Just read an interesting article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16722196 Just wondering whether football in the UK suffers from homophobia more than racism? The article mentions that not one of the 5000 professional footballers in the UK has come out as being gay. More to the point, if a footballer did and was abused during a match with subtle homophobic insults, do you think the FA would rank it up there in the same category as racist remarks? This is one passage that stood out for me: "Forest's manager, the famous Brian Clough - or in my family the infamous - took a disliking to Justin. In his autobiography, Clough recounts the confrontation he had with Justin over rumours about frequenting gay clubs in Nottingham: "'Where do you go if you want a loaf of bread?' I asked him. 'A baker's, I suppose.' 'Where do you go if you want a leg of lamb?' 'A butcher's.' 'So why do you keep going to that bloody ****s' club?'"" Such comments just beggar belied to be honest. Just wondered what your views all were on the issue and whether gay footballers (in our lifetime) will ever feel comfortable enough to reveal their sexuality
It's no wonder the players feel like that. They've even stopped the fans from having a *** in the bogs at half time
See what I mean? gay inuendos are accepted by everyone. Imagine if people banded around racist inuendos? Not a dig at you lot, just weird how hypocritical and parodoxical society can be!
Indeed. Could be worse though. You could be that bloke in Stockport who was decapitated and set on fire.
Because racism PC is the 'in' thing at the moment. Homophibia will get its turn in the next few years and watch how that'll take off like a ginger kid in a...hmm
That's pretty bull**** TBH. Whilst all the comments on the interviewer may be entirely true (!) the article does nothing to combat the points she's trying to get across other than brush them under the carpet with saying that maybe none of the 5000(!) profesional footballers are indeed gay... Now I'm not a PC weirdo, I hate excessive political correctness but it just seems weird than in the history of football only one playing professional footballer has come out as being gay.
Jj...racistm pc??? WTF??? Get a grip... was it dusgusting when pool fans were stigmatised after hysel to the point that The Scum could tell those terrible lies about hillsborough or was pc gone mad? Racism is wrong ... Your club screwed up ... Dont blame pc...makes you look like a prick. As for the original point...i hope homophobia is treated like racism but doubt it will happen cos there appears to be a greater acceptance of it.
I get your point, but to only address one issue because it is 'the current issue' IS political correctness. Its part of a political agenda. And to go after it so rabidly even when (in the case of Luis Suarez) there is acknowledgement that the person accused is not a racist, it does begger belief. Homophobia is an obvious problem, but look at the reaction to accusations of homosexuality in football - I suppose the most notable name to be bandied about was Sol Campbell, whose response wasn't to say "Does it matter who fancies Arthur and who fancies Martha? I play football for a living." No, rather it was to sprint Hell-Pell to the likes of that viperous worm Max Clifford and splurg denials like you'd expect from a convicted child abuser. So long as the players themselves react in such a manner, than you won't see an admission of preference beyond roasting teenaged girls at drunken parties...
Suarez was out of line. Culture is not an excuse. it was cultural for many to make monkey noises and to throw bananas in the 70s and 80s but it was still wrong. Pool as a club claim he did nothing wrong which is plainly stupid as was wearing the t shirts. Referring to skin colour in a confrontational situation is bound to cause a problem yet suarez is a victim and evra and pc gone mad is the problem. I was taking my kids to a semi final v pompey at wembly and a group of blokes sat opposite us. He proceded to make anti muslim 'jokes' very loudly...when we didnt laugh he told us to cheer up. I asked him to leave it alone and he got really mouthy. I told him to stop and asked his mates if they really thought it was ok to start on a bloke with 2 kids. They tried to tell me it was just a laugh while he was screaming about it being pc gone mad and he had the right to make a joke. Racism is wrong...end of .... Pool could have said that suarez is not a racist but they will be explaining to him how his actions werent acceptable...and then he could have apologised...instead they simply called evra a liar...and refuse to accept the panels findings. It is not pc gone mad to dislike this behaviour. As for your other point i agree ... It is irrelevant who you shagg or love...but people seem to think otherwise.
Remembercolinlee reminds me of a guilable newspaper sensationalist headline reader... You take my point, and completely blow it out of proportion. You also failed to actually see the actual point I was making and instead read between lines which weren't there to accuse me of either defending/backing racism or condoning the actions of those who are racists. Suarez IS NOT a racist depsite the ****e being sprewed by newspapers/radio/twitter and other mediums. That much has been admitted by BOTH Evra and the FA. With me so far? Good. Several well-respected and well-known Uruguay nationals came out and defended him. They didn't say it was acceptable for such language in the UK, but they confirmed that it was normal in Uruguay and, most importantly, not offensive there. Suarez is guilty of using a word unacceptable in the, erm...Western world?...modern world? Idk, you get the point hopefully. So yes, Culture IS a big issue in this and it IS an excuse for making a mistake. Foreigners aren't sat down and asked to go through a list of all usable words in their home country and then told which translational versions aren't acceptable here. How the hell would he learn? I think he deserved to be given a slap on the wrist, to point out that such language isn't appropriate here. I think a ban is a fair way of doing this to show that we need to stamp out this kind of language. HOWEVER the way the media and lept at the chance to throw every possible spare column inch or radio minute at criticising and falsing branding him a racist was totally unacceptable. My comment on the PC part was meant to refer how the media leap on whatever is the current issue and go overboard on it. Again, as I said, wait til homophobia hits the headlines in a few years time and watch that grow into a massive deal. That is not me ignoring the issue now. That is me saying how the UK media works. There are no accurate stories/reports, there is only an excuse to give members of the public what they want to hear: big big juicy storylines with heavily slanted or weighted arguements depending on what makes the bigger sensationalist reading. In the case of racism following on from the Blatter comments, they couldn't wait for the opportunity without caring to delve deep enough into the details to know what was actually going on. The tee-shirts again gave them the excuses they need to trash the club and Suarez further without knowing/caring as to wyh the players wore them. They didn't wear them because they felt Luis "the racist" Suarez was fine to say such stuff. They wore them because they felt Suarez was being unfairly hounded above and beyond what was acceptable. I'm pretty sure Glen Johnson, as a regular starting team member, might have complained a little otherwise...but ofc, no one mentions this. I'll ignore your comments about the muslim-abusing fans because, whilst that behavior is unappropriate, I don't feel they are relevent to this discussion. They're british and know full well what is/isn't acceptable here. I thought I should clarify this before you accuse me of ignoring it because I think it's fine to make such jokes... At least I can agree with you on this. Racism is wrong. End of. I also think Liverpool could have been a little smarter in their PR (I have no doubt that they did explain to Suarez behind closed doors, however). Did you actually read the report published, out of interest? There are holes everywhere and inconsistancies or conflicts between statements. Anyway, thanks for pushing me into writing this...all because you read inbetween lines. Think before you post please.
Double post...but what the hell. Again going back to what I think about PC: Did you hear about the Diane Abbott incident where she said on Twitter, "'white people love to play "divide and rule" '. That was quickly swept under the carpet, wasn't it? Why? Because people are scared when such comments go one way but when it goes the other...by god do the media love to swarm all over it like a rash. PC is a HUGE issue in modern day news and it's the main reason why the big issues/topics aren't and cannot be discussed openly and fairly. If Evra had called Suarez little white boy because it's fine to do that in France (lets also assume he'd been here for only 1year), there wouldn't be anywhere near the same media coverage. Why? Because discrimination and racism only work one way in this country or it's swept under the carpet.
Diane abbott was made to apologise in public...and was condemned by the labour party leadership (her manager in effect). It was on all the news channels, on the radio and in all the papers. She was roundly condemned by all. How does that constitute being swept under the carpet? You mention those who claim its culturally acceptable in South America to use the term he admitted saying yet do not mention the issue of those who gave evidence stating that they dont think it is acceptable IN THE CONTEXT OF A CONFRONTATIONAL SITUATION. Suarez has NOT accepted he did anything wrong. Liverpool players had those tshirts without know 'both sides'. Kenny D did the same and laid into evra ... citng a previous incident at chelsea (without knowing the ins and outs of that incident). No of the liverpool statements accept that it is NOT ok to behave like it. Glen Johnson...an irrelevant point...suarez was not accussed of being a racist, he was accussed of doing a racist act. Johnson decided to take Suarezs word on things without being in receipt of all the facts. Suarez may have lived in the UK for one year but has lived in Europe for 5 years so has had plenty of time to understand that some things are unacceptable. I mentioned the muslim joke because i think they like suarez thought it was 'banter' or a 'joke'. Do you seriously believe the incident with the oldham player was a coincidence? I think that the person involved was emboldened/encouraged the LFCs crass behaviour. And yes i did read lots about the case....not ever single word...but i doubt you or anyone else has either. As for your comment about racism against white people....that is straight out of the pages of the press you claim to distrust. LFC had a good anti racist reputation which has been seriously dented and your responses suggest that defending your club has clouded your judgement on this issue.
LFC admit they handled the Suarez situation wrong? http://www.channel4.com/news/john-barnes-liverpool-is-right-to-back-suarez The video of Evra using the 'n' word in a 'jokingly' manner in a French tv documentary whilst feeling insulted when Suarez used a derivative of the same word kind of proves your point jj
Stay on topic lads or don't both commenting. This isn't about Suarez so let's not trudge up the past.
People say all sorts of things to mates and accept them back that theyd which theyd go mental about if someone else was involved. My mrs would laugh if i walked past her and pinced her arse....she would kill a bloke for doing that in work....does that make her a hypocrite? Like i said i think your need to defend your club is clouding your judgement.
Laugh it up mopes, until somebody says something about one of yours..... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Not all of you obviously..
