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Foul Language & Abuse The First Team
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Legend of the game 2,614 posts It Is Now & sons Legend of the game 2,614 posts
It Is Now & sons
Just listened to RS interview. He highlights the unacceptable abuse he gets from fans. I see Worthing issued a statement condemning those that did similar on Monday.
 
i have to say I find many of our South Stand chants offensive especially when we are trying to attract families. Football chants used to be amusing and clever but many now are just full of foul language. TV commentators are continually having to apologise for it.
 
Brian Clough famously put up a sign asking  the “Gentlemen of the Trent End not to swear”. They duly obliged.
 
Maybe it is time for all clubs to take a stand on this. FGR are famous for doing things differently- how about we take the lead?
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Sharpness Green Armchair Manager 476 posts
Sharpness Green
There is also a big difference between swearing and being called a sex offender.

We’ve tried a swearing ban before, it doesn’t work.
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Paulhatrick Armchair Manager 119 posts
Paulhatrick
Just listened to RS interview. He highlights the unacceptable abuse he gets from fans. I see Worthing issued a statement condemning those that did similar on Monday.
 
i have to say I find many of our South Stand chants offensive especially when we are trying to attract families. Football chants used to be amusing and clever but many now are just full of foul language. TV commentators are continually having to apologise for it.
 
Brian Clough famously put up a sign asking  the “Gentlemen of the Trent End not to swear”. They duly obliged.
 
Maybe it is time for all clubs to take a stand on this. FGR are famous for doing things differently- how about we take the lead?
Totally agree, but how do we do that when the 'f' word is now used in every tv drama after 9pm, on high streets everywhere, and also by so many parents in front of their children. Sorry state of affairs.
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Kentstripe GOAT 3,305 posts
Kentstripe
Ott personal abuse is not on, nor is tragedy chanting. Those are the main things that need to be looked at in football imo, but you aren't going to be able to stop swearing, it's far too common and impossible to police.
 
In terms of a swearing ban at TNL it would seem somewhat hypocritical to lecture our fans on it given the amount you hear from our players and coaching staff, not to mention DV himself not being averse to dropping f-bomb's in interviews.
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The Running Rover Legend of the game 1,105 posts
The Running Rover
There is also a big difference between swearing and being called a sex offender.

We’ve tried a swearing ban before, it doesn’t work.
Agree with this. It's not necessarily the words used but how they're used.
 
RS said some of the abuse he gets is vile, so it must be pretty nasty stuff. It can't be easy to stand there for the duration of a match having a constant stream of abuse thrown at you. Actually, it must make managing the team much more difficult.
 
I don't see why stewards can't be asked to use their discretion and have a quiet word with the abusers when they hear something which clearly crosses the line.
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Tommo Legend of the game 2,706 posts
Tommo
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FAJ Legend of the game 1,111 posts
FAJ
as almost always, it is a matter of general attitude, positive mimicry and education at all levels...
 
why is it impossible to find a paper on the ground in some cities and others are the definition of filthiness?
 
the only way, as others have said, is to preach by example!
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Foggy GOAT 4,706 posts
Foggy
I don't think swearing will ever disappear from football completely, which often represents society as a whole, it is present in songs sung by supporters of pretty much every club...even at our own club...but it is probably fair to say that there will be areas of grounds where it is more common and areas, such as in the Main Stand at TNL, where foul language is generally met with disapproval. I guess the issue is where there are significant numbers involved in the singing bit and it can be heard in all parts of the ground.
 
However there is clearly a boundary that should not be stepped over, which would include the likes of racism, sexism, homophobia, personal and directed abuse and tragedy related songs...hard to enforce, and probably less common than even 10-20 years ago...you also have clubs with fans who have turned abuse back on themselves to taunt opposition fans...without going into specifics the most prominent are probably Brighton, Cardiff and Spurs, but I'm still not sure that their actions make their clubs more inclusive or show that they don't tolerate certain types of abuse.
 
I still think that deploying clever or observational humour is the best way to sing about an opposing team or their fans...whoever sang "You're just a bus stop in nowhere" at TNL...brilliant...our fans singing "Inbreds and roundabouts" at Swindon, closer to the line, but still clever!
Green in a sea of red!
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The Running Rover Legend of the game 1,105 posts
The Running Rover
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