A Dispatches programme on Channel 4 tonight examines discrimination in football and includes young children chanting “do you take it up the arse, fagotts!”
Tonight the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN) will be featured in the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary “Undercover: Hate On The Terraces” (C4 8pm) where the ongoing lack of action against homophobia at football matches is discussed.
Along with racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic abuse the documentary highlights:
• 20 homophobic incidents across three matches at Brighton & Hove Albion. Even though last season their fans complained to the FA that they’d received homophobic abuse in more than half their matches.
· Anti-Semitic chanting last September, by Chelsea fans mocking the home club Tottenham’s Jewish links. Yet stewards were disinterested in investigating the incident brought to their attention by an undercover reporter.
· Several incidents of anti-Semitic chanting at home and away fixtures between West Ham and Tottenham – yet there is currently no FA or police investigation into West Ham.
· Several incidents of racist and Islamophobic chanting by Millwall fans at an away match at Leicester. The police later said they weren’t aware of any racist incidents during this match even though an undercover reporter reported the abuse to a steward and the police at the time
In early 2013 the GFSC produced a report in conjunction with the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club (BHASC) highlighting extensive homophobic chanting against BHAFC fans from over 72% of opponents in the 2012/13 season, and resulted in the Crown Prosecution Service making a strong statement to reiterate the laws concerning abuse on the terraces
To read the report, CLICK HERE:
The GFSN is currently working on a follow-up report detailing current levels of abuse and action that has been taken since the first.
GFSN Chair Chris Basiurski, said: “This documentary highlights the large amount of homophobic and other abuse still encountered at games across the country. The GFSN is especially concerned about how young people are involved in the abuse and are worried about the impact this is having on LGBT people in football and in society in general. Action is being taken across the game to address it, but much work still needs to be done. Football is for everyone and LGBT people should not be put in a situation where they feel scared to attend matches.”
While Brighton is considered to be the gay capital of England, last season their fans complained to the FA that they’d received homophobic abuse in more than half their matches. However, the abuse continues for Brighton fans this season with Channel 4 Dispatches cataloguing twenty homophobic incidents across three matches.
Last August, the Crown Prosecution Service and police introduced what they called ‘robust’ new guidelines to deal with homophobic chanting. The day after this announcement Despatches filmed at a Brighton & Hove Albion home game against Burnley. Channel 4 reporters filmed examples of Burnley fans singing homophobic chants just meters away from a police officer.
At another match between Brighton & Hove Albion away to Wigan, they filmed several examples of homophobic chanting and comments.
These included:
“It’s a long way home, you faggots”
“Get bumming him boys …Gayboy”
“Do you take it up the arse?”
Small children can be clearly heard joining in with the chants.
With 15 minutes left of the game, an undercover reporter spoke to the stewards and was told one family had been ejected for homophobic abuse, but the chants continued. Channel 4 showed their footage to two gay football fans.
Elliot Toms, a Brighton season ticket holder says: “It’s clear some of it’s stepping over the line really. So yeah, yeah I do find that shocking.”
Chris Basiurski, chair of the GFSN, added: “Could you hear the kids voice singing it, very loud and very clear. Sounded about 6 or 7 years old. I was very worried about that. He’s going to grow up thinking yes it’s okay to laugh and sing about gay people.”
Both supporters believe that the football authorities do not take homophobia as seriously as other types of abuse. When asked if they would be able to go and support their local team and not hear a homophobic chant, Elliot says: “Well perhaps at the current rate I don’t think that will ever happen but you know with a bit of effort, you know we could probably stamp this out in perhaps a decade or so.
Darren Bailey, FA Director of Governance and Regulation, says: “Clearly footage that you’ve shown is of concern and we wouldn’t want to see any of that nature, in any of our grounds.”
“We all have a responsibility – clubs, supporters, players, law enforcement and the FA…We actually write out to all clubs that visit in advance of fixtures against Brighton, home and away to tell them and remind them of their responsibilities.”
“It may not be working as effectively as we would wish and we have to continue to squeeze out those number of incidents wherever we’re able to do so…We can only do this collectively. So we need the work of the police, we need the work of the crown prosecution service, we need the work of the judiciary.”
During the programme the most senior police office in England responsible for policing football tells Channel 4 that there is a problem with under reporting of racist incidents at football matches.
Chief Inspector Katy Woolford, Brighton & Hove Division, said: “Sussex Police is working in partnership with Brighton and Hove Albion to challenge any form of hate crime at matches at the Amex.
“We are proud of our reputation across the country and this is echoed by supporters both home and away.
“This is not solely a policing issue. We work closely with partners and support stewards when complaints have been made to achieve positive outcome. When officers become aware that homophobic or racist abuse is taking place, there is an expectation that they will take action, using their professional judgement as to what the appropriate course of action should be.
“We have been praised by Stonewall, the Football Association and the pressure group Kick it Out for our joint working partnership and have been asked to assist other clubs in this area.
“We are not complacent and accept there is more to be done. We will consider the footage shown on Dispatches and will continue to work with Brighton and Hove Albion to challenge unacceptable behaviour.”
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