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Serious question about Football (Soccer) racism

Big Dick McGee

Big Dick McGee

If you don't know, now ya know
Hey guys, I just saw a terrific episode of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel[/i], in which several former and current black footballers complained about rampant and viscious racism on the pitch. I saw video of bananas being hurled, "monkey chants" being shouted, and fascist salutes being bandied about.

Thierry Henry, the captain of Menty's beloved Arsenal, says it's so bad that he started his own stamp out racism campaign.

To be fair, aside from the National Front in England, most of the racism occurred in Spain, Italy, and France.

The question remains, is racism against black footballers as rampant as this show portrayed? Was it overblown?

As as side note, Henry asked Gumbel (a black man) if he could imagine this racist behaviour occuring at a sporting event in the United States, in 2005. Gumbel replied no.

That's a bit disingenuous, though. Football stadiums are nearly 100% white specatators. This is not true in the States. In point of fact, you would get your ass beat for racist acts. Moreover, I don't think the majority of the Footie fans are racist. I think a vocal minority causes the rest to act racist.

I'll be interested to hear your points of view on this.
 
The question remains, is racism against black footballers as rampant as this show portrayed?
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Bascially, yes it is. Games have been stopped, teams get fined and crowd members arrested for it. It does depend on what teams are playing. Some fans of certain teams are worse than others just from where they originate from. There is a major stamp out racism campaign in England, has been for years. It's worse in Spain.

don't think the majority of the Footie fans are racist. I think a vocal minority causes the rest to act racist.
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Also true.
 
Most of the problems occur in Europe, and some parts of South America. The Italian fascist element, Spain, as well as a number of the Balklans clubs are by far the worst. I wouldn't say it was anywhere near as bad as the 70's, but it is certainly still there.
 
Are black footballers as revered as their white counterparts? Would Thierry Henry ever achieve the level of reverence of a George Best, or a David Beckham??
 
^Probably not, mainly due to the fact that he isnt from England; hence doesnt play for the England team.

He is loved in France though, but France isn't as mad on football as the English.
 
So, just to be clear, if a player is born and raised in England, and is a great player, he's likely to be loved and celebrated regardless of the color of his skin? Moreso than a truly exceptional Football star who happens to be Nigerian, etc?

The States is vastly different, perhaps because most major cities have their own pro teams. We are just as likely to embrace a power-hitting baseball player from the Dominican Republic as we are to embrace one from Iowa.
 
I'm not saying Henry isnt loved. Everyone knows he's a class player, but I think that because he plays for the French national team, people here like him less. (The English hate the French ;) generally though)

It's like Maradonna, or Pele. Everyone knows they're great players (or were great players), but they're just not loved as, say Beckham, who isnt as great as Pele or Maradonna, simply because they play for an opposing team to the English National team.

The English have a big sense of national pride, and I think that carries over into most things.
 
Big Dick McGee said:
Are black footballers as revered as their white counterparts? Would Thierry Henry ever achieve the level of reverence of a George Best, or a David Beckham??
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In terms of pure football, probably yes.


Harkley said:
^Probably not, mainly due to the fact that he isnt from England; hence doesnt play for the England team.

He is loved in France though, but France isn't as mad on football as the English.
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I think Harkley is mostly referring to this country. Whilst we fully appreciate the skills of foreign players, it will always be more special when he's from your own country. This isn't really a matter of race.

Big Dick McGee said:
So, just to be clear, if a player is born and raised in England, and is a great player, he's likely to be loved and celebrated regardless of the color of his skin? Moreso than a truly exceptional Football star who happens to be Nigerian, etc?

The States is vastly different, perhaps because most major cities have their own pro teams. We are just as likely to embrace a power-hitting baseball player from the Dominican Republic as we are to embrace one from Iowa.
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He may well be, but the English players will mean more, because they play for us. Don't forget, you don't play a lot of international sports with your main pro sports (American Football, Baseball). I know you guys are certainly partizan when it comes to athletics and the like. I don't think there's a great deal of difference how we treat the stars within our domestic sports at all.
 
BDM said:
Are black footballers as revered as their white counterparts? Would Thierry Henry ever achieve the level of reverence of a George Best, or a David Beckham??
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The French as a nation may not be as insane over footie as the English (in fact, they think it's for thugs and only got on the bandwagon when France won the World Cup, the pricks) but I assure you that those French fans who DO follow the game think Thierry is a god!

Why is no one mentioning Sol Campbell?? Jermain Defoe?
 
^I was gonna, but I started writing the post, then I forgot about him :o

Sol Campbell is a black dude who plays for the English side, and I think most peole like him.

he's a good defender.
 
OK Ok, I'm prejudiced because I dislike TEH ARSENAL (sorry menty :p)


Sol is one of the best defenders in the Premiership. (the English football league).

He rocks.
 
And of course you were going to mention that Cambell and Defoe are on England's National team in the World Cup this year.... :D
 
I think I understand where you're coming from. I will cheer for any player who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles (I'll boo him as well if he deserves it) and I'll boo any player who plays for another team, say, The Dallas Cowboys.

I guess the thing that shocked me was that in many of the stadiums, the fans would racially berate players from their own team.
 
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