Justice
Dangerous Idiot
My kids are all grown up in their twenties now all have gone to Albion games from the ages of 5 or 6 people swear at football grounds, some chants have swear words in them what are you trying to protect children from exactly? Football generally has no reflection on real life my kids from an early age know what happens at football stays at football. I very rarely hear them swear even now they might drop the occasional F bomb like most of us from time to time.Thanks for your earlier clarification - you are right, stewards aren’t all along the terraces but they are positioned at the exit points so, what I meant was, in that situation, it would be more appropriate I think to just get up and walk to the nearest Steward and speak to them quietly, rather than have some sort of ‘anti-social hotline’ -
By all accounts, the OP acted very appropriately both for the protection of his own child and in getting the Stewards involved. It obviously is not acceptable to have racist and profane language being shouted in a public area but there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to respond and I think the Club officials/Stewards/Police are best placed to decide which course of action is required once the behaviour has been reported. I cringe and get annoyed every time I hear a profanity within earshot of a young child (and have often spoken to whoever is guilty of it if it is obviously not because of an ASD or Mental Health issue) and I don’t have kids so god knows what a parent must feel like if they also hate profanity and racist remarks near their own kids.
In terms of going forward, I have always been very impressed with the level of training and quality of our match stewards - they will be trained to deal with issues in a sensitive way, especially with regard to any form of disability or ASD - stewards offering the service of the Inclusion Room or space in the disabled seating area and offering to help take them there, might be exactly what the parents or guardians would welcome in a situation where a child is being triggered - a much quieter environment, less sensory overload, more comfortable seating and better views. In the OP’s incident, it didn’t sound that that was necessary by the time the Steward arrived but the parents/guardians did subsequently confirm apparently that their child was autistic so I am sure, if they didn’t know beforehand about the Club’s Inclusion Room, it almost certainly would have been offered for the future if required.
What the Club could maybe do going forward from this incident, is to include on the ticket purchasing process online, a short questionnaire before completing payment asking whether ‘you’ or anyone ‘you’ are buying tickets for, has any special needs or disabilities and would prefer a more accessible seating area or would like to book the Inclusion Room if tickets are available with a link to ‘more information’. There could be an option, once that is completed not to be asked again, in future purchases. Just an idea.
Sometimes, what is needed in these situations is support not confrontation (edit - for everyone involved!)
I would suggest if a parent doesn’t want their child to hear swear words then a football ground isn’t the ideal place to take them. It’s up to you if you want to try and self police other fans although as I’ve said most parents will be aware people swear at football grounds.