Message Board on Official Site

Has been taken down.

 

Details

BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB STATEMENT
BARNSLEY Football Club regret to inform supporters that the message board on the Official Website has been removed for the foreseeable future.

This comes in the wake of libellous, defamatory and racist comments posted by certain individuals following last weekend's match against Doncaster Rovers.

The Club are currently investigating with the full co-operation of Football League Interactive and we are extremely confident the perpetrators will be identified. A dossier passed to South Yorkshire Police at the earliest opportunity.

Barnsley Football Club takes a very dim view of these events and will be taking the strongest possible action against any individuals proven to have made such comments.

 

RE: Details

Crikey. racist and defammatory. Good job everyone on here is so circumspect in their contributions.

Hello ? Is that Raleys ?

 

RE: Details

libellous and defamtory?

deja vu all over again

 

I didn't know there was one.

 

RE: I didn't know there was one.

I think it's always been there. Not many people use it. Think you have to register.

 

If you have to register

then it should be easier to find out who has been posting bad things.

 

RE: If you have to register

That's what I thought. Are you not at school?

 

Just seen your reply to Windy. n/t

 

Could be supporters of other clubs trying to cause a bit of trouble.

 

you did have to register, but......

.....the general standard of contribution on there was lowest common denominator.

 

Good to see the club taking a stand against racist behaviour.

While not in the same league as racial abuse, could any of the following be considered defamatory?

"A DISGRACEFUL display by controversial referee Uriah Rennie ensured the official was the centre of attention yet again and left the Reds down to nine men ending all hopes of a contest at Oakwell."

"Referee Uriah Rennie showed he had lost none of his desire to be the centre of attention and ruined a good contest by showing Austin a straight red card even though it was Coppinger's initial reaction that started the whole incident."

"The visitors again went close in stoppage time after more dumbfounding refereeing by Rennie as this time Green found a yard of space on the edge of the area but hammered the ball well over the top."

"Rennie gave nothing but refused to show the diving Rovers' winger a yellow card for his theatrics."

"Rennie again ensured the second half was all about him on 73 minutes as he dismissed Kay for a late challenge on Coppinger. Kay's foul was late but once again the official opted for a red card instead of using whatever common sense he had and merely cautioning the Reds defender."

In my opinion such comments lack the professionalism required for the official web site of a football club, but I don't think they are defamatory. I think the observations and conclusions drawn are strongly worded, but had they merely been the opinion of an individual rather than official stance of a club I don't see any problem. I'm sure Mr Rennie is of strong enough character to take such criticism and I would be surprised if such comments affected him in the slightest. We are all very passionate about football particularly when issues concern the club we love and as such we do tend to express our opinions strongly. Rob Knowles probably let his emotions get the better of him with the Doncaster match report, but it only shows he cared about the result and maybe in future he'll temper his emotions somewhat. Or he could write what he really feels on here and publish a more considered version of events on the official site. I certainly don't think legal action should be taken because he expressed an opinion about the performance of a referee. Just as legal action should not be taken when one of us expresses an opinion about the performance of our players, manager, chairman and owner within the context of the workings of Barnsley FC.

 

RE: Good to see the club taking a stand against racist behaviour.

(Y)