by rabidbee »
03 Nov 2008 11:23
I remember at Bury, once, a group of fans decided to aim abuse at Baichung Bhutia, the tamer end of which were a number of references to chop suey and the like. Presumably, the fact that he's Indian and not Chinese means that he wasn't being racially abused? to draw another parallel, when I was at school I can remember people considered to be tight being labelled with anti-semitic language like "Jewboy", despite the fact that - as it was a C of E school, no less - nobody was actually Jewish (and that's obviously without touching on the idea that Jews are misers...)
The point I keep making is that these terms are racist, regardless of whether or not the person to which they're directed is actually from that racial group. To use these terms (or, IMO, condone their use) in a perjorative and derogatory way implies that you think that these groups are themselves inferior and open to abuse. It is casual racism like this to which Zac and I (and others, for that matter) object.
As for whether or not I've complained, well - as I've said above - I have complained about individuals before yes. However, I've generally found that the police and stewards are reluctant to do anything constructive about it. I remember at a Cambridge game once somebody decided to lay into the ref for being black. A number of us asked the police and stewards to remove him, and in the end all that the police would do was to suggest to him during half-time that he might like to leave, voluntarily, for his own safety. There is very little will within the game to face up to racists (and homophobes, for that matter) and remove them. The FA needs to toughen up a bit, though - a few large fines or points-docking might stimulate clubs to take the issue more seriously.
