Why Do Some People Get Like This Over Football?

[Untitled]

Some England fans racially abusing non-white players onlne

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57800431

hundreds tried to break into wembley last night, set off flares outside king's cross, and beat each other senseless on Trafalgar Square:

https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/12/violence-and-disorder-at-euro-2020-final-leads-to-dozens-of-arrests-14912118/

Why on earth do some people get like this over football?

[naomi24]

Goalkeepers can't be credited with saving balls that miss the goal or hit the post.

[ToraToraTora]

maggie: still waiting for you to show me an example of my "thinly veiled racism".

[ummmm]

But there was some saves.

[Ellipsis]

"Oh, yeah, of course they called you **** **** ******, but you have to understand ... you did miss a penalty, ******."

You can't excuse racism because they missed a penalty!

[youngmafbog]

I'm not sure anyone is trying to excuse it. There is a difference between making excuses and trying to understand why the idiots feel the need to do it.

[pixie374]

Naomi, racism isn't necessarily directed at "all" black people. I didn't see the wording of any abuse, but there is a difference between abuse that they missed, or bringing colour into it. Whether it was "racist" depends how it was worded.

[naomi24]

Pixie, why do you think you need to tell me that?

[naomi24]

ymb, 11:53 Mon. Quite right.

[pixie374]

Naomi, because of your suggestion it wasn't directed at all black players, just the ones who messed up. As if that was somehow relevant.

[rowanwitch]

As far as I am concerned it's not that they were black players it because they were poor penalties, of which Sterling's was in my mind the worst of the three. Weak pen and the keeper saves it. Fair enough. Young players under huge pressere, experienced player tried to be clever and got his placement wrong. No excuse.

[naomi24]

Pixie, I think it is relevant.

[pixie374]

Rowan, naomi, abuse over missing penalties, wouldn't be racist- even towards a black person. It would depend on the way it's worded, whether it's abuse or racist abuse.

[naomi24]

I know, and I've no doubt Rowan knows too.

[pixie374]

Then why are you suggesting it might be about penalties, and not race? When you agree you could tell by the wording itself?

[Mozz71]

I don't see why it matters the reason someone is racist. If it had been a white player who had missed a penalty, their ethnicity wouldn't be a factor in any abuse they received, why should it be so for a black player?

I don't care what motivates a bigot, I just want to see them get their just desserts.

[anneasquith]

Naomi knows nothing about football , but is an expert on how racism works in football ?

[naomi24]

I didn’t say the abuse wasn’t about race. I said the impetus for it was missing the penalties. That’s why the rest of the black players didn’t come in for a torrent of bile. They didn’t miss the penalties.

[pixie374]

I doubt anyone cares what the excuse is for racist abuse. It is irrelevant. Calling them an incompetent plonker, might be fair (to those who wish to), only racists will bring race into it as well.

[naomi24]

anneasquith, //Naomi knows nothing about football , but is an expert on how racism works in football ?//

Allow me to answer your question. You're right on one score - I know very little about football - but no, I am not an expert on how racism works in football. I hope that helps - but I doubt it will. You'll still be running up behind people, punching them in the back and quickly scarpering again at every opportunity.

[Mozz71]

Yes, I agree that's true, but is it particularly relevant? The abuse is abhorrent.