Football

I doubt it will happen in the way that it might have a couple of decades ago, with entire away sections chanting homophobic things.

But look at the abuse black players get, online and at certain clubs:

Blackpool will be playing at Luton, Millwall and maybe Burnley or Leeds next year. I just can't imagine he can warm up on the touchline without a bit of 'banter'.

I think the world is (largely) over that

Football fans will plumb any depths to get at a player/team.

Are homophobic chants still made at Brighton fans?

Yes. Plus the very tiresome ‘Chelsea rent boys’ thing.

I suspect it will go the other way. There'll be a month or so of heavy coverage and then he'll mainly be forgotten about, as none of the media can be arsed watching Blackpool any more, other than occasionally being trotted out as "the" gay footballer.

@kl a bit optimistic maybe. I don't think there will be any large scale chanting but you'll still get some dickheads. There are still a few that think Brighton/Watford are fair game and it's just "banter". Fortunately they get shouted down a lot more now.

I went to a Millwall game a couple of months ago as I needed to know first hand if it was as bad as it's made out and they were playing Boro who are probably the only team I could support Millwall against. I was surprised by how little racism I heard and how much homophobia I did. That's Millwall though so hardly a representative of football on a whole, though maybe it is really.

I met a really nice Millwall fan in a pub some years back, who assured me they were a changed club and there was no issue with racism anymore. The next day, I went on one of their message boards to see, and it was like fucking Stormfront. As I'd had to register to see it, I left a message telling them they were racist cunts. Turns out they were doxxing racist cunts - they published my full real name. Nothing came of it, but still.

My mate's a lifelong Millwall season ticket holder who gave it up a couple of years ago as he was sick of hearing the abuse. Mind you, he's decided he wants to be a West Ham fan now, so go figure...

Millwall were fined a few seasons back for racist chanting in an FA cup match against Everton. It’s definitely still an issue there.

Since moving to near the Den I've been amazed by the amount of stickers and stuff on lamposts around the area that are just pure racism. Definitely don't think it's a changed club and, complete speculation, I'd imagine in recent years it's actually regressed.

Watching PMQs and so far Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer, Ian Blackford and Ed Davey have all wished Rangers luck.

Where's the backbone? This is what's wrong with UK politics.

Good to see Forest progress. Not an easy thing to lose your aggregate lead and then win a shootout. Brice Samba was immense. I've got a lot of time for a keeper not moving to save a penalty, a lot of time. Fan headbutting billy sharp was ugly, though. Proper coward's hit, that.

Billy Sharp is a good lad.

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Since moving to near the Den I've been amazed by the amount of stickers and stuff on lamposts around the area that are just pure racism. Definitely don't think it's a changed club and, complete speculation, I'd imagine in recent years it's actually regressed.

I've moved to Rotherhithe since I last saw you, so guess I see the same stuff - the recent 'Refugees Not Welcome' sticker with the lion chasing a Ukrainian family was particularly classy.

for all the sportswashers??

Sounds like a decent plan. Maybe a handicap system based on the dodginess of owners.

Ah yeah, you'll have seen all the offerings then. That is one that definitely stands out. I'm amazed by how blatent it actually is out on the streets.

Are you hanging around in playgrounds/online comment sections? Maybe it's just cos I'm massively plastic and move in plastic circles, but I don't know any football fans who actually crow/brag/are unbearable. Sure, if you indulge people they'll want to talk about their team and enthuse but other than occasionally on here (and even here, far less than a few years ago) I really don't encounter any stupidly partisan fan nonsense?

Are you hanging around in playgrounds

You calling me a pedo?!

I have a few long time friends (I was best man to one of them) who are unbearable Liverpool fans, to the point where I barely see them nowadays because it is so tiresome. It's one of those things that as we've got on with our lives, they've diverged, so they resort to football as a common denominator as we've little else in common these days.

As Brexit emboldened racists, so Liverpool FC actually being decent at football is emboldening LFC fans to be, well LFC fans. I don't know too many non- MCFC/MUFC/Liverpool fans, but most people I know would rather anyone other than LFC win anything.

See! EVERYONE HATES LIVERPOOL.

most people I know would rather anyone other than LFC win anything

Praying for them at this difficult time

I was best man to an Arsenal fan. We don't talk any more either. Sad.

As an aside, I know not all Arsenal fans are public schoolboys, but all public schoolboys do seem to be Arsenal fans. Why is that?

So you're conflating the few old friends who you've grown apart from and seem to be trolling you with all liverpool fans?

Pls show your working.

Forming an identity through football teams owned by, checks list, petrochemical sportswashers and financial corporations, seems a bit daft.

"I'm a x fan, so I must take umbrage when someone comments on their experience of other x fans"

#notallxfans

#stopfootball