Ok I'm going to comment on this because the cringey virtue signalling is something else.

Left wing individuals and those playing grievance identity politics have been over playing the race card for decades.

Do some arseholes shout and scream nasty words at football matches?.....Yep.....I find it irritating myself....the ones who are always doing it are man babies.

Are they racist.....I don't know....why is that important? People say and do nasty stuff all the time.

In football these are people looking to put off the opposition. They will often shout anything they can think of to achieve that. It's part of the tribal aspect of football.

Millionaires like Raheem Sterling have their pay packets filled by football people. A small proportion of those people shout nasty stuff at other footballers.

Is it nice?....nope.....Is it anything more than that?....Not in my opinion and I've yet to hear a convincing argument otherwise.

Sterling lives very nicely and is massively overpaid yet these others probably struggle and yet he's the victim.....where does the power really reside here.

Edited by Stirlingsays (11 Dec 2018 5.32pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

If you spend your whole life on the back foot, feeling like you are going to get picked on all the time, it has an effect

When I worked at Ariston Alloys in Beddington or Coca Cola bottling in Coulsdon, I had it the other way around. I had to align myself with the older black guys to give myself protection.

On the other hand I note that Manchester City lost. Funny how such issues arise on bad news days, which just happens to shift the attention.

Yep, to that extent I have some sympathy. I know what it's like to be a minority in a dangerous environment....not that I think Sterling exists in that.

However I think I also know the difference between a genuine grievance and a BS one.

Poor Sterling getting mean words said to him at work.....I bet all those Policemen and nurses must be heartbroken for him.

Edited by Stirlingsays (11 Dec 2018 5.51pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Power doesn't justify abuse, racial or non racial. That seems to be your argument – 'Because he is rich he is fair game'. Not sure how that's an acceptable stance to take? I know it's a widely shared one, but you can be poor, or a person of 'average means' and have standards and respect. If he'd done something to slight someone, or abused a supporter, then fair enough. Yet to hear about it.

Are you saying you've never heard racist language used with real feeling and passion at a football match? If you're not, fine, I find that unbelievable. If that assumption is wrong, are you saying that when it does happen, it's nothing more than tribal tittle tattle, and because people do it all the time, it's fine. Anything goes. I'd like clarification on that, because it's almost unbelievable that that would be any sane persons viewpoint.

Are they racist, is that important? Seriously? Everybody, racism is fine, just fine. Everyone hurls all sorts of abuse, so why is racism any different. Mental in the coconut. Absolutely mad stance to take. And certainly one held by a rapidly diminishing minority. Also, this was in full public view, so it is important, even if it was not racial.

For reference, for the first three years of sitting in the Holmesdale, there were two yokels that sat behind us every home game. They both had a significant dislike for Puncheon. Fine. They constantly shouted mild abuse at him. Also fine, but a bit annoying as if you want to shout abuse, the best place to be is in the front three rows not the back of the stand.

They did occasionally cross the line and shout racist abuse. I confronted them on three occasions, and after the third, funnily enough, it stopped. They also no longer attend games, thank f***. Now, I doubt you'd be able to call them out and out racists, but there's also no way you could say they were 'just doing it for effect'. As a one off, maybe. Multiple times? There has to be some element of sympathy to such views. And this is not exactly uncommon in my experience. What annoys me is not enough people check them when they pipe up. It simply emboldens them and their only brain cell.

I'd also agree with the man baby comment. But I also think that makes them sound unduly soft. They're decrepit morons. It still amazes me that people like that manage to get anywhere in life.

Also, it's good that this has come to light, as the press do need a kick in the nuts every now and then.

Sun – [Link]

Edited by SW19 CPFC (11 Dec 2018 5.58pm)

Did you know? 98.0000001% of people are morons.

It is interesting to compare reporting on Phil Foden buying a house for his mum, and Raheem Sterling buying a house for his mum. There are other like for like examples that can be provided, that certainly go beyond parity, and often resort to the usual lazy gangsta/bling/ghetto references when reporting such 'stories'.

Agreed it's hard to prove it's racial – Beckham didn't exactly have an easy ride but bar the assault rifle tattoo story which at least had a credible visual start point for them to write about (even if the actual reason for the tattoo was different, and in my opinion a bit stupid) it's usually lazy journalism formulated around the stereotypical young black male narrative. Simple reading demonstrates this.

From the Sun itself...

'But is it possible some newspaper coverage of Sterling and other black players feeds into the treatment he gets from supporters, some of whom may be aggressively racist? Yes.

If people hold racist views and read about the ‘bling’ lifestyles of young black footballers, this can reinforce their racism and make them more likely to act hatefully.

It’s also true Chelsea have a problem with racism. They’re not the only ones but, as exemplified by the ugly incident on the Paris Metro in 2015, they have a more serious issue than most.

It would be good if the decent majority of Chelsea fans challenged racists more stridently.

Newspapers can also do more. Journalists should always be trying to understand the world more fully.'

I also totally agree with this

'Yet nobody is suggesting criticism of Sterling and other black players should be off-limits.

For instance, I hold the unpopular view The Sun’s story about Sterling’s gun tattoo was a legitimate talking point, at a time when violent crime is high.'

Did you know? 98.0000001% of people are morons.

The Sun is a rag....a percentage of its readers won't be over troubled by an excess of IQ points. However, the idea that we should treat players like Sterling differently because he is black.....well isn't that racism itself.

If a journalist wants to criticise a player then that's where it starts and ends.....looking at what race or gender they are....well I know that's where we are now but it gets no support from me.

Edited by Stirlingsays (11 Dec 2018 6.18pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)