AIBU to be sick of the racial element in football that seems to be condoned by the football world

[mollymole]

there seems to be an increasing amount of rascist behaviour in football, judging by what we have already seen about Euro 2012 and the very obvious rascist behaviour evidenced on film there is a huge problem about to occur
WHY do the teams not have the guts to pull their teams off the pitch as soon as any of this starts.
WHY does football see itself as above all human decency.

Thousands of matches happen around the world . A couple of incidents have been highlighted.

A country that appears to be doing very little to combat the problem they have with racism should not have been chosen to host Euro 2012. Until a country sends out a strong message that they won't tolerate racism, they should be banned from even bidding for such a large event. They should be able to prove that they can be good hosts to everyone.

Oh not again.

WHY do people jump on the football bandwagon instead of acknowledging that whilst racism exists in the sport it also exists in stockbroking, carpentry, the armed forces and any other activity or profession you care to name. Is it an easy target because once you start on racism you can always get a few more on your wagon just because it's football and considered a little low-brow by some individuals on a largely MC forum?

And, unlike the majority of those other activities there is and has been for some years a huge and very public drive to fight racism in football, together with some excellent examples and role models of both team spirit regardless of race and of some fanastic, inspirational black players?

I think British football is massively better than it used to be. Black players can almost always play without being racially abused but - a much more stringent test - so can black referees. Not that racism doesn't exist at all - it always has and always will - but the attitude of the typical supporter is now much less tolerant of racist behaviour.

I incline to agree though that the Euros should not have been given to Ukraine, which seems relatively neanderthal in this respect.

I'd like to see people in all walks of life, whatever the colour of their skin making a stand against racism and any other form of predjudice that they see. Football would be a good start in that it is in the public eye across the world so much.

"Black players can almost always play without being racially abused but - a much more stringent test - so can black referees"

That does not mean to say that we couldn't abuse Uriah Rennie for other reasons though, does it?

GrahamTribe - would you care to tell me where, in the examples you mention, stockbroking, carpentry etc people get a physical battering because they are not the same as those around them ?

What I am getting at is that we now have a huge opportunity to make a major stance and show that the behaviour in some countries is unacceptable.

and Olympia just a few incidents highlighted - is this not a few too many ??

"Football would be a good start in that it is in the public eye across the world so much."

Yes, but aside from the fact that for some it's a profession and for the majority it's just a sport and it isn't there to make a political statement, what grates on me is that as soon as it is used in such a way it's taken as open season to slate the sport.

That aside, there's much coverage on how Sol Campbell et al are advising against attending and doomslaying but far less of the words from Shev, who's a Ukraine national.

GrahamTribe is right - the racism that was viewed on the terraces isn't football's problem, but society's.

money, I can't. Not because I don't think they exist, but because they don't get the level of pubicity that football related situations do so they don't come to my attention.

You want "us" to use this opportunity to make a stand - how?

Thank you Paul Scholes34 , that was what I was (ineptly) trying to say. :)

Not a football fan, but is football not dominated by non-white players, ie they tend the most famous/best/expensive? So is it not more of a problem of abuse and violence that besets football in many realms, not just racism?

One of the reasons I don't like football is that its kind of tribal. All that obsessive following of "your team" reminds me of sheep. That said, I enjoy kicking a ball around with friends, but no-one says much about sexism in football, in that its dominated by men, and female talent isn't scouted and nurtured in the same way.

GrahamTribe - would you care to tell me where, in the examples you mention, stockbroking, carpentry etc people get a physical battering because they are not the same as those around them ?

All of them. Seriously. Less than in previous decades, but it does still happen.
Someone I know got his skull fractured for daring to try and have a drink in the wrong pub. Just an ordinary working man (plasterer) trying to have a drink at the end of a long day's work. With other men doing exactly the same, only they were white and he was black. A barrister acquaintance of mine was once warned not to try and walk from a particular Tube station to a magistrates court where she was appearing. She got a taxi. It can happen anywhere, including inside police stations.

I think your anger is misdirected, at least where football in the UK is concerned. It has done a lot more than most other spheres to do something about overt racism.

You know, when I read these kinds of posts part of me is heartened that people do care, and get angry. Part of me is disheartened that people still seem so unknowing and naive about what really goes on.

you watched panorama, right? That didnt tell me Football was rife with right wing fanatics doing hitler salutes and black players, and calling opposition jews as if it were a negative word. It told me polish and ukranian society has done very little to educate people about multiculturalism, and in countries with hardly any minorities to mention, it is terrifying how a black or asian person must feel.

The footage was sickening. However you could host any match here in the UK without racism (excluding the lovely John Terry and his potental criminal activity). The mtruth is neither Ukraine nor Poland should have been given the tournament until they proved they could control fans and remove all racist bannes/ chants/ salutes fromt he grounds, and guarantee safety outside the gruonds.

For those who didnt see it. 6 Asian students were watching a local derby, sitting in the FAMILY STANDS for safety and were set upon by the home fans (they were supporting the home team too) and punched and kicked until they fled. Not one steward or police man helped. They then were left to leave the stadium alone. SICKENING. i dont blame football. I blame shit policing, and corrupt Uefa for allowing them to host such a prestigious event where fans are left scared for their safety.

sorry for those who did not watch the show- basically White supremacy banners were everywhere in the grounds. Hitler salutes were part of the general crowd banter, and chants about jewish whores considered far cop. Totally sickening and terrifyingly widespread.

Yes. I didn't see the programme but racism is a HUGE problem in football in eastern Europe. My biggest hope for Euro 2012 is that all the fans get home safely. They should never have been awarded it. Uefa doesn't care.

UEFA, as opposed to the FA and Premier League, do not care about this at all, though they pay lip service to doing so. In many European countries, football is a context in which the racism in their societies is given free expression. Still isn't the source of the problem though.

Black peope can't go safely to football in Ukraine. They can't safely walk down the street either (which is worse, surely. You may not care about being able to go to football, but having no personal safety even doing routine things will affect everybody). Russia is the same-it has a terrible terrible record for ignoring racist crimes, including murder.

Was a horrible program to watch. But I'd hesitate to say it was increasing as a whole. Having been to some first division grounds back in the 80s racism and violence in the UK has reduced considerably. But I agree that it's seems madness to host the games in countries that have such a massive problem at the present time.

I can tell you that if DH was planning to go to this tournament I would be demanding he stayed at home instead.

It's not increasing. It's being stamped out in the UK, belatedly but welcomely. It's always been there in Easten Europe, ever since they've had any black players at least, but we're just starting to take notice. It's truly awful, but at least putting the spotlight on it is a start.

The English FA need up continue to show the way and put pressure on the multi-national organisations.