Rugby League attempt to stop homophobic chanting

[Opinionated]

BBC SPORT:

Castleford have been fined £40,000 by the Rugby Football League after fans aimed homophobic abuse at Crusaders winger Gareth Thomas.

Thomas, 35, announced in December 2009 that he was gay.

Hopefully football will adopt a similar stance. I have never understood why the 'do you' chant is considered humorous. It is deeply offence and for me is on the same level as racism. It is no surprise that no Premier League or Football League players have admitted to being gay.

[scar]

You could ask the question of Tony Roberts, who clearly is hetrosexual but encourages the chant. Likewise he clearly isn't a fat ba#@*rd who ate all the pies but turns and rubs his stomach and laughs when that is chanted at him?

There is no place for racism or homophobic abuse in any sport, there is a difference though between abuse and having a laugh where there is no offence meant or taken.

[Richard Head]

You could ask the question of Tony Roberts, who clearly is hetrosexual but encourages the chant. Likewise he clearly isn't a fat ba#@*rd who ate all the pies but turns and rubs his stomach and laughs when that is chanted at him?

There is no place for racism or homophobic abuse in any sport, there is a difference though between abuse and having a laugh where there is no offence meant or taken.

What about if the chant is aimed at someone like Mark Wright? Is that just harmless fun and not meant to cause any offence?

If you are not bothered that the club could be heavily fined then feel free to continue with this chant

[Opinionated]

You could ask the question of Tony Roberts, who clearly is hetrosexual but encourages the chant. Likewise he clearly isn't a fat ba#@*rd who ate all the pies but turns and rubs his stomach and laughs when that is chanted at him?

There is no place for racism or homophobic abuse in any sport, there is a difference though between abuse and having a laugh where there is no offence meant or taken.

What about if the chant is aimed at someone like Mark Wright? Is that just harmless fun and not meant to cause any offence?

Good point, it should be one rule for all. Sadly I don't think the FA will take any action. Over the past 10 years there has been a large scale anti racism campaign. This was only possible because players can't hide their skin colour and had no option but to campaign. However until a professional footballer admits they are gay this problem will continue.

[P/T Indie]

You could ask the question of Tony Roberts, who clearly is hetrosexual but encourages the chant. Likewise he clearly isn't a fat ba#@*rd who ate all the pies but turns and rubs his stomach and laughs when that is chanted at him?

There is no place for racism or homophobic abuse in any sport, there is a difference though between abuse and having a laugh where there is no offence meant or taken.

What about if the chant is aimed at someone like Mark Wright? Is that just harmless fun and not meant to cause any offence?

If you are not bothered that the club could be heavily fined then feel free to continue with this chant

The thing is you can't use Mark Wright as an example as he is not your decent upstanding moral human being

[Posh]

I have never understood why the 'do you' chant is considered humorous. It is deeply offence and for me is on the same level as racism.

May I refer the honourable gentleman to the previous topic on this subject, which he may or may not find enlightening.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4503&hilit=moustachioed

[Opinionated]

Castleford have banned 3 fans in connection with the homophobic chants. Surely this brutal action will have the desired affect.

Would you welcome MFC adopting this stance at the Globe?

[Keith]

Would you welcome MFC adopting this stance at the Globe?

Yes. At any football match there are two or three gay men on the pitch (taking the widely accepted average of between 7% & 10% of the population being gay).

But as has been mentioned elsewhere, I don't think the 'do you...' chant can be said to be homophobic because it is clearly an invitation for a homosexual liason with the male who is singing it and as such, we should be proud that the club is so tolerant, that the group of men who sing it feel comfortable expressing their own homosexuality in such a public display of openness.

[Stanley Bowles]

We will soon have terrace full of mutes, the games loosing its way in the free speach league. Football used to be fun

[Keith]

We will soon have terrace full of mutes, the games loosing its way in the free speach league. Football used to be fun

There's no place for hate chanting in football, or anywhere else for that matter. People said the same when they were stopped from making monkey noises when a coloured player touched the ball. 'It's only a bit of fun' is fine if you are anonymously in the crowd, chanting but less so if you are the one being chanted at or silently standing there in the crowd, part of that same minority group.