The number of incidents at grassroots level has increased dramtically.
Kick It Out is reporting a marked increase in racially motivated abuse against players and fans, sparking fears that the credit crunch is increasing tension in football stadiums across the country.
“When social situations worsen, there is a decline of tolerance,” said Kick It Out Chairman, Lord Herman Ouseley, “General frustration in people’s every day life spills over into racial, homophobic or other extreme forms of abuse when times are tough.”
“People look for targets and scapegoats. It happened in previous recessions in the 1970’s and again in the early 90’s. Some of the Premier League's younger fans won’t remember this but we are seeing parallels.”
The organisation has observed an increase in race-related incidents and a sense of intolerance creeping into grounds since the start of this season.
Particularly unsavoury encounters this season already include:
> Abuse of wheelchair supporters at Stoke City
> Homophobic abuse of Sol Campbell at Portsmouth
> A father and son charged and convicted for anti- Muslim abuse aimed at Middlesbrough’s Egyptian striker Mido
> A Tottenham supporter wearing a Kippah (Jewish skull cap) racially abused and chased out of a pub by Arsenal fans onto the A41 dual carriageway, to be knocked unconscious by a car, suffering a broken leg and ankle
Grassroots incidents
Kick It Out’s own reporting mechanisms have had twice as many incidents reported at amateur level for the first half of the season than in the whole of the 2007/08 season.
Butch Fazal, Chairman of the National Asians in Football Forum, and a figure heavily involved in the grassroots game, said, “Historically, people are quick to blame ‘the outsider’. Yet now we’re seeing somewhat of a shift in who that outsider is.
"Whereas in the past it may have been someone from the Pakistani community, it’s now the eastern European migrants. We work with many with Poles and Kosovans at this level and they’re in danger of feeling the brunt.”
Social trends
Lord Ouseley added, “Football has and always will mirror social trends. We know that the current financial situation is hitting fans’ pockets. Now it appears we are seeing the situation manifest itself within fans behaviour too.”
Leicester City captain Chris Powell agrees, “With rising unemployment and general financial uncertainty, crime rises, tensions rise and people lash out.”
“In the 80’s football grounds were often a breeding ground for disaffected young men. And with people like the BNP active in certain areas, I look at these incidents and think ‘are we really going back to those dark days?’ Sadly, there are echoes of it.”
Powell, an England regular under Sven Goran Eriksson, is predicting a tough time for stewards and police from supporters over the festive period.
Volatile situation
“The gap between privileged and poor comes under the spotlight at Christmas like no other time. They’ll be packed together in one place and it could fuel an already volatile situation.”
Home Office arrest statistics released last month indicate fewer arrests than ever before for racial abuse but Kick It Out has concerns about the statistics.
There have also been a number of recent cases where magistrates have not imposed banning orders, such as in the Mido case. Banning orders are widely regarded as a highly effective way of warning off potential perpetrators.
'Underestimate the problem'
According to Lord Ouseley, “The Home Office arrest figures are not an accurate reflection of the problem and far underestimate the reality of the growing problem”.
“This isn’t harmless terrace banter. We’ve been in the game too long to know the difference. There’s often a fine line between the two but what we’re seeing is the line has being crossed significantly.
"We’re sending out a message to clubs at all levels to be vigilant, for police and stewards to be decisive, and for our courts to apply the full force of law,” said Ouseley.
To report any incidents of discrimination, please call Kick It Out on 0800 16 99 414 or email info@kickitout.org
