Anti-Semitic abuse at Eastlands - why are the CPS doing nothing?
As part of the punishment for my many sins, I go and watch Manchester City, and last weekend they played Tottenham. Tottenham are a club supported by a large contingent of Jewish fans, and as a result there was some pretty outrageous anti-semitic abuse directed towards the away fans.
I won’t type what was said, but it was very offensive, and I was pleased to see that the fan nearest to me who was spewing out the nasty stuff was removed straight away.
I was sad though to see him back for the second half, and not frog marched to the nearest police station. So I wrote to the club, who have since been absolutely excellent both in their treatment of my complaint, and in keeping me informed. Unfortunately they report a disturbing lack of cooperation from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in dealing with this problem, and they share my frustration and upset about this.
Manchester City seemed angry that, for the fan near me, their steward had not taken stronger action. They wrote a letter back to me which expressed in the strongest terms their intolerance towards racist abuse, and also their wish that I report both the location of the fan and the description of the steward so that they could take the necessary action against both. I wrote back to thank them, and now the club and I are involved in correspondence about the fate of some of the fans who were actually arrested. The letters don’t read well for anyone opposed to racist chanting.
Today’s letter arrived with a copy of another letter, sent by the club to the CPS regarding a 16 year old who shouted some abuse towards the Tottenham fans. He was arrested at the ground, taken to the police station, but released without charge, apparently after a decision taken by the CPS. This despite an agreement in place between the Police and CPS designed to stamp out hate crimes, which are, according to that agreement “any incident which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.” If screaming obscenities at people because they’re Jewish doesn’t fall under that description, I struggle to think what does.
I await the reply to the letter sent by Manchester City to the CPS, but like the club I am curious as to why this offender was let off, and why the CPS think it appropriate to take no action against him. The club themselves have banned him indefinitely, with a minimum three year ban applicable only if he apologises.
Football has run a very public campaign to stamp out racism in the past few years, and I cannot fault Manchester City for their efforts in trying to punish offenders and communicating with me on this issue. Unfortunately without a collaborative approach involving the Police, CPS and the clubs, we will not be able to stop people racially abusing others.
Rick
3 Comments
have your say
You raise an important issue here, which deserves a serious response (even from me, who really is a Spurs fan – again, for my sins).
I think there are two important points which might be worthy of more thought. Firstly, the chants were directed at the fans, rather than at any particular player. Abuse of Black players has been seen many times before, and (to the best of my knowledge), such incidents have, on occasion, been dealt with rigorously by the CPS. It does seem to suggest that perhaps the CPS consider abuse of players, rather than fans, to be something worth pursuing more vigorously.
Secondly, there is a large contingent of travelling Spurs fans who proudly display large flags, emblazoned with the words “Tottenham Yids” – the word “Yids” itself being considered by some to be a highly offensive word. And in fact, many of those fans are not actually Jewish! So, to a certain extent, it can be suggested that those fans invite abuse. Although I would stress that this does not excuse such abuse, and racial abuse of any kind is to be condemned, without reservation.
Perhaps (I really can’t be certain), it could be argued that “anti-semitic” abuse of Spurs fans is based simply on this platform, and has no real meaning. In much the same way, remarks are passed about the safety of visiting fans car wheels, when in Liverpool. I have been the victim of what could (by the narrow-minded) be considered an anti-semitic joke of late: “What is the difference between Tottenham Hotspur and a Star of David? A Star of David has more points!” Hurtful? Yes. Accurate? It was, at the time. Anti-semitic? No, I don’t think so. The humour of the joke is lost, if applied to any team other than Spurs (or possibly Arsenal, whoever they might be).
My point is – I genuinely do not think that 99.9% of those who chant such things at Spurs fans are being either racist or anti-semitic, although perhaps, in a wider context, they are being decidedly less than “PC”. But is it always necessary to stay within the bounds of PC constraints – is the opportunity to “let off steam” to be denied, under any circumstances?
I accept that I didn’t hear what the guy you referred to was actually chanting – but I have heard such things before, and generally (although sounding perhaps strident and offensive to some), they are meaningless.
Have there been any physical attacks on Spurs fans, on a racist/anti-semitic basis? I don’t know – but I’ve not heard of it.
Would the costs involved in having the CPS prosecute these fans be worth the effort? Personally, I think not. If MCFC choose to ban them, fine – but let’s not turn ill-judged chanting into something of much more serious intent, where no such intent probably exists, and end up in a witch-hunt.
It would be good to see THFC ban those “Tottenham Yids” flags too - they hardly help.
I remember, many years ago, taking my own son to White Hart Lane, and how he was laughing at all the “rude words” that were being shouted. He’s grown up now, but that experience didn’t turn him into a man who uses foul language all the time. What it DID do was give him the opportunity to see a REAL football team in action – and perhaps it also contributed in a small way to his becoming the person his father is so proud of today.
Hopefully, you will be present on May 16th at White Hart Lane, when we will all enjoy a good game, with no racist abuse… and your lot will get smacked again!!
I agree with your points, and in fact my letters to City on the subject do make a big difference between stuff that I think most people would consider mild, and more serious things.
I sit in the “singing section” at Eastlands where I suppose most of the more involved fans sit. It is also right next to the away fans, which means that the abuse can easily be targeted at one or two individual fans.
I have no problems with swearing at the football, and wouldn’t want to see anyone try to stop what you rightly say is an important part of going to the game i.e. letting off steam. And I can see that Spurs fans chanting “Yid Army” or similar is not racist.
Unfortunately at the game last week the abuse was absolutely spiteful and way beyond this type of thing. Making hissing noises like gas chambers, referring to Nazi leaders, and putting the word “Jewish” in between a number of profanities. I do consider this a lot more serious, completely different from “Yid Army” songs, and worthy of CPS action.
Just to be clear, these weren’t “chants” made by thousands at the same time. This was one or two people shouting out, by themselves, towards the Spurs fans, way above and beyond the banter usually exchanged between the fans. That more didn’t join in is a good thing, but that action wasn’t taken against the offenders by the CPS is shameful.
This is not a new problem. Many times I was with Man U fans v Spurs in the ’90s and the same thing occurred, hissing sounds and chants about the holocaust. Sadly it WASNT isolated groups but hundreds if not thousands. It probably still goes on, still unreported. Councillor, I request your further endeavours to publise this issue.