Bangitintrnet wrote: January 30th, 2023, 7:51 pm Is anyone other than Stan suggesting court action?
There is a world were people interact perfectly outside of court.

CathedralCounty wrote: January 25th, 2023, 2:57 pm The Football Association (FA) can now charge clubs if their fans use a homophobic chant that has been aimed at Chelsea players and supporters.

In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) classed the chant as a homophobic slur and said fans singing it during matches were committing a hate crime.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64360412

Now – whether or not the alleged chant is or is not 'homophobic' and what indeed constitutes 'homophobia' or indeed whether any gay people in the stadium or beyond would be mortally offended or 'harmed' by such a chant is another debate BUT surely arresting and criminalising someone for a silly chant (where if it was done in a pub or on a street corner after a night out it would probably be passed off as misguided high jinks).

For me this whole ‘hate crime’ thing is another way to target football fans in a way that no other group in no other setting or scenario would be judged. I wholeheartedly condemn genuine ‘hate’ but don’t see why football fans should be harshly treated for stupidity in a way others would not – I do however believe there should be, certainly for first time offences, a process of education – get these people [IF they are guilty] talking with LGBT fans groups as to why [if?] such alleged chants hurt and are damaging - ditto for other categories of alleged ‘hate’.

While, should these allegations be proved, I'd have limited sympathy for the offenders, I just feel once again the nuclear button has been hit simply because these alleged offences took place in a football setting, and is if nothing else a huge waste of police & CPS time and money.

Stan A. Einstein wrote: January 30th, 2023, 10:06 pm

CathedralCounty wrote: January 25th, 2023, 2:57 pm The Football Association (FA) can now charge clubs if their fans use a homophobic chant that has been aimed at Chelsea players and supporters.

In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) classed the chant as a homophobic slur and said fans singing it during matches were committing a hate crime.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64360412

Now – whether or not the alleged chant is or is not 'homophobic' and what indeed constitutes 'homophobia' or indeed whether any gay people in the stadium or beyond would be mortally offended or 'harmed' by such a chant is another debate BUT surely arresting and criminalising someone for a silly chant (where if it was done in a pub or on a street corner after a night out it would probably be passed off as misguided high jinks).

For me this whole ‘hate crime’ thing is another way to target football fans in a way that no other group in no other setting or scenario would be judged. I wholeheartedly condemn genuine ‘hate’ but don’t see why football fans should be harshly treated for stupidity in a way others would not – I do however believe there should be, certainly for first time offences, a process of education – get these people [IF they are guilty] talking with LGBT fans groups as to why [if?] such alleged chants hurt and are damaging - ditto for other categories of alleged ‘hate’.

While, should these allegations be proved, I'd have limited sympathy for the offenders, I just feel once again the nuclear button has been hit simply because these alleged offences took place in a football setting, and is if nothing else a huge waste of police & CPS time and money.

Well Bangitinthenet does it?

Bangitintrnet wrote: January 30th, 2023, 9:19 pm Do Crawley fans sing about their English Midget?
Did Dom Telford hate it when County fans sang it?
Who actually knows, if it did, it still seemed to work for him when he was with us.

CathedralCounty wrote: February 1st, 2023, 3:08 pm

Stan A. Einstein wrote: January 30th, 2023, 10:06 pm

CathedralCounty wrote: January 25th, 2023, 2:57 pm The Football Association (FA) can now charge clubs if their fans use a homophobic chant that has been aimed at Chelsea players and supporters.

In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) classed the chant as a homophobic slur and said fans singing it during matches were committing a hate crime.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64360412

Now – whether or not the alleged chant is or is not 'homophobic' and what indeed constitutes 'homophobia' or indeed whether any gay people in the stadium or beyond would be mortally offended or 'harmed' by such a chant is another debate BUT surely arresting and criminalising someone for a silly chant (where if it was done in a pub or on a street corner after a night out it would probably be passed off as misguided high jinks).

For me this whole ‘hate crime’ thing is another way to target football fans in a way that no other group in no other setting or scenario would be judged. I wholeheartedly condemn genuine ‘hate’ but don’t see why football fans should be harshly treated for stupidity in a way others would not – I do however believe there should be, certainly for first time offences, a process of education – get these people [IF they are guilty] talking with LGBT fans groups as to why [if?] such alleged chants hurt and are damaging - ditto for other categories of alleged ‘hate’.

While, should these allegations be proved, I'd have limited sympathy for the offenders, I just feel once again the nuclear button has been hit simply because these alleged offences took place in a football setting, and is if nothing else a huge waste of police & CPS time and money.

Well Bangitinthenet does it?

True to say the CPS are never shy of coming down ludicrously, almost laughably, hard on football fans are they? There was a case of a Grimsby Town fan charged over an inflatable shark incident - one of many egregious prosecutions, so court action is very much on the agenda I'm afraid - there but for the grace of God go us:

His words after the verdict:

"Very surprised and shocked by the verdict, but got to respect what the court has said.
"I think if this didn't happen at football I wouldn't be here today, I'm sure of that."

The bit in bold sums up my feelings on these 'offences'.

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/gr ... tory.shtml

Bangitintrnet wrote: January 30th, 2023, 7:51 pm Is anyone other than Stan suggesting court action?
There is a world were people interact perfectly outside of court.

Bangitintrnet wrote: February 1st, 2023, 4:12 pm

Sometimes someone has to be made an example of, if in the lead up to particular games warnings have been plenty full, otherwise it just barking into the wind. 3 arrested, 1 bailed pending further evidence and 2 told off IMO is reasonable.
Suggestions that the courts will be full if everyone is arrested for chanting is obviously taking things to the extreme, and misses the point of leading on what is unacceptable.