OUSP STATEMENT
Following allegations of homophobic chanting by fans during the match at Wycombe, the OUSP wishes to make clear that homophobia and all forms of discrimination are never acceptable. We stand by our LGBTQ+ community and encourage fans to report any hate speech or abuse to stewards or via the report it text service.
We will continue to seek ways to support and involve minority groups to create a positive and inclusive matchday atmosphere.
This statement is starting to become a bit of a cut and paste job just to get something out by anyone and everyone. For something that clearly needs addressing whilst I have no doubt it would be received well and the media will report OUFC and OUSP have released statements condemning it (which are going to be close to word for word the same) lets break out of mould of putting something in the public domain just because we have to, stop being so lazy in the reporting, and be more progressive with what this means and where this wants to lead because a statement such as this is becoming so normal now it is getting boring and doesn't feel as if it will result in anything.
And it could have been even more powerful as a supporters group that it was said ... in addition we condemn the fan that entered the pitch yesterday putting OUFC players at risk and also condemn the physical assault of an OUFC player by an opposition fan.
And by not releasing a statement condemning the vile and vicious abuse our manager got from virtually every away fan when we played Wimbledon questions whether the statement put out suggesting all forms of discrimination are never acceptable is actually true. You can't pick and choose what is more serious when your statement is so wide reaching, and the wording of the statement actually now suggests that you rightly take homophobia seriously but not so much the discrimination our own manager received a few weeks ago because no statement was released after that.
Done properly this can carry a strong and positive message but it needs to be real, and focus and cover everything without exception. It either means what it says or it doesn't. If it was only about the homophobia of Saturdays game leave out the section about all forms of discrimination. If you really mean all forms of discrimination make sure you report and condemn at all times all forms of discrimination so that it covers any chants directed to other groups that are hurtful and can cause harm.
Maybe as fans we all need direction. A few years ago the fans were the 12th man, their job was to carry their team to victory and that was done by supporting our own team but also doing everything we could to put off our opponents. There has always been a line that you should never cross but that line is getting closer and closer to the point where the purpose of the fan is to just politely applaud our own team. We are clearly in a different world now, but football is still a tribal game that from time to time bring together sets of people from certain areas of the country that do actually hate each other and when these supporters do cross there is inevitably going to be some sort of hate chant. We can sing all we want to about our friends down the road being inbreds and having 6 fingers. But we know it is not true it is just a wind up. But where is the line nowadays and what exactly is the risk for the supporter. Clearly racism and homophobia is going beyond the line, but what exactly is the 'new' line. This is where OUSP and supporters groups across the country can actually be proactive in determining what exactly is and isn't permitted. I would also add the abuse referees and linesman get is at times horrific, and if supporters groups release statements that condemn all sorts of discrimination and abuse why are they quiet when it comes to that directed to the match officials.
It's no longer acceptable to pick and choose whether something is worse than something else as we just don't know the mental consequence something can have on any individual. If you release a statement condemning all forms of discrimination make sure you now always report and condemn any instance of it and not be so selective to save face just because something has got into the national media and because something hasn't been so widely circulated you don't need to get involved because it doesn't matter so much. Well it does.