It will never disappear when UEFA and FIFA and the like treat managers having a pop at referees as more serious as demonstrated by the penalties imposed.
There will always be fans who would like to shout racist comments. It is possible to make them too uncomfortable to do so. To do this, they will need to get an earful from the fans around them. This generally did happen 5 years ago. It would again if season ticket holders got told they were going to have to miss the next game because the knob heads had earned the club a stadium ban.
Football simply mirrors society. Society still has a problem with racism, hence football does. It can go one of two ways with football. With any football support you naturally get some element of a mob mentality. The word mob is probably not a good word to use as it has a negative connotation. The mob can be bad, i.e. you get a few bad apples who have influence over a number of others. There can be a bravado to it which leads to hooligan behaviour and/or sometimes racist behaviour. However a mob in a football ground can be a positive. Support towards a common goal (which should be winning) is the idea of supporters. It can also be helpful in rooting out bad elements. However this can take a great deal of bravery but generally you will find fans do actually do this. Certainly at St James if a racist is comment is made people are usually called out or someone notifies the stewards. That is my experience, others may have different experiences. Essentially we have some high profile cases of late abroad. We've also had a few at home. I think they are increasing, but I think this is simply a reflection of society now being unwilling to continue to turn a blind eye to it. People want this stopped and they are willing to stand up and be counted. I think we have an increase in reporting and I'm glad we do. We are still a long way from eradicating the problem (if that is indeed a realistic goal at all). Unfortunately and this seems to be an uncomfortable truth for many, this will take a long long time and generations of education. You cannot prevent racism by banning fans from stadiums, dolling out fines, or taking players off the pitch. I've heard this said and people are saying "enough is enough". Its commendable but the suggestions put forward to eradicate will not work in my opinion. I believe quite strongly we are on the right path. I say this simply because of my experience of our younger generations. Education will be the thing that frees us from the problem in my opinion.
Banning/fining/ etc will not change anyone's attitudes. It can, however, reduce their willingness to shout out those attitudes. This itself is a good thing. Racism is learned. Shutting up racists won't make them stop being racist. It may, however, reduce the degree to which they produce another generation of racists.
I agree to an extent. However it won't have the effect they are looking for, which appears to be a short term eradication. I simply don't think that goal is realistic. I keep hearing "its 2019" and I must admit I laugh. I've heard these words muttered since the 80's onset of actually publicly acknowledging that racism is wrong. I hate the idea of clubs, players and supporters being punished by the action of a few. I'll never agree that is necessary. By all means I'm for games being stopped and not restarted until the offenders are dealt with (restart at a later date if need be). But kicking teams and countries out of competition is not acceptable - unless they refuse to address the situation of course. There is enough technology out there now to stop allowing people to get away with it. The PL could really set a massive example here with the money swilling round in the game. Invest in the high detection systems to be installed across the club grounds with no cost to clubs. Make a statement, make it big news, that will make people think twice more than anything else. Target these people, we know we can. In the words of a great leader though, education, education, education
I think just halting games would probably do wonders. It would be a bold bigot who was willing to keep 50,000 people waiting for 20 minutes because he chose to mouth off. It would be a bolder one still who mouthed off 10 minutes into the re-start. By all means, install cameras as well but I would expect the crowd would become self policing pretty quickly. As for making society non-racist, there have been huge strides in 30 years. Maybe in another 30 it will have been reduced to the point that the remaining racists are just regarded as pointless loons.
It should be, certainly standing in the Gallowgate when I was younger there was a self policing element. However I'm not sure racism was readily addressed! I think there is an element of it but if we have technology to not have to put people in a confrontational situation, then I think it would be wise to do it. Some people just don't feel safe addressing an issue like that with someone. Understandable as you tend to find they are fairly bold to back up their mouth. I'd always address it personally knowing full well it could get me into a stand up argument if not worse. However one of my all time favourite orators Mr Hitchens put it best I feel with these two quotes: “What is it you most dislike? Stupidity, especially in its nastiest forms of racism and superstition.” “Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence.”
Escape to the Country - who's presenting that these days? It used to be that Melissa Porter (great boobies - see below) or Nicki Shields. That Nicki Shields is on the Formula E stuff now. please log in to view this image Anyway enough sexism I best redress the balance. Look ladies here's some Jules Hudson looking truly genteel and well bred. please log in to view this image
What's with the subtitles mate, I wouldn't have thought you're overly interested in what she's got to say...
I watch everything without sound mate. Ive already removed my satellite dish I can't risk having to throw out my TV
