But his stance isn't about religion is it ? And in the context of the equalities act, given that it isn't a question of religion but a question of belief, why should his beliefs trump mine ?
His stance is irrelevant: Barnsley FC have been fined for their fans chanting ... F *** the Pope. If you see that as a justifiable thing to do - then you’re part of the problem, whether you accept that or not.
You’re really struggling with this donny aren't you ? The thread is entitled sectarian chanting which is what we’re accused of. Sectarianism isn't necessarily religious.
I may be mistaken but from memory he didn't turn his back at Oakwell, he stood alongside his colleagues and waited for the last post to end. Same as I would if I was at an event with a led prayer.
Sectarianism isn’t necessarily religious - but the chant contains the line F *** the Pope. It’s indefensible and no amount of pigeon chess will alter that fact. I appreciate that you think McClean is the devil incarnate, but I think you’re allowing that to cloud your judgement. I personally think he’s utterly stupid, and that even if he was a signed up member of the IRA, rememberance day isn’t about supporting our armed forces, but about the futility of war. but all that’s irrelevant, our fans chanted F the pope so we were rightly fined. I’m not happy our fans are that stupid.
I’ll ask again, are you sure those are the offending lyrics? Plenty of teams across the country have sang that song over the years and not punished for it, so why now? Why us? Maybe the chant we are actually getting punished for was “dirty fenian b*stard” which was sung by a number of fans in the Ponty end that day. Either way there are no specifics gone into by our statement so it’s pure guesswork on anyone’s part.
How do you need the charge to be any more specific? that line is clearly in breach of the rules and was definitely chanted in the game in question.
The song is chanted nearly every game. There is a referee present every game so why has it just been reported now? If it’s clearly in breach of the rules why are we the first team to be charged when over the years countless teams have sung the same song? Very inconsistent application of the rules by the FA if that song is what got us the charge.
i sit at the back of the east stand upper, from where i sit he stood offset from his teammates then turned away from the bugler. I’d have much preferred him to have stayed in the dug out then join the pitch afterwards rather than so blatantly demonstrate his contempt for our act of remembrance, but good manners obviously arent his thing.
I think you’ve gotten yourself in a tangle over this one donny lad but we all have our off days. We haven't been fined for chanting about the pope we’ve been fined for sectarian chanting as the OP suggests. However, I do agree with you that its regrettable to include the pope and I too wish that we hadn't. Signing off for now nip as Sunday lunch preparations have reached a critical stage but as always I look forward to keeping you in check when next you decide to post bo11ocks TTFN
Why are you so sure we’re the first to be charged? reading the whataboutery on this thread led me to look at the news that Millwall fans were being investigated for racially abusing Diaby. their thick racist fans issued the following: Justification - he was winding up our fans Victim hood - it’s always us that get done, there’s racist fans at every club. Obfuscation - who says it’s racist / there’s no proof anyone did anything racist, it could have meant something else. Frankly it’s ridiculous - like watching a bunch of 10 yr olds with chocolate all over their faces being asked about shoplifting. most of us rightfully agreed Millwall included a significant following of Racist tw@s and their excuses were pathetic.
I'm seated ESU so it was a different angle. But honestly don't see anything disrespectful in this. Turning your face away isn't turning your back or making any other large gesture. If he'd dropped his keks and done a poo on the pitch then I could understand the anger but turning your face away isn't worth this level of vitriol.
What a lot of fuss about chants about the pope who stands for something that doesn’t exist. How peculiar
One of us definitely... Lucky you're here to keep me in check eh?... The only point I made BTW... you spent all this while telling me I'm wrong then... Cheers nip
Let's sing about Allah against huddersfield and maybe Hitler and the nazis just for good measure. Singing about terrorist or religious leaders has no place at football.
When i watched i had forgotten that he was playing for them. I spotted a player clearly turn his head away when the last post started and that caught my attention. Then i had the ‘ahhhh’ moment as the penny dropped on realising who it was. So if i was a witness then i would say he intentionally turned his head away. having said all that Im even more disappointed that we have fans who cant rise above and drag our name through the mud time and again. Its clear that refs and officials are on high alert at reporting any discrimination or inappropriate behaviour