racism in football - is there a problem?

[theacademic]

On our topfan.co.uk research platform at Staffordshire University we've just started another research project looking at the perspectives of fans on the recent scandals involving racism in football. The questionnaire has just gone live at RACISM AND FOOTBALL IN THE 21st CENTURY and as you know is very current with incidents both on and off the pitch. Are the players to blame for the recent upsurge or has it never really been eradicated from the British game? You might even think that football has not got a problem. Have your say in our 2 minute survey. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mad Jack McMad]

In this country - not really. Any incidents are usually dealt with robustly. You might get one prick but they are an extreme minority.

In certain parts of Europe, hell fecking yes. They don't seem too fussed about it either.

 

[Mr NFA]

In this country - not really. Any incidents are usually dealt with robustly. You might get one prick but they are an extreme minority.

In certain parts of Europe, hell fecking yes. They don't seem too fussed about it either.

I can see Poland/Ukraine 2012 being a big issue.

 

[Lush]

The fact that the media are highlighting more racist incidents (compared to 20, 10 or even 5 years ago) I think shows that they are becoming increasingly rare/newsworthy. This seems to indicate that the campaign is working. Add to this the growth in opportunities to be intentionally or unintentionally racist in social media; TV technology that can 'lip read' any example of football 'sledging'; and the numbers of players from different cultures with different views of racism and I think we're not doing too badly.

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

well, not at any brighton matches. we're more concentrated on getting brighton to pick up their game.

 

[Mad Jack McMad]

I can see Poland/Ukraine 2012 being a big issue.

The Ukraine fixture has fiasco written all over it.

 

[BigGully]

I dont think so in this country.

I think the thresholds here are continuously changing and this keeps the subject at the forefront of our minds.

Does John Terry's tirade at Anton Ferdinand constitute racism, not sure.

For some it seems to, to others not.

It was offensive as is most confrontations within the game, but without those offensive words being tagged to the 'black' it would of gone unnoticed.

I cannot imagine being at a football match and hearing overtly racist abuse, it wouldnt be tolerated.

But herein lies the problem, the brutal quips that many supporters and group of supporters meter out to their opponents I think is an essential and enjoyable part of our football culture but this is changing quickly and I am not sure where this might take us.

A players body shape, hair colour are still fair game ( I think ) whilst skin colour and a players heritage is not, unless you are white English I suppose.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

It's ok though, as UEFA will fine Ukraine £500 if 20,000 of their fans make monkey noises, ensuring they're REALLY hit where it hurts...

 

[theacademic]

thanks for these thoughts guys and for filling the survey in, much appreciated.

 

[Hungry Joe]

I'd say it's less of a problem in football than it is in society as a whole. I'm not necessarily talking about serious racist incidents or hate crimes, but I have noticed a marked increase in, and acceptance of, casual racism in everyday life. Maybe some of it is a counter reaction to the perceived PC-gone-mad myth created by certain parts of the media and swallowed by fools.

 

[theacademic]

Interesting points Hungry Joe - hope you put these in the survey: RACISM AND FOOTBALL IN THE 21st CENTURY

 

[Braders]

Filled , and for what it's worth in England it seems more isolated then from what we see and hear in other countries (when it happens over here - we KNOW about it!!) but compared to other problems in the English game this is nowhere near as bad (at the moment)

 

[aolstudios]

I dont think so in this country.

I think the thresholds here are continuously changing and this keeps the subject at the forefront of our minds.

Does John Terry's tirade at Anton Ferdinand constitute racism, not sure.

For some it seems to, to others not.

It was offensive as is most confrontations within the game, but without those offensive words being tagged to the 'black' it would of gone unnoticed.

I cannot imagine being at a football match and hearing overtly racist abuse, it wouldnt be tolerated.

But herein lies the problem, the brutal quips that many supporters and group of supporters meter out to their opponents I think is an essential and enjoyable part of our football culture but this is changing quickly and I am not sure where this might take us.

A players body shape, hair colour are still fair game ( I think ) whilst skin colour and a players heritage is not, unless you are white English I suppose.

What terry said was racist. And yes, of course adding 'black' changes it. As would 'jew'. That's how language works

 

[aolstudios]

yep

 

[aolstudios]

I'd say it's less of a problem in football than it is in society as a whole. I'm not necessarily talking about serious racist incidents or hate crimes, but I have noticed a marked increase in, and acceptance of, casual racism in everyday life. Maybe some of it is a counter reaction to the perceived PC-gone-mad myth created by certain parts of the media and swallowed by fools.

yep

 

[Brovion]

I'd say it's less of a problem in football than it is in society as a whole. I'm not necessarily talking about serious racist incidents or hate crimes, but I have noticed a marked increase in, and acceptance of, casual racism in everyday life. Maybe some of it is a counter reaction to the perceived PC-gone-mad myth created by certain parts of the media and swallowed by fools.

It's interesting, and I partly agree - but white people aren't necessary the transgressors! Over the last few years there has been an increase in reports of racism from ethnic communities towards members of other ethnic communities as well as towards white people; indeed if I wanted to be slightly mischievious I would argue that as a percentage of population there are far less white racists now than than there are non-white racists!

I'm not sure if I detect a wistful yearning from some people (not you) for a return to the 'good old days' of the 1980s when racism was seen as a nice and simple one-way street, something that white people did, unintentionally or openly, to non-white people. In other words some people would like to see the Terry/Ferdinand incident as 'racist', but the Suarez/Evra one as simply a 'cultural misunderstanding'. Evra's reaction should prove the fallacy of that view.

 

[BigGully]

What terry said was racist. And yes, of course adding 'black' changes it. As would 'jew'. That's how language works

Nope not convinced.

Your 'Jewish' analogy would for me, offer a more in-depth loathing, that might constitute racism, rather than JT's childish rant linked to any feature of another player.

John Terry would of comfortably used offensive language and tagged it to that players individual feature, ginger c**t, big nosed c**t and so on.

Its clumsy, probably offensive and inarticulate but it doesn't, for me make him a racist.

 

[theacademic]

Thanks for adding to the debate guys. Interesting thoughts. Thanks to those who have completed the quick survey also: RACISM AND FOOTBALL IN THE 21st CENTURY

 

[arfer guinness]

I dont think so in this country.

I think the thresholds here are continuously changing and this keeps the subject at the forefront of our minds.

Does John Terry's tirade at Anton Ferdinand constitute racism, not sure.

For some it seems to, to others not.

It was offensive as is most confrontations within the game, but without those offensive words being tagged to the 'black' it would of gone unnoticed.

I cannot imagine being at a football match and hearing overtly racist abuse, it wouldnt be tolerated.

But herein lies the problem, the brutal quips that many supporters and group of supporters meter out to their opponents I think is an essential and enjoyable part of our football culture but this is changing quickly and I am not sure where this might take us.

A players body shape, hair colour are still fair game ( I think ) whilst skin colour and a players heritage is not, unless you are white English I suppose.

What a sane sensible post, nice to know there are intelligent people on Northstandchat

 

[Danny-Boy]

It's interesting, and I partly agree - but white people aren't necessary the transgressors! Over the last few years there has been an increase in reports of racism from ethnic communities towards members of other ethnic communities as well as towards white people; indeed if I wanted to be slightly mischievious I would argue that as a percentage of population there are far less white racists now than than there are non-white racists!

I'm not sure if I detect a wistful yearning from some people (not you) for a return to the 'good old days' of the 1980s when racism was seen as a nice and simple one-way street, something that white people did, unintentionally or openly, to non-white people. In other words some people would like to see the Terry/Ferdinand incident as 'racist', but the Suarez/Evra one as simply a 'cultural misunderstanding'. Evra's reaction should prove the fallacy of that view.

Good points, but probably not popular among the PC mob.