To think that it is NOT acceptable for people to call other scum just because they support another football team.

[Ilovemyself]

It pisses me off big time. It is allegedly acceptable to do this because it is only football.

I know people that would not normally call anyone scum, but when it comes to match time it is all over their facebook status.

I also think people should realise its just a bloody game - not a matter of life and death.

Rant over.

[TeaAndABiscuit]

Bindy and Clooney, do you like the third kit just launched?
I got myself one for running..loving the salmon pink!
www.footballshirtculture.com/13/14-kits/portsmouth-2013-14-sondico-third-football-kit.html

[themaltesefalcon]

That's a great kit, TeaAndABiscuit.

[TeaAndABiscuit]

Cheers falcon :)

[revealall]

Football abuse can be highly entertaining and it is indeed prissy to suggest otherwise. Cricket abuse, too... and rugby union abuse. I like the unconscious snobbery of the poster who thought it was only football, the dirty working class game, that had this alleged problem.

So why aren't opposing football fans seated together like in rugby or cricket then? 84,000 fans in mixed seating at the Twickenham final and no trouble. Football can only dream...

[TeaAndABiscuit]

Banter is fine, abuse isn't. Football has improved but has some way to go in some areas. There are more women attending matches and the quality of women's football has grown exponentially over the last 15 years, more initiatives to tackle the uglier sides and society has moved on. It's not perfect by a long shot though. It is trying to address these problems.
There is a tribalism in football that you don't get so much in other sports (possibly due to most towns having a team) which can be both everything good and bad about the sport.
I think it probably could learn from rugby in terms of the way players are disciplined and the respect given to the ref.
I can understand people not liking football but I do find there is a snobbishness against football fans. The tribalism is part of what makes the game and as long as it's not offence chanting, is part of the experience.

[TeaAndABiscuit]

offensive

[Ilovemyself]

I love the way that people assume. I am snobby eh? Brung up on a council estate and I recognise where I came from.

And themaltesefalcon I suggest you read what I actually said. I am branding those that can't enjoy a game without abuse as dickheads. Not the average family that would like to go and enjoy the game without the abuse. And if you have to stoop to grammar issues shows you up for the sort of person you are - a loser in this argument. I have been on the same wavelength as you on many threads. I thought you actually had some intelligence.

I will leave the football to those of limited intelligence and who seem to
I get their kicks out of abusing others then.

[Ilovemyself]

teaandabiscuit. A well made comment.

One of the issues I see though is that the women are as abusive as the men.

The long and the short of it is that in any other area of life any abuse would be classed as wrong. Yet it appears to be acceptable on the terraces.

If I made a sexist comment on here I would be quite rightly be shown how wrong I was. What makes it different to a chant on the terraces.

[TeaAndABiscuit]

Intolerance is never acceptable.
I do think the press love to jump on negative football fan stories which doesn't put the game in the greatest of lights.
And I just read this which made me want to cry:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hillsborough-police-paid-money-found-among-the-dead-into-forces-coffers-8793702.html

[MajorBumsore]

I have been a Saints supporter for my whole life. I am offended that at least three Portsmouth supporters have come onto this thread using 'scummer' as an insult towards me. They may see this as light hearted banter, as someone who has been on the receiving end of it on many occasions, I can assure you that it is anything but. I have been spat at and treated with vitriol, but ha ha eh? It's just banter.

[TeaAndABiscuit]

Sorry if you were offended by that word. I can only see two that used it. I've been called a skate which I just think is funny but context is everything. Do you ever say that?. Spitting is disgusting and whoever did that to you should be ashamed of themselves. I guess this is the behaviour the OP was referring to.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I've grown up with Scummers and Skates too, I have heard it many times used in a light hearted banter sort of way between work colleagues (I worked in Gosport, so in-between), which was fine and fairly even-handed. However it runs an awful lot deeper than that for many people, real hatred, and that I don't like, I was a season ticket holder at Portsmouth for many years but never went to a derby match (they were never in the same division in those days) and I did get sick of the Southampton bashing chants. I de-listed a FB friend over her Pompey hating rants (I have other Saints fans on there and we just josh each other)

I always feel slightly uncomfortable going shopping in Southampton in case someone twigs I'm from the other side, stupid I know. Especially as they've got a bigger John Lewis than us.

[TeaAndABiscuit]

Incidentally big Southampton hero Matt Le Tissier played a testimonial game at Fratton Park for one of our players a few seasons back. He played in a top with 'Scummer' on the back which he took great delight in revealing to the crowd and the whole thing was good natured fun.
Again, context is everything.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Oh and no, I don't like the third kit.....

[aderynlas]

Looking forward to another visit to southampton. We will be reminded that we are sheep shaggers during the match. Not bothered by this but the spitting must have been horrible for you major.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

When the Pompey goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan died tragically about 10 years ago I went to Fratton Park to view the tributes and was touched to see how many there were from Southampton fans. Sometimes rivalries can be set aside. And yes, I remember the Matt le Tissier Scummer tee-shirt too.

[BadLad]

In rugby and cricket I do not see the "fun" abuse on Facebook or in conversation that I hear from football fans.

I don't use Facebook, but next time there is a test match between England and Australia, have a look at the comments board on the BBC after it finishes, and you will likely lose the will to live.

So why aren't opposing football fans seated together like in rugby or cricket then? 84,000 fans in mixed seating at the Twickenham final and no trouble. Football can only dream...

Football fans don't want it thay - they like being surrounded by fans of their own team. Sometimes fans of the other team do get into the home team fans' area, but I have never seen any problem. Fans of both teams make their way to the station afterwards without needing to be separated.

I appreciate that there used to be a big problem with football hooliganism, but the game has come absolutely light years since then. In the late 80s black players had bananas thrown at them. Nowadays anyone throwing racist abuse would themselves be vilified.

It reallly is a tiny minority of fans who occasionally spoil it for everyone. Some posters on this thread talking about football fans sound like the Daily Mail talking about welfare scroungers.

[BadLad]

thay?

that way