Should Club Ban Racist Fan?
By Tyne-Talk
December 11 2008
When Middlesbrough's Egyptian striker Mido complained of racist/islamaphobic chanting from the Newcastle United fans in August 2007 action didn't appear to be taken. It led to Mido this week accusing the Football Association of "inviting" it to happen again, after he was again racially abused during last weekend's Tyne-Tees derby.
He appealed for the FA to take further action and complete their investigation. He told Egyptian TV station Al Hayat; "They kept chanting disgusting words, racist words about Islam and unfortunately, this is the second time that the same fans have done this. It happened again because after the first time the English FA did nothing. I considered this as an invitation from the English FA to the Newcastle supporters to repeat such shameful acts. I can assure you that nothing is going to happen this time again. The English FA said that they will be investigating the issue and will make use of the latest technology to stop such racist abuse of players but I feel that nothing will happen. I am asking the English FA to take serious action to stop such things. These chants are not directed at me as a person but it is directed at Islam." Prior to the FA concluding their investigation they released a statement which read; "Our position on these matters always is that any individuals who are identified and found guilty of discriminatory chanting, we will be calling for them to be banned." Two fans were arrested for racist abuse after the recent game, Barry Norman Hutchinson and his 23 year old son faced Magistrates on Tuesday, whilst his son denied the charges, Barry Norman Hutchinson admitted the offence of "racist or obscene chanting" under the Football Offences Act 1991. Hutchinson received a £270 + £45 costs but was NOT given a banning order preventing him from attending games up and down the country. Middlesbrough, the FA and the Kick It Out charity have expressed their concern at allowing people found guilty of such charges back into the grounds to continue doing as they pleased. Boro's statement read; "We are disappointed that a banning order has not been issued in this case. It makes it very difficult for football clubs to have a robust anti-racism policy without the support of the courts." The FA re-iterated the point in their statement; "The FA is disappointed that a football banning order was not imposed in this case. It is important to send out a strong message that racist and discriminatory chanting is totally unacceptable, and that anyone found guilty will face serious consequences." Newcastle United FC vowed prior to the hearing to ban any fans found guilty of such offence. They are yet to comment on the outcome. Whats Your View?
Boro made a statement to ban racist fans so should we and all other clubs.
I assume this will all hit the headlines again in a few months when his son goes back to court for a trial.
Anyone charged with breaching the Football Offences Act is assesed on a case-by-case bases, why change it?
It's the way Law works.
He wasn't likely to get much more than a fine.
The ban however is potentially to be enforced by the club is that something you agree with?
Or are you saying he was given his punishment and that should be it the club should allow him to continue going.
always felt a bigger deal was being made out of it and Mido's comments to the media were exagerrated.
i was at the game and heard a large number of the crowd making bomber and mumbai references to Mido but nothing explicitly to Islam.
yes i would still class this as racism and in no way condone it but would not class this as a direct attack on islam as Mido suggests.
Nothing has come out what the 2 individuals have actually said but the punishment suggests it is not as sensational as boro and FA make out.
Therefore i do not see it fair to ban them from every stadium if the courts have assessed the incident and do not think it right to.
I'm sure there have been court cases where you have disagreed with the sentence passed down.
Can the FA ban them from all grounds? - Is there a legitimate ruling stating they can do that?
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Ban him for life.
Speaking of banning fans. Did you see the photos in the papers of the people wanted for homophobic abuse of Sol Campbell?
I swear that one of them has an NUFC home kit on.
Heres the perfect time to make an example.
The "fan" deserves all he gets
a friend was banned from every stadium for 2yrs for falling asleep whilst drunk at boro (coincidence)
appealed but got no where
as i feel this was pretty harsh for what seems a harmless and certainly not offensive offence
its also why i believe the recent "fan" musnt have committed as severe a crime as its made out
although other here have pointed out courts dont always make the right decisions so who knows
