Fan banned in Saha race controversy returns to football

, 27 March, 80comments  |  Jump to most recent
An Everton supporter who was controversially barred from football for three years will retake his seat at Goodison Park this weekend after an appeal on the ban was upheld.

In an incident that sparked debate over what constitutes racism, Dave Sibson was reported to matchday stewards by a fan for calling then-Everton striker Louis Saha a "lazy French bastard" and, in addition to a £400 fine, was banned from watching the Blues for three years.

After no objections from the police and following numerous letters of support from fellow Evertonians local Magistrates have today lifted his ban after two years and he will be able to resume watching his beloved Everton, starting on Saturday against Stoke City.

Mr Sibson would like to thank all of the Evertonians for their support and good wishes and now wants to put all of this sorry episode behind him and "carry on being the true Blue he is".  



Reader Comments (80)

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Nick Entwistle
1 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:23:53
I'll take my ten foot barge pole and look the other way...
Carl Sanderson
2 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:28:24
That ban was a totally disproportionate sanction. Shame on the individual who grassed Sibson.
Chris Leyland
3 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:35:00
Yes Carl shame on the grass, that's the attitude. Next thing you know they will be letting women vote and black and white people will be allowed to sit next to each other on buses.
Ross Edwards
4 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:41:45
Carl,

Are you condoning discrimination?

The scumbag insulted him purely on his country of origin. If we want to take a firm stand on racism and discrimination, this idiot shouldn't be allowed in. And, finally the "grass" did the right thing because, if he wouldn't have complained, he would have got away with it.

No wonder racism still exists in the game with attitudes like this.

Ross Edwards
5 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:47:16
Nick
I would put that barge pole to good effect if I were you. I'd beat him repeatedly with it. We don't want scum like this connected with our club. Disgusting.
Luke Dunn
6 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:50:15
Surely someone who buys a ticket can voice their discontent towards someone getting 50 grand a week and who on many occassions never broke sweat. PC brigade, kindly fuck off.
Carl Sanderson
7 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:51:37
Christ, here comes rent-a-mob. I didn't condone anything. I merely opined that the ban was disproportionate. That's all.
Tony Gee
8 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:53:11
Welcome back to Goodison Park, Mr Sibson...

I see the PC correct, tree hugging keyboard warriors are getting in their lilly-livered liberal opinions in early on this thread....

Well said Carl...

Nil Satis

Davie Turner
9 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:58:55
Credit to the person who 'grassed' him up, he deserved the full ban, wonder if Mr Sibson has learnt anything or if he just feels a victim, I hope he has learnt something but fear he probably still just a idiotic muppet.
Phil Sammon
10 Posted 27/03/2013 at 20:46:43
Ross Edwards
Chris Leyland

Lets be clear - this is not some mad racist calling for a return to the dark ages.

He has said something negative and included Saha's nationality in the insult. He wasn't insulting Saha for his ethnicity, he was insulting his effort in the game.

I think it's a very dangerous road we go down when people like yourselves shout 'racist' without any understanding of a situation.

For many a year at Everton games, it rang round the ground: 'The best little Spaniard we know' – As I recall there was no mass outcry of racism.

Why is it acceptable to reference a person's nationality only in a positive light?

Steavey Buckley
11 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:06:37
Those without sin cast the first stones. Comes to mind.
Ross Kerry
12 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:06:35
It's about time people stopped singling out us lazy bastards, I've had enough of it.
Paul Kelly
13 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:01:37
Us Everton fans get discriminated on our city of origin by away supporters. Never hear of the whole away end getting banned for singing anti-scouse songs.

Maybe a few on here should report the away end next time we play Man Utd if they're so concerned. I would like to know how far it would be taken.

Ben Jones
15 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:13:03
Is this gonna be another situation when that Dominic Bobadilla guy came on and started shouting anti-British spiel?
Carl Sanderson
16 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:13:44
Nick 162:

Ring any bells?...

Nick Entwistle
107   Posted 18/11/2011 at 19:50:04
Report

I said it was an insult - JUST NOT A RACIST ONE!

Nick Waters
17 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:01:32
Agreed Carl, some pious shite on here. What he said was wrong but hardly worthy of the draconian ban given originally. Christ, you could fill 100 new prisons if Francophobia like that was investigated and prosecuted in this country.

Besides there have been a number of posters on other topics referring to 'Scottish' this and that about Naismith and Moyes on a regular basis but I'm not aware of calls to ban them from Toffeeweb for any determinate period? So why is one person judged differently from others for saying similar things?

Bobby Thomas
18 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:00:46
Jesus wept gents.......have any of you ever heard the kind of things are routinely said at football grounds every week?

A 3-year ban for that is absurd.

Ross, you're saying you would beat him with a large wooden pole!! I'm disgusted and am campaigning for a ban!!;-)

Violence-free zone maaaaan!

Kevin Tully
19 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:15:11
You should have heard what I politely called Mr Moyes when we were 3 down and had 11 back for a corner against Wigan.

10-year ban for me it is!

Carl Sanderson
20 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:23:45
Nick Waters:

Well it gives people a chance to climb into their high horses, flaunt their liberal credentials and indulge their sanctimoniousness. Sibson acted like an idiot in a moment of frustation, fair enough. But a two-year ban? Suarez insulted Evra repeatedly and calculatedly and got an eight-game ban. Which one was proportionate?

Tim Kells
21 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:26:50
Dear oh dear. The world's gone politically correct mad if saying what this guy said deserves any kind of ban. Some people on here need to lighten up. I mean they are not offended by calling him a 'bastard' which is factually incorrect nor calling him 'lazy' which is not true of any footballer but because he used his nationality. Nationalities for years have been used to jokingly point out distinctions between each nation and local differences. Next some of you lot will be offended for being called 'scousers'.
Lyndon Lloyd
22 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:33:33
Nick W: Besides there have been a number of posters on other topics referring to 'Scottish' this and that about Naismith and Moyes on a regular basis but I'm not aware of calls to ban them from Toffeeweb for any determinate period?

My thoughts exactly. Give the bloke a stern warning or something but ban him for 3 years (5 if he hadn't pleaded guilty)...? Ridiculously OTT, if you ask me.

I'm 100% against racism and, in particular, will never understand the rationale of abusing, for example, black players on another team when your own team has black players you supposedly worship, but where do you draw the line? At race? Nationality? Region? City?

You hear "Geordie bastards" this and "Manc twat" that every week at football grounds and the bile spewed at Moyes ("Ginger c**t was a favourite) on this website in the wake of the Wigan game was embarrassing. But I wouldn't expect anyone to be banned from football for saying any of that at the match.

In this instance, the PC attitude went a step too far, IMO. I'd bet that if Saha were white or if Sibson had omitted the word "lazy" (thereby preventing the sensitive soul who reported him from projecting race into the equation where there was no racism implied), nothing would have been said or done.

Ian Tod
23 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:46:58
If all he said was "Lazy French Bastard", then I definitely think his punishment should not of even happened at all, that's genuinely nothing really. If he was using epitaphs then maybe we're on a different plane, but this punishment was totally over the top.
Barry Curran
24 Posted 27/03/2013 at 21:51:39
So... if he deserved a ban for that, by the same token, no more Irish jokes, yahoo!

Sometimes people take the piss out of things, like it's okay to call him a bastard but not a French one.

Ian Edwards
25 Posted 27/03/2013 at 22:06:55
Ross Edwards

The supporter simply fell foul of the modern crime of political correctness. Advocating violence against him is misplaced.

Perhaps being banned from watching Moyes's dreadful football for 3 years was a piece of good fortune.

Ray Roche
26 Posted 27/03/2013 at 22:08:21
Since when has it been out of order for an Englishman to give the French some stick? I thought it was our duty. Has the world gone mad? There's even some dick on here suggesting that women have got the vote! FFS....

A three year ban was ridiculous. It's not as if his comment, "Lazy French Bastard", was in anyway inaccurate.

Tim Kells
27 Posted 27/03/2013 at 22:26:20
Careful, Ray, calling him a 'dick'. Calling him a 'French dick' will get you banned!
Drew O'Neall
28 Posted 27/03/2013 at 22:43:39
Well said Carl, I thought the lunatics had taken over when I saw the level of offence this, at least two-thirds accurate slur, had began to cause among our timid flock.
Ray Roche
29 Posted 27/03/2013 at 22:47:38
Tim, I shall try to be more careful in future..
Andy McNabb
30 Posted 27/03/2013 at 23:25:25
Gosh - a bit of sanity at last in a world gone mad.

Well summed up,Lyndon.

Gavin Ramejkis
31 Posted 27/03/2013 at 23:30:36
The debate was done to death at the time, the "race" tag surely a misnomer as France and French isn't a race its a country and the insult xenophobic rather than racist as Mr Sibson didn't use Saha's colour or creed. You do hear a hell of a lot worse at the match every week. If "lazy French bastard" upsets you so much, both sets of fans and several players would have lifetime bans if their comments were broadcast.
Andy Crooks
32 Posted 27/03/2013 at 23:33:12
A number of years ago I watched a junior game, this is true by the way, in which a player called Hugh Moffatt-Bew, yes, really, was referred to as a stuck up cunt.
Phil Bellis
33 Posted 28/03/2013 at 00:32:26
Spot the offence in the following, variations of which were heard often at certain Everton games in the 80s...

"Fuck off, Rush, yer ugly big-nosed, turncoat, Welsh, kopite twat"

Gavin Ramejkis
34 Posted 28/03/2013 at 00:34:55
Andy I'm surprised someone didn't tell him to get back to the fire station in Trumpton.
Jamie Sweet
35 Posted 28/03/2013 at 00:34:24
Lazy? Check.

French? Check.

Bastard? Not sure.

Worst case scenario: it was two thirds fact and one third a little bit insulting.

Alan Humphreys
36 Posted 28/03/2013 at 00:52:52
Not only was he banned for 2 years but, to add insult to injury, the poor sod's first game back is Stoke, ffs. Dave Sibson – I'd impose a further game ban in protest.
James Stewart
37 Posted 28/03/2013 at 01:34:30
@191 nails it. To ban someone for that is complete stupidity. Anyone who has actually been to a match will have heard a lot worse.
Peter Thistle
38 Posted 28/03/2013 at 04:17:08
How is it racist, he didn't mention his colour. It's nationalist at best, who really cares about that? I bet nobody was offended apart from the PC idiot who reported him. If you pay 30+ quid to watch Saha play you have every right to call him lazy (which he was).
Eric Myles
39 Posted 28/03/2013 at 04:58:28
Phil #181, and I wonder how many on here have sung about the 'Fat Spanish Waiter' and not been banned from the ground?
Jim Potter
40 Posted 28/03/2013 at 05:59:13
Lyndon - spot on.

The ground would be empty if such outbursts resulted in bans.

Racism = wrong. But emotional outbursts like this one aren't "racism" the way I perceive it. No colour was mentioned or even alluded to.

If the "grass" had young kids with him and the bloke was constantly swearing - I have no problem with him speaking to the stewards.

But if it was just what was stated - then it was a ridiculously severe reaction by the authorities. English bastards.

Lee Courtliff
41 Posted 28/03/2013 at 08:16:44
Complete bullshit of the highest order.

Welcome back Mr Sibson.

Declan O'Shaughnessy
42 Posted 28/03/2013 at 08:37:09
Personally, I agree that the comment wasn't racist. And that the ban seems, on the face of it, at the higher end of the punishment scale.

On the other hand, I do wonder in what other sphere of life it is okay to stand up and verbally abuse another human? If you didn't like the food in a restaurant, is it okay to stand up and scream invective at the waiter or the chef? Is it okay in a shop? On the bus? Driving?

I know worse, much worse, goes on week in week out in football. But two (or many) wrongs don't make a right. Some will argue that context is everything, and that in the context of football abusing other fans, players, coaches or clubs is perfectly acceptable, part of the experience or simply "banter". I'm not sure I agree or follow that logic.

What really upsets me is when I see, on television, a young fan's face contorted in hatred simply because an opposition player does something he doesn't like (often that just means the player being alive). Or when a player had to take a corner in front of opposition fans and they hail abuse, hatred and objects at him.

It's all part of the same thing, and it's not something I like about football. I think turning a blind eye to it maybe goes back to when football was considered a sport for uneducated working class proles, who were viewed as animals, treated as animals and expected to behave like animals.

Vince Furnier
43 Posted 28/03/2013 at 08:56:36
I thought that I would just wade in here to agree with all of those condemning the PC shite that's been written on here. No bollocks the lot of them. I'm lazy and I've often been called a bastard and I'm English.

Now fuck off all those and others like pious Nick Entwistle. Crass attitudes like yours are part of the reason why this country is in so much shit.

Paul Andrews
44 Posted 28/03/2013 at 09:00:23
I think it is PC gone mad myself... Maybe I am just a thick Scouser?

Oops, I have just banned meself for the next 3 years for a racist remark.

Dave White
45 Posted 28/03/2013 at 09:12:53
I missed this when it happened. Did Distin himslef ever comment on it? I bet he's heard a lot worse.

Put things in perspective when you hear all the monkey chanting in some countries. The fines UEFA apply are derisory.

Kieran Fitzgerald
46 Posted 28/03/2013 at 09:31:16
Dave White, I suppose the difference is that it ended up before the local magistrate. In Italy whole sections of the crowd chant monkey noises yet because it doesn't appear before the local judge, you only get a ridiculous Uefa fine.

Overall, it's symptomatic of football. If I walked up to someone in the street and shouted what can be heard at a football match, I'd be arrested. Within a football ground, it's funny and part of the match day experience.

Phil Bellis
47 Posted 28/03/2013 at 09:33:24
Declan,

Nice attitude and food for thought but... If/when I get ignored waiting to be served in Wetherspoon's when the bar is short-staffed or the staff are busy chatting to their mates or the girls with the big tits, I don't rage at the minimum-waged servers; I walk out – there's more pubs around.

However, I don't think I'd be so meek and indifferent if I had paid £30 to get in and the staff were not doing their jobs...

Funny how with football we (most of us) routinely have a go at underperforming players and certain opponents. I presume you've never shouted abuse at the opposition: eg, Gerrard, Ronaldo, Suarez ?

Chris Regan
48 Posted 28/03/2013 at 09:50:14
Technically, referring to someone's nationality is an issue of ethnicity not race. A French person can be black, white, yellow or yellow. Your race is a physiological thing, ethnicity is socio cultural eg, religion, nationality etc.

My wife is racially Chinese; to people who meet her, they think she is Chinese, but she has never been to China, can't speak Chinese and, even worse can't cook Chinese food. In fact, she is a terrible cook.

Anyway my point is this ethnic or racial abuse can't be tolerated. The Germans tried to ethnically cleanse their land regardless of their people's race. Make a stand here, it's the thin end of the wedge.

James Morgan
49 Posted 28/03/2013 at 09:18:46
Spot on, Lyndon.

If calling someone by their nationality followed by a word such as "bastard" constitutes racism then I'd better go and get a pointy white hat!

Do I think Adrian Chiles is a Brummie twat? Yes! Why? Because he is a twat who happens to be a Brummie!

Do I think Frankie Boyle is a Scottish prick? Yes! Do I think all Brummies and Scots are twats/pricks? No!

What I don't condone is bringing people's race in to the equation, like that recent moron that got banned. PC madness!

Lee Browne
50 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:16:06
I agree with Carl 193 over the Suarez issue, he should've been given a warning at the match.
Thomas Surgenor
51 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:17:47
Banned for telling the truth?!

A - he was lazy
B - he is French

so calling someone French is now racist?
I could understand it if he said the word "Black" as that can be deemed offensive.

But is calling a French man "French" really offensive?

OK, can someone please tell me what is okay to mutter or moan when Naisy hits the first man with a cross?? Can we call him a crap blonde... crap Scot.... crap ??? or are we not allowed to critise at all??

THIS WHOLE THING IS RIDICULOUS
People justifying the ban need to have a good hard look at themselves!!

Sewer Rat gets 8 games... This fan gets over 50 game ban.

Liam Reilly
52 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:12:05
Biggest surprise to me is that Mr Sibson wants to come back at all. He must be a forgiving type when the club he loved booted him out of the ground for that remark and ensured he got a ridiculous ban.

Nonsense punishment. Certainly wasn't racist and a lot worse could be heard in the Main Stand at the Wigan game.

Nick Armitage
53 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:17:51
Chris Regan – what has the Third Reich got to do with this? The Germans tried to murder based on race, religion and genetics, not nationality. Issues like this become the thin end of the wedge when lefty people create spurious analogies based on inaccurate assumptions and ill conceived pre-conceptions. Irrespective of whether you agree or disagree with Dave Sibson, he simply insulted someone. Seriously, you need to get a grip.
Phil Sammon
54 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:48:31
Dave White (supremacist) – It was Saha, not Distin – but I suppose they all look the same to you.

Disclaimer: The above is intended as a humorous jibe at Dave White's little mistake. He is not a White Supremacist and nor am I. I do know there are a few of you for whom a sense of humour is a distant dream so thought I best clear up the matter.

Phil Bellis
55 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:59:26
Chris Reagan - cookist!
John Keating
56 Posted 28/03/2013 at 10:56:26
Ross 170. This had nothing to do with racism!

Unbelievable this guy even being brought up for it. If we got banned for things like this there'd only be you, Nick Entwistle and Chris Leyland at the match!!

It's hard to miss that Terry and Rat Face only get a few match bans for actual racist remarks and supporters can get life bans.

Political correctness gone crazy and people like you encouraging it. ['People like you' ... is that some sort of defamation?]

Tim Spring
57 Posted 28/03/2013 at 11:33:44
Nick, it was the Nazis not the Germans (some of whom drastically opposed Nazism) who tried to mass murder and ethically cleanse etc, but that is a different story.

It seems Dave Sibson was made an example of, I've heard a lot worse said in the stands of loads of grounds and go not only unpunished, but unreported.

Where football falls short and becomes a joke is when punishments are not consistent. Suarez gets 8 games for proven racism, monkey chants at Lazio get about a €4,000 fine, yet a fan in apparent frustration says something he would probably never say outside of a football ground gets a huge ban that has less, if even any, racial connotations. It would be interesting to see how many fans of any team would get bans if there were hidden cameras in stadiums.

I think the length of the ban was extreme but it doesn't make the comment acceptable, but Dave can look on the brightside and think at least his first game back wasn't Wigan, or he might have found himself on the end of a few comments that would have seen him get three more years!

Leon Nesbitt
58 Posted 28/03/2013 at 12:25:23
Well, that's Al Murray's Pub Landlord career over, then...
Gareth Fieldstead
59 Posted 28/03/2013 at 12:29:16
Taking this to it's conclusion when will Man Utd fans start being charged? Would they even have a song to sing if it became a criminal offense to insult an individual solely on the city they are from?

The amount of revenue courts could make is unbelievable, like a new council tax for football fans. PC brigade, absolutely ridiculous. If I had of been him I would never have set foot inside Goodison again. It is like the club are desperate to be seen to be doing something, to make up for the years of denial and inactivity when dealing with racism.

Tony J Williams
60 Posted 28/03/2013 at 12:52:03
Gareth, I don't imagine that it would have been Everton FC that imposed the ban, it was the judiciary.

Everton would have had to tow the line and uphold the ban.

Once the police were involved, Everton's involvement with the issue ended.

It was a piss-take of a ban and I imagine if he was guilty then about 95% of the crowd should get banned most games.

You will of course get the hoity toity pc bellwipes crying racism etc, when it wasn't a racist comment. We all know what a racist comment would have included... the word French wouldn't be it. It would be the colour of his skin.

Dave White
61 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:08:27
@ Phil 255

Ahhh! Now that's why I couldn't remember! Thanks for that (apart from the white supremicist accusation!)

Yes it's all coming back to me now....Saha....lazy...french...I'm not sure about his father though.

I wonder what the Punishment would've been if he'd said 'lazy french git' or something more PG.

Andy Meighan
63 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:10:09
Ross, you sound like a cracking fella to go for a pint with... not.

What a sham that ban was, calling someone a "lazy French bastard" does not constitute racism in my book. And name a fan in this country who hasn't at one time or another called a player French this or Portuguese whatever that or Manc the other.

If they were giving banning orders for every so-called racist remark shouted every week, the grounds of this country would be decidedly empty.

The world has gone PC mad. The shouting of the N-word and other such filth is vile and has no place in society, never mind football grounds, but this ban was so over the top it was untrue.

John Kelly
64 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:11:06
To Tony Williams #272 "Gareth, I don't imagine that it would have been Everton FC that imposed the ban, it was the judiciary."

Immediately Dave had been charged, and before he had been to court, the club took his season ticket from him and banned him from the ground – whatever happened to be innocent until proven guilty eh? That's where the club, in my opinion, were bang out of order.

The daft thing was that he was still allowed to go to Everton's away games until he was found guilty and, on one occasion, actually bumped into his accusers with nothing said either way.

When he was found guilty, he was subject to a banning order from all football grounds and travel to football – if England were playing away, he had to surrender his passport in the week before the game and only got it back after.

When the Olympics were on he got a letter warning him to stay away from all football matches – there's a lot more to a banning order than people realise.

If I were him, I wouldnt set foot in Goodison again but as he has watched Everton home and away wherever they have played including most European games (and has never even been spoken to by the Police) he still wants to go back... I would not be so forgiving of a club that had me found guilty from day one!

I am proud to have Dave Sibson as a friend because I know he is not a racist in any shape or form. (Although he is deffo not keen on Mancs!) It's good to read the debate on his situation and, while I don't agree with his dissenters, am more than happy to read their views too.

I'm glad his ban has been shortened and just hope there will be no more recriminations as he is a proper Evertonian.

John Keating
65 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:33:11
Jim, some interesting points raised regarding the implications of banning. Mind you, this is not the first time the Club have been heavy handed with genuine supporters.

The case of Richard Knights is absolutely atrocious and I'm amazed we haven't heard anything further about this in the media. Then again waiting for the Echo to take up the story would be like watching grass grow.

I'd be interested to know the latest regarding Richard.

Phil Sammon
66 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:41:03
John Kelly

Thanks for all that. It's interesting to get an insight as to how this silly episode has affected a decent man's life.

If he had have shouted something unequivocally racist then such a punishment would have been fair. However it is absolutely insane that a group of, allegedly educated, people sat down and concluded that this man's words warranted that level of punishment.

It's been said before but I've heard the phrase 'Fat Spanish Waiter' laughed and joked about in the media. What is so offensive about calling a Frenchman, 'French'?

If I were to offer a slight argument in defence of the club, I would say that they were attempting to dodge an issue that may have been picked up on by a wider audience. They simply cannot be viewed to condone racism in any form and, in view of that, took the safest possible option.

Sadly that is indicative of today's society. Everyone wants to be the first to shout 'racism' without really analysing the situation.

There's plenty worse things said at every football match every week and nothing is said.

Good to have him back anyway. Please pass on my regards, John, I'd be devastated if this happened to me.

Ross Edwards
67 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:00:25
I would just like to say that I don't in any way condone the use of violence against another human being, especially a fellow Evertonian, so I sincerely apologise to anyone who was offended or disgusted by my stupid and disgraceful comment. I also must say that I didn't read the article or know enough about the incident to warrant the comment I had written. I realise that calling Mr Sibson a "scumbag" was unnecessary and saying that he is a racist was also stupid.

Carl, I must also apologise to you unreservedly for ridiculously accusing you of condoning discrimination. Having read the article, I now realise that a 3-year ban was harsh on Mr Sibson for a comment that reflected Saha's effort in the game and not insulting him on grounds of ethnicity. I find it disgraceful that Mr Suarez only got an 8-match ban for a racial slur on Patrice Evra, and Mr Sibson got a 3-year ban for a seemingly harmless comment.

Once again, my comments were rash and uncalled for and I repeat again, I find violence abhorrent and do not condone it in any way. Apologies.

Ciarán McGlone
68 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:32:15
The one thing about this thread that sticks in my craw is the number of people using the term 'PC' as a thinly veiled cover for nothing but pure ignorance.

In my opinion, the law has rightly been expanded to included derogatory comments about nationalism in the broader interpretation of racial offences. Whether you agree with it or not is irrelevant... the offence is a fact. Legally, it is racism... and I'm happy enough with the evolution of the term..

As for fans who scream abuse at their own players on the pitch... I honestly think there's something lacking.

Carl Sanderson
69 Posted 28/03/2013 at 21:01:10
Let's move on. I see Kenwright was on Sky Sports tonight. He reckons 84% of Everton fans think that he's doing a good job..
John Kelly
70 Posted 28/03/2013 at 21:43:59
Ross Edwards (#370) well done for your apology; also Dave Turner (#180) – your comments are shameful and are just PC bandwagon garbage and would go so far as to say the only "idiotic muppet" on here is you Dave.

You come out with abject shite towards a person because he called a footballer who is French a "lazy French bastard" – he gave no mention of Louis Saha's colour or ethnic background – he referred to his country of origin, which in the eyes of the law was a racist comment – the law is an ass.

I'm glad the majority of decent honest non-racist fans on here have recognised that it was not a racist comment and have come out in support of Dave.

To the others ,it must be great to have never had a bad thought about someone because of their accent or country of origin – saints the lot of you!!

Ross Edwards
71 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:01:20
I think Carl that the board must have been that 84%, don't you think?
Paul Ferry
72 Posted 28/03/2013 at 21:54:50
This thread began at a low point with Nick Entwistle's glib little remark. It nosedived with the holier-than-thou piety of the people who forget in their sanctimonious flush that in fact the geezer had not unleashed ethnic slurs. But then it got a whole lot better as reason settled in and the opening shots began to look what they in fact, quite frankly silly.

So, it's nice to read Ross Edwards (370) having second thoughts and having the decency and dignity to apologize. If only the other priests would do the same.

Eric Myles
73 Posted 29/03/2013 at 05:13:44
One good thing about the PC brigade, they're keeping endless repeats of "Love Thy Neighbour" and "Mind Your language" off the telly.
Paul Andrews
74 Posted 29/03/2013 at 15:41:05
England fans accused of racist songs... BBC website says they sang the following... "Build a bonfire, build a bonfire put Rio on the top. Put Anton in the middle and burn the fuckin lot."

Can anyone explain the racism in that please?

Paul Ferry
75 Posted 29/03/2013 at 16:46:40
(593) words fail me if that's true. Perhaps our roving Eaeennnnngaaallaaaand reporter Kevin Hudson can mail in dispatch.

The proportion of dim-witted retards amongst our lovely Engalund away fan is truly scary. All those Darlington, Bury, and Notts County mutants. Patriotism? Don't make me laugh but boy oh boy do these Grimsby fans think they are dye-in-the-wool patriots when they spout their racist trash-talk or kick a middle-aged Belgian in the head when he's already down on the deck.

The small of smallest consolation for me is that these mindless morons spend a flood of sponds on trekking back and forth across the continent to 'support' a bunch of mediocrities who have even less chance of winning a trophy than Everton do.

Kevin Hudson
76 Posted 29/03/2013 at 20:22:35
Paul, you say..

"Perhaps our roving Eaeennnnngaaallaaand reporter Kevin Hudson can mail in dispatch."

I'm flattered. Can I help you...?

Paul Ferry
77 Posted 29/03/2013 at 22:31:31
Er, Kevin did you not tell us that you were travelling to Montenegro to watch the mediocrities? If I am wrong, then it's hardly a mortal sin,
Kevin Hudson
78 Posted 29/03/2013 at 23:49:33
I did attend the game, so what is your point?
Andy Crooks
79 Posted 30/03/2013 at 00:44:49
Kevin, I think Paul's point is simply the one I'm making. Going to Montenegro sounds different and exotic. Tell us what it was like!!
Paul Ferry
80 Posted 30/03/2013 at 03:23:48
Thanks, Andy. Jeez, KH, lighten up — I know from experience that you are somewhat literal and a little inflexible but 'roving reporter' was, guess what, light-hearted.

Mind you, anyone who would spend significant sponds to watch Ingalarraaand's mediocrities in MG, well ....

I was interested in your views of the accusations about Rio racism given you were at the next away game etc. Nothing more, nothing less.

Paul Ward
81 Posted 30/03/2013 at 05:07:09
Ross Edwards 170, I would like to know if you have ever erred by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. It sounds like you have not, with your self righteous views. I tend to judge people on their actions rather than what they say. You would rather beat someone with a barge pole repeatedly. I wonder if Mr Sibson is as violent as you.
Ross Edwards
82 Posted 30/03/2013 at 13:24:33
Note Paul Ward my apology on comment 370.

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