The sickening sight of Tom Adeyemi (Oldham defender) being reduced to tears by racist insults shouted at him by Liverpool fans during an F.A Cup tie, is a result of Liverpool’s response to Suarez’s racism. It also shows the seeds that the England national team and Chelsea are sowing by allowing Terry to continue to play and to captain a side, despite facing criminal charges of using racist language against Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League game.
Suarez was found by an F.A. enquiry to have used the term ‘negro’ seven times in two minutes when playing against Evra. After Suarez had been found guilty and issued with a lengthy ban, Liverpool players, with Dalglish’s approval, wore t-shirts in support of him. There were fans at the F.A. Cup tie with Oldham who were wearing Suarez t-shirts – a clear indication that Suarez is becoming a mascot for racist fans. Liverpool F.C. has allowed this to happen by refusing to condemn Suarez.
The continuation of Terry as England captain compounds the situation and makes a mockery of the F.A.’s ‘Kick Racism out of Football’ campaign. It is telling that Terry was sacked as England captain when he was alleged to have had an affair with a team mate’s estranged partner. It appears slighting a team mate’s pride and ‘stepping on his toes’ is deemed more serious than allegations of criminally racist acts.
This is a dangerous time for football. Football is a hugely popular sport and, in my opinion, it is indeed ‘the beautiful game.’ The continuing scandals about player behaviour, including allegations of sexual assaults and racism, need to be clearly responded to by fans. There is real danger that the racism emerging from some Liverpool fans on Friday night could grow and allow the club to become a focus for organised racists and fascists.
Liverpool fans need to organise petitions and demonstrations at the ground to ensure pressure is brought on Dalglish and the Directors at Liverpool to condemn Suarez and any racist fans. The wearing of provocative t-shirts, such as those with Suarez on, should be banned at Liverpool matches. England fans should be demanding the sacking of Terry as England captain and his suspension from the team.
There can be no return to the days when organised fascists were welcomed on football terraces and it is anti racist fans who now need to organise to fight back. There have been fantastic examples of football fans collecting for workers on strike stretching from the 1984 Miners’ Strike to the collections for striking journalists in Doncaster last year. Football fans are the workers, students and unemployed people that are standing up against the current cuts and who can also stand firm against racism taking a hold at their grounds.
German football clubs such as St.Pauli in Hamburg give a vision of what a progressive football club could look like. St Pauli’s constitution contains a position against racism, sexism and homophobia. It banned adverts by the men’s magazine Maxim from the ground because of their sexist nature. The club’s principles speak of ‘tolerance and respect in mutual human relations.’
The 50+1 rule in German football has always meant that fans have a majority control of their club. Something that would be great to see here. But, more importantly, the fight is now on to ensure Liverpool and England fans, and all lovers of football, organise against any resurgence or expression of racism within the game and actually realise the goal of ‘Kicking Racism Out Of Football.’
