Thanks to Outsports for the heads up. Four English football fans are banned from attending football matches for three years after that vile racist and homophobic taunting directed at Portsmouth's star player Sol Campbell.
Eleven men, including three juveniles, appeared in a Portsmouth court to face charges of racist and homophobic chanting. The suspects were located via closed circuit television video and stills and tips from informers. The fans shouted the abuse during a September 28 game against Tottenham.
Sol Campbell is former Tottenham captain and disliked intensely by team fans because of his move to Portsmouth. The black footie is "habitually referred to by Spurs supporters as 'Judas' " and has been repeatedly taunted over claims he is gay—which he denies. The chants were read in court, including a deplorable song claiming he was HIV positive. "Sol, Sol, wherever you may be, You’re on the verge of lunacy, And we don’t give a f*** if you’re hanging from a tree, You Judas cunt with HIV." Other chants included the repetition of the words "gay boy".
The four defendants who plead guilty were sentenced to a three-year football banning order, fined £370 ($509 USD) and ordered to pay miscellaneous fees. The seven other defendants who plead not guilty will be tried in May. Hopefully they will also be found guilty and this case, especially the bannings, will make some soccer fans think twice about racist and homophobic chants.
Four Banned from Football Matches [Guardian]
Some Background...
Rio Ferdinand: Deduct Points for Homophobic Fans [R20]
2 Arrested After Racist Taunts of Sol Campbell [R20]
Campbell Taunted with Racist, Homophobic Insults [R20]
Yet people always talk about how much better things are over there ...
Posted by: S. Flemming | 21 January 2009 at 17:28
This is something that has to be removed from football and sport in general. He deserves more respect as a footballer and a man.
Posted by: G Collins | 22 January 2009 at 16:11