremely angry at as if that was me saying it then i'm sure it would have been taken further.

It's not just the adults but also the kids from very young ages who participate in racism and i know for one that it's simply not on but can we 100% get rid of it or do we just have to live with it?

[Mike Graham]

I hope so.....but I doubt it.

[DE.]

Not in our lifetime.

[Andy]

Racism is borne of ignorance, stupidity, upbringing and a lack of education.

For as long as there are stupid, ignorant idiots like John Terry in the game, we will never fully see the end of racism in football.

Same as any vocation, mind.

When I was in the police, I worked with racist bobbies, sadly.

[BlueWhiteDynamite]

People are different and those differences will always be used against them.

Racist remarks are always highlighed, but there is no difference between that and calling somebody Ginger, Fat, or Lanky.

It's not the words, but the aggression behind it that is the main issue. Unfortunatly this will never change.

[BPF]

Chris Samba is a big....

Not a chance...

[Hughesy]

NEVER....light hearted banter like the Samba song isnt bad, he actually doesnt mind the song.

But actual racism, trying to gain an advantage over an opponent will never be totally stamped out

[Mattyblue]

Terry and Suarez guilty now?

[SAS]

Personally wouldn't bother me if someone was racist towards me.

However I would never do it myself to another person, not have I ever felt the want or need to..

[thenodrog]

This is a very touchy subject at the best of times and it's been highlighted recently due to John Terry and Luis Suarez but can we get rid of Racism in the game?

I know we have a very good understanding of this in our country but in other countries i don't think they understand and even care as much as us but something has to be done to get rid of this in our game as in the Premiership there are so many different nationalities that racism should not be tolerated and tough punishments for those who participate.

I know it's not just in and around football that this happens and it's an everyday part of life for some but if you start off with high profile cases then surely it should be the same in every walk of life?

One more thing i find very difficult is that i play sunday pub football and there are a few asian teams we have to play against and they are racist between themselves and was astonished when we last played them when one of them didn't get a decision his mate walked up to him and said it's because your a b***k c**t which i was extremely angry at as if that was me saying it then i'm sure it would have been taken further.

It's not just the adults but also the kids from very young ages who participate in racism and i know for one that it's simply not on but can we 100% get rid of it or do we just have to live with it?

Well apart from this being on the wrong board the Venkeymob have done more to promote racism in 12 months than Eugene Terrablanche ever managed in a lifetime!

This is just a wind up right?

[dopper69]

Racism is too far ingrained in society for it to ever be truly eradicated from any sport.

However, it is most certainly a two way process and no one ethnicity is more at fault than another.

[ABBEY]

far more important things in footy atm than racism...like saving our club.

[Mr Maureen]

VENKYS OUT

[thenodrog]

Racism is too far ingrained in society humanity for it to ever be truly eradicated from any sport any society.

However, it is most certainly a two way process and no one ethnicity is more at fault than another.

More accurate I think dopper69

[PAFELL]

Racism is borne of ignorance, stupidity, upbringing and a lack of education.

For as long as there are stupid, ignorant idiots like John Terry in the game, we will never fully see the end of racism in football.

Same as any vocation, mind.

When I was in the police, I worked with racist bobbies, sadly.

People often do not understand racism unless they themselves were subjected to it. One time they were just words. For decades we have referred to scottish people as Jocks, Welsh as Taffy etc - are these words considered racist in themselves. My view is no. But it is the words afterwards that make it a racist comment. I asked my wife, who is chinese a few years ago if chink was considered racist. Her reply was yes, because over the centerys, the words have been abused. Instead of being a nickname for a particular race, they were used to insult instead. For example "That Jock bas----" etc. To the extent that the use of the nickname for the race became instead a name to insult. As society changed throughout the world, so did the meaning and the use of the words changed. So they are now racist words.

[chris]

it works both ways actually, I was playing five a side against an all Asian team, I'm striker and one of my friends who NEVER talks durring games quite shy, nice bloke, he was next to this Asian player, the Asian guy was holding his shirt so Martin was giving it back, he is tough in tackle.

suddenly the Asian guy turned around slapped him accross the face HARD and said "don't you ever call my Mum a paki", then he started screaming and shouting, his team had to hold him back.

The whole thing falired up, I do laugh at Martin because I know he didn't do anything wrong, he was totally set up, could only happen to him, it's amazing he used the race card because his team were struggling and he was very short.

we leave and about 20 Asian guys waiting outside. I'm always up for a fight when it's fair but poor old Martin think he was scared to death.

Lucky the guy got banned because he had done silimar attacks.

[Amo]

Nope.

And it doesn't help when the campaign exhibits double-standards.

[Andy]

You are right Pafell, but there is also more to it.

If I remember correctly, a racist comment (by law) is racist when the recipient deems it racist - or a third (witnessing) party deems it racist.

So if somebody calls me a white ****, I won't take offence at it at all - but if somebody walking by hears this and deems it racist, it then becomes a racist comment.

Might be wrong, my memory isn't the best, but I think this is right.

[thenodrog]

This country is so full of pc malingerers and sh1t stirrers it's sickening. Jason Roberts and his like just love pouring petrol onto tiny sparks to create an inferno. As far as I am concerned I am in the Blatter camp and any differences between Terry/Ferdinand and Suarez/ Evra should be settled with a handshake and a chat over a pint in the players lounge. Football is a passionate game and hot headed antics will never be stopped. All insults are just heat of the moment stuff and neither thought through nor planned. If it could there would be hardly any red cards for any indescretion. All this holier than thou mud slinging is just malicious and nothing else. If either were really racist I'd doubt that the black players in their team would agree to train with them.

Who thinks Alan Hansen is racist? Cos now we have the spectacle of Alan Hanson feeling the need to apologise in public for his 'racist' remarks just because he used the word 'coloured' to describe black players! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/22/alan-hansen-apologises-for-coloured-players-match-of-the-day-comments_n_1164688.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D89667.

Now I for one was always taught that the term 'coloured' was completely acceptable or indeed preferable so why the hell should he apologise for saying it? Only the fear of an escalation and him losing his job can be the reason. No wonder the rest of the world is viewing us Brits in disbelief on this issue. Logic no longer exists and we have gone so completely OTT to the extent that if Kean was coloured we'd hardly dare protest for chance it was misconstrued as racism. I am absolutely certain that protests would be muted and the supporters attacked from all sides if Kean had been black.

[imy9]

This country is so full of pc malingerers and sh1t stirrers it's sickening. Jason Roberts and his like just love pouring petrol onto tiny sparks to create an inferno. As far as I am concerned I am in the Blatter camp and any differences between Terry/Ferdinand and Suarez/ Evra should be settled with a handshake and a chat over a pint in the players lounge. Football is a passionate game and hot headed antics will never be stopped. All insults are just heat of the moment stuff and neither thought through nor planned. If it could there would be hardly any red cards for any indescretion. All this holier than thou mud slinging is just malicious and nothing else. If either were really racist I'd doubt that the black players in their team would agree to train with them.

Who thinks Alan Hansen is racist? Cos now we have the spectacle of Alan Hanson feeling the need to apologise in public for his 'racist' remarks just because he used the word 'coloured' to describe black players! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/22/alan-hansen-apologises-for-coloured-players-match-of-the-day-comments_n_1164688.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D89667.

Now I for one was always taught that the term 'coloured' was completely acceptable or indeed preferable so why the hell should he apologise for saying it? Only the fear of an escalation and him losing his job can be the reason. No wonder the rest of the world is viewing us Brits in disbelief on this issue. Logic no longer exists and we have gone so completely OTT to the extent that if Kean was coloured we'd hardly dare protest for chance it was misconstrued as racism. I am absolutely certain that protests would be muted and the supporters attacked from all sides if Kean had been black.

Is this a wind up?

Lets get back to throwing bananas on the players and crowds to be chanting racist material because as you say as long as people shake hands after the game its all ok.

I am assuming that you are white Drog, is that a colour? So why should a black person be refered to as 'coloured'? Brown/black/white are all colours, thats why its an unacceptable term.

[Kelbo]

I dont want to get into a debate here, I will say this, my son has accepted a 2 year teaching post in Saudi Arabia, he has to abide by their rules and trditions or else, in my opinion, people who decide to accept the benefits of living in Britain, should do so, shut up and follow the rules, Sharia law etc is not for this country, just as English law is not for Saudi!!

Is this a wind up?

Lets get back to throwing bananas on the players and crowds to be chanting racist material because as you say as long as people shake hands after the game its all ok.

I am assuming that you are white Drog, is that a colour? So why should a black person be refered to as 'coloured'? Brown/black/white are all colours, thats why its an unacceptable term.

As for the word coloured, it is part of the english language and in most decades was chosen as not to offend people of different origins, how many countries change their language to suit people who have moved there?

[Clitherover]

How long before this turns into a left vs right (jim mk2 vs gordon) thread?

[RovertheHill]

I dont want to get into a debate here, I will say this, my son has accepted a 2 year teaching post in Saudi Arabia, he has to abide by their rules and trditions or else, in my opinion, people who decide to accept the benefits of living in Britain, should do so, shut up and follow the rules, Sharia law etc is not for this country, just as English law is not for Saudi!!

Why on earth are you trotting this out on a topic about racism in football? Have the FA used Sharia law to charge Suarez? I don't think so. Fact is the guy has assumed that because that stuff is acceptable in his own country of Uruguay then it's acceptable here. It's not and he, and whinging scousers, should just take the punishment like a man and move on

[Clitherover]

The most rational thing to do would be to close this thread down and forget about it, like we haven't got enough grief on our minds as Rovers fans at the moment.

[martypellowe]

You are right Pafell, but there is also more to it.

If I remember correctly, a racist comment (by law) is racist when the recipient deems it racist - or a third (witnessing) party deems it racist.

So if somebody calls me a white ****, I won't take offence at it at all - but if somebody walking by hears this and deems it racist, it then becomes a racist comment.

Might be wrong, my memory isn't the best, but I think this is right.

Think that's roughly correct. The Terry saga has moved to the courts as a third party made an official complaint to the Police about it.

I find it amazing that you can be prosecuted because somebody overheard you in the street and didn't like what you were saying. You could be arrested for public order offences if you moan about your missus and someone walking by hears it. Crazy.

As for the racism thing though, no, it will never be gone from the sport. Personally I think anyone resorting to racist insults should be banned for life. Take a performance enhancing drug in an attempt to make yourself a better athlete and face possibly being banned from the sport forever. Insult someone based on their skin colour in an act of complete disrespect and you get banned for a few games.

I honestly don't think the world would miss John Terry. And to think people touted him as the next Terry Butcher. Disgusting man, makes you ashamed to be English tbh.