I honestly thought this kind of image was a thing of the past. Silly me. This is England, a country which has been fighting against racism for years, but for some, clearly the message has been lost. As you already know, the above incident took place at The Emirates in London after Aubameyang had put us 1-0 up in the North London Derby, the capital city of a country which has for years, welcomed people from around the world.
According to the BBC, one man has been arrested and charged by police for throwing the banana skin onto the pitch and towards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with what offence I’m not sure but I suspect the words ‘racially aggravated’ were written somewhere on his charge sheet. Chelsea fans have history for being racist towards opposfans. 2016, it was Totts fans on the receiving end of anti-Semitic comments. The previous year, a black commuter was pushed off a carriage by Chelsea fans who were chanting: “We’re racist, we’re racist, and that’s the way we like it.”
Just a few days ago, Raheem Sterling fell victim of another racist incident which again is being investigated by police. The allegation against the Chelsea fan circled in the pictice below is that he called Sterling a ‘f****** black c***’ while other Chelsea fans shouted non-racial abuse towards the player. The alleged offender strenuously denies using the word ‘black’ whilst shouting at Sterling, instead he says, he called him a Manc c***.
What I find disturbing other than the two incidents themselves is this abuse comes from fans of two clubs who themselves have black players within their team and in Chelsea’s case, it was a black player who won them the Champions League. Ashley Cole, one of the finest left backs of his time, a black guy, Kante, William, Moses and going back further, Makelele, Essien, Desailly, Gallas etc etc etc. Without those players, especially Drogba, Chelsea would have been half the team they were. Hypocrites eh.
For the Totts, one of the best players they’ve ever had was Sol Campbell. Were the fans tempted to throw banana skins at him? Probably, after he left to play for the red side on North London. Saying that, the abuse he received after making that move was vile. What about Alli, Aurier, Dembele, Wanyama, Sissoko and Rose?
What about the England international team when Gareth Southgate fields black English players? Are these same idiots in stands concerned about skin colour then?
This particular Chelsea fan, who has been named and has presumably spoken to the press as he’s been quoted by a number of newspapers, says he called Sterling a ‘Manc c***’ not a black one which might yet be true. Lip readers are expected to determine whether or not that is the case.
Ah, the press, perhaps the most guilty of all for singling out a person for his/her colour of skin, race, sexual orientation, religion etc etc. They can deny it all they like but how often have you read an article which says, ‘Joe Blogs, who is a gay, was seen walking his dog….’ or ‘Mary Blogs, whose been living with her lesbian lover for six days, was driving her car….’ or, ‘Mr Smith, a black male from east London, got lucky on the lottery…?’
When do they ever write, ‘Mr or Mrs Smith, a white heterosexual….?’ Rarely, if ever because that’s their default setting and in my opinion, it’s wrong. It’s similar when they write about females in general as instead of sticking to the actual facts, if they even have any, ‘they’ feel the need to describe the female in great detail. What she’s wearing, how low her dress is cut, the size of her hips and backside and so on. It’s wrong, very wrong. I digressed, sorry.
The reality is though, these two incidents aren’t the only ones going on in the stands. These were both picked up by the television cameras so it was made easy for the authorities to take action but I bet there’s other stuff going on in the stands which never gets reported. I guess it’ll be a long long time before football can emulate rugby. If ever.
Over the years of commenting on Arsenal blogs, before HH was around, I read comments like ‘if you paid paid me £50,000 a week, you can call me want you want’ or something similar when topics such as these and especially those against Campbell were discussed online. I didn’t agree back then and I certainly don’t today because it doesn’t matter if a person earns £10.00 an hour or £300,000 a week, racial abuse is still racial abuse and a victim is still a victim.
I’m sure Arsenal fans are no saints, although I’d like to think we as a group are far better behaved than most. Any word which ends in ‘ist, or ‘ism are not nice and they’re certainly not right to use either.
Have a great Tuesday guys, only fourteen more sleeps…..
Thank you. A well written article. I couldn’t agree with its sentiments more. I detest ‘isms ‘ in any form. Sadly it will be years before real change comes. If teams wear a different shirt they will be abused. If people have a different skin colour someone will abuse them. If both are the same some people will abuse the fat guy.
Good article! I also feel shouting c**t or any swearing at players should result in a ban. These men are in their 50s it’s unbelievable. Get a life you dullards.
Thanks you two.
I’m surprised the guy involved with the Sterling incident has lost his job as he apparently says he has. I don’t think the incident has been fully investigated yet. A ban from Chelsea yes.
The odd thing is that in the first photo released in the media, just a few yards away from the ‘main offender’ stood a black male. Yet he’s missing from this one in the post.
This is a tricky subject. For as long as I’ve been going to Arsenal it has been the norm to barrack the opposition. Surely this is part and parcel of football culture? Certainly racial and other “ism” based abuse has no place here. However, how many of us stand up ‘cos we hate Tottenham? I would hate to have to define where acceptable “abuse” ends and unacceptable begins. Could we today not accuse someone of “crying like a fat boy”? Can we not tell northern fans we pay their benefits? I have quite enjoyed some of the humour over the years and whilst we need not to cross a line I would hate to watch football in a sterile atmosphere.
Those you mention though Billy, aren’t illegal as far as I know. I know there’s something about chanting somewhere in law but I’d class those you mention as just fun between fans.
It’s only when the isms etc get added it becomes personal and unlawful.
And so it has always been , the line between banter and abuse is very thin and easy to cross when swept along in a crowd. In the past I and many others have no doubt crossed it . It happens . If you stopped to think as Le Saux was ready to take a corner you would not question his sexuality but when so many are singing it sometimes you went along with it.
Some people can take it , others cannot . I remember Micky Quinn eating a pie aimed at him, and Teddy Sheringham stopping the stewards chucking out a kid for abusing him by pointing to the North Bank and gesturing , ” How about that lot then ”
Bunches of Bananas were thrown at Luther Blissett at Watford , he took them to the local hospital after the game it was claimed.
The world can be a rotten place , I do not condone it but it will take a lot more than holding football crowds responsiible to change the whole public perception.
I am and have always been against racism and anti-Semitism. I have shared, played, lived, etc. with people of all races, creeds and nations. No constraints. I have an opinion about the nature of people.
Potter, the laws changed in 2003 I believe so pre then, I suspect the abuse you’re talking about wasn’t taken too seriously. Or certainly not as seriously as it is today where every report has to be recorded.
Good on you Jm, ditto.
No but despite the law changing people’s upbringing doesn’t.It’s noticeable that in the Chelsea incident the men involved are in their late 40’s.
Now I have discussed this with my son on the way home from matches, I am in my 70’s and went to a boys school in a predominantly Jewish area .The boys openly called each other Y**ddo. Now of course that’s frowned upon but to people of my generation when the bloods up it comes out . It’s the same here, probably they regret it but it’s inborn . Prejudices are suppressable but not removable in time they may go possibly to be replaced by others.
Ignorant scumbags-that’s all they are.
Black, white, brindle or green-it’s irrelevant, or at least, it should be.
Gay, straight, Bi or undecided-who cares?
If both sides of these debates simply stop labelling others, AND labelling themselves anything other than human beings, maybe we’d all get along a little better.
Let us not ignore the fact that we do have plenty standing up telling the world they’re proud to be black, gay etc etc
That can stir the pot a little, as it seems it’s politically incorrect to be proud to be white, straight etc etc
The media don’t help but then, they rarely do, but it still comes down to good old fashioned respect, and that’s a parental duty, imo.
Treat others who you’d like them to treat you.
Simple.
Great post, Rico, and no footballer should cop this simply because he earns good money.
Nobody is paid enough for this shit!
True Potter, it’s hard to change kids when the parents and grandparents are still living in the past. One day maybe but not in my time I’m sure.
Thanks Scott- good point re the FA trying to get gay footballers to speak out. Why on earth would they when such idiots as in the stands..
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico
It’s just a simple case of respect, treat people as you would wish to be treated yourself.
So for me, you should respect everyone – well everyone except Australians who we should all pick on and take the piss out of endlessly.
It’s that true Scott..? 😄
I can’t deny that, Kev, not at all 🙂 🙂
Respect the aged Kev too…. 😉
You’re not far behind Lee.l
Morning Kev, all.
New post…
I agree with that Lee.