This is an interesting point. Ultimately, Football and football supporting is akin to Pantomine. We like to have heroes and villains, build people up and knock them down. We treat players with extreme fervour, either idolising them or vilifying them. It's all about extremes, you're either with us or against us type of mentality. I'd bet that 99% of the people who aim profanities at players and mangers each week at football grounds, wouldn't say boo to a Goose in 'normal' life. Ultimately all of this posturing is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but Football gives us a window to play out some extremes of emotions and does act as some kind of Catharis. Where it crosses the line though for me is when it is against people who have been innocent victims of tragedy, like Hillsborough or Munich or when it is used against Race or sexuality. They are in the eyes of the law, actually Hate crimes and as Cym points out, if that happened outside of the ground, you could be arrested and charged.
I agree that something needs to be done but points shouldn't be docked. Even with the horrible ****phile chants Spuds sing, the manager and players themselves shouldn't be punished. It's not like Scholes and co are on the pitch with placards, guiding the fans through these vile songs. It would be grossly unfair, for example, if Villa were relegated this season after being given a 5-point docking for fan chanting. I think heavy fines should be implemented if clubs fail to throw these 'fans' out. Season bans should be given to people who are chanting racist, homophobic, offensive chants. Life bans to repeat offenders.
"The fairy-tale of Rumpelstiltskin portrays the downfall of a morbid character who dies of suicide when his grandiose pretensions and sense of special entitlement are crushed. This imaginary elf is the model of certain patients who sustain a precarious, inflated self-organization through defensive overweening fantasy, but who are vulnerable to ego regression and suicide when their grandiose façades are compromised." Do whaat???
What confuses me is why clubs have stewards hassling people for standing and for taking photo's but not dealing with abusive chanting. ALL clubs have morons ... I find it a bit rich when one set of fans take the high moral ground. Our Sol Campbell chant was sick...so was the Adebayor one ... so was the Man utd one...so are the Munich ones etc etc no club is with out it's share of knuckle draggers. I think piskies original post is spot on ... all these idiots should be condemned. Can't believe the minority of united fans thought the "victim" chant on saturday was ok. I think the CCTV and stewards should be used to remove fans who do it. I know it seems like a free speech issue but most of the abusive chants ... like the anti wenger one (for example) if done in the street would result in criminal charges. I would say though that there needs to be a clear line between offensive and swearing....I can tell my little ones to ignore a "rude word" but don't see why they have to hear and tolerate anti gay chants etc. Great post and debate!
