Playing for 90
Fansided

When football rivalries go too far

By Taylor Anderson

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Willian of Chelsea and Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur battle for possession during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Willian of Chelsea and Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur battle for possession during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Football is just a game in the end

A few  years back I found a Vice sports documentary on the rivalry between Scotland’s two greatest clubs, Glasgow based Celtic FC and Rangers FC. It was a fascinating documentary that looked at the history of the rivalry and the modern hatred that the two clubs still fostered between each other.

The two clubs rivalry is fierce on the pitch, but it is also taken seriously outside of the grounds as well. The basic stereotype is that, thanks to the settlement of Irish immigrants in Glasgow, Celtic FC supporters traditionally are sympathetic to Irish republicanism while Rangers are more supportive of Unionism. The violence in Northern Ireland around Irish independence spilled over into Glasgow based on the rivalry between the two clubs.  The focus of this documentary looked at the then recently introduced bill banning “sectarian” chanting and songs among football supporters in Scotland. It interviews some fierce supporters on both sides of the rivalry.

The documentary is absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend it to anyone. It’s available here on Youtube.

It made me think, not only about my feelings on Irish nationalism in the modern era (which is a conversation for another forum) but also about the recent state of affairs in London’s football’s fiercest rivalries.

My favorite club, Chelsea, were recently in some trouble for some supporters singing a song in support of new striker Alvaro Morata that included offensive language directed towards Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea has a bit of a bad reputation in this area, as Chelsea’s notorious ‘firm’ the Headhunters were a bastion of skinheads in the 80’s and 90’s.

More from Playing for 90

I’m pleased that both the club and player the song was aimed at supporting spoke out against the songs, and I’m hopeful officials at Stamford Bridge keep a keen eye out for any idiot spouting offensive language and serves them a ban from the ground. It baffles me that fans in the modern age can still gladly sing such barbaric words, using football as a way to justify racism and prejudice.

To be clear, while “Green Street Hooligans” may be a fun film, there is absolutely no place in modern football for bigots, violence and hate under the guise of being a proper footall fan. Passion for your club does not need to be expressed in racial or ethnic slurs towards your opponents. There is no room at Stamford Bridge, nor any other stadium in this world, for the so-called “90 Minute Bigot”. You can have a drink and a sing-song without resorting to racial epithets.

To support the mission of creating a safer and more welcoming environment for everyone, check out Kick It Out, which aims to end racism in football. In Scotland specifically, Nil By Mouth looks to end sectarian violence in the country.

Remember, football is for everyone. No one should be afraid to follow their club, no matter where they are

Home/Premier League