Matches Homophobic chanting

[Sarge]

Extracts from OUFC ground regs ( which presumably are standard in EFL?).....


9 The use of threatening behaviour, foul or abusive language is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Ground. The Club may impose a ban for one or more Matches.


10 Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Ground. The Club may impose a ban for one or more matches

and also ....

11 The following acts are offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 (as amended):

11.1 The throwing of any object within the Ground without lawful authority or excuse.

11.2 The chanting of anything of an indecent or racialist nature.

11.3 The entry onto the playing area or any adjacent area to which spectators are not generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse. Conviction may result in a Banning Order being made.

Are ground regs in need of changing/ updating ( clause 10 perhaps)?

Homophobic or discriminatory abuse ,chanting or harassment, according to clause 10. will (may?) result in arrest (& or ejection from the ground. Also 'the club' may impose a ban for one or more matches

Yet clause 11.3 appears to be a more serious offence as it carries a potential banning order

However TVP in conjunction with WWFC presumably (?), chose NOT to prosecute or impose a banning order on Saturday's half pint hero pitch invader, instead a slap on the wrist ( not even a one match ban!)

Additionally , there's nothing specifically within the current ground regs that covers a spectator assaulting a player
( pushing Gavin Whyte was assault, it was 'hands on') - although ground regs 9-11 could loosely be applied?
As yet neither TVP nor WWFC have taken any action whatsoever regarding the assault on Gavin Whyte by a spectator during the match. Yet local news TV and media are all over the Homophic chanting , but no mention of the pitch invader or assault on Gavin Whyte whatsoever.

Of course homophobic, racist and offensive chanting shouldn't be tolerated ..... however, the more serious offences that took place on Saturday, (applying ground regs 9-11), have resulted in a slap on the wrist, and more seriously , and concerning NO action whatsoever taken by TVP or WWFC , despite CCTV footage being presumably available and the perperotrator easily identifiable? .... Im surprised and shocked there hasn't been more made of the assault on Gavin Whyte by a home 'supporter'

 

[OUFCwaffle]

It was some chap a few rows behind me right behind the goal, around the start of the second half. I have heard him do it on a number of occasions at home games in the past.

 

[Paul Cannell]

As a point of note, considering our international investors/owners/board members (Thailand, Indonesia, Israel, Germany):

Homosexuality is not illegal in any of their countries, however gay marriage is not recognised in any, other than Germany.

It is illegal in Malaysia, which neighbours Indonesia.

A polite rebuke, if I may. Zaki Nuseibeh is a Palestinian, and Palestine (which has a seat at the United Nations) is a country occupied by a Jewish colony. If we're talking about supporting oppressed minorities it would be (imo) a shame to ignore their persecution.

I've never bought a football shirt in my life but I'd be very happy to wear an OUFC rainbow / LGBT+ flag to wind up the coterie of bigots who play walking football around where I live.

 

[Jolteon]

Do the "LGBT community" actually want things like this though? Some people are gay and that's totally fine and normal. Would gay OUFC fans actually want this? Happy to be told I'm wrong.

As others have already alluded to - while a rainbow kit would be a statement, it could/would be seen as a cashgrab and insensitive. Something subtle that expresses that OUFC care about, stand with and value all their LGBT supporters without losing the OUFC identity would mean much more. The most important thing to me is that the kit looks good! A white kit with a rainbow trim would do just that, similar to the hockey kits posted earlier, although I'd maybe even go more subtle than that.

The big thing I think, much moreso than any kit ideas, is that OUFC make a statement on the pitch in our next game specifically. I don't want the club to ignore what happened at Wycombe then in the summer release a kit or merchandise with a rainbow on. This is a pretty crucial moment for the club and they could make a real statement on Saturday that discrimination is not acceptable at OUFC, and do it in front of a big crowd.

 

[Wandering Yellow]

As others have already alluded to - while a rainbow kit would be a statement, it could/would be seen as a cashgrab and insensitive. Something subtle that expresses that OUFC care about, stand with and value all their LGBT supporters without losing the OUFC identity would mean much more. The most important thing to me is that the kit looks good! A white kit with a rainbow trim would do just that, similar to the hockey kits posted earlier, although I'd maybe even go more subtle than that.

The big thing I think, much moreso than any kit ideas, is that OUFC make a statement on the pitch in our next game specifically. I don't want the club to ignore what happened at Wycombe then in the summer release a kit or merchandise with a rainbow on. This is a pretty crucial moment for the club and they could make a real statement on Saturday that discrimination is not acceptable at OUFC, and do it in front of a big crowd.

The fact it's not seen as a cash-grab or a meaningless virtue signal is important if the club do choose to do something. Maybe it would be good if the LGBT folk on here communicated with the club on any plans.

The only thing that annoys me is the PL's rainbow laces campaign, if the PL actually cared about gay people's rights why would they accept money from a state which brutally tortures and kills gay people? But that's another story.

 

[Manorlounger]

As others have already alluded to - while a rainbow kit would be a statement, it could/would be seen as a cashgrab and insensitive. Something subtle that expresses that OUFC care about, stand with and value all their LGBT supporters without losing the OUFC identity would mean much more. The most important thing to me is that the kit looks good! A white kit with a rainbow trim would do just that, similar to the hockey kits posted earlier, although I'd maybe even go more subtle than that.

The big thing I think, much moreso than any kit ideas, is that OUFC make a statement on the pitch in our next game specifically. I don't want the club to ignore what happened at Wycombe then in the summer release a kit or merchandise with a rainbow on. This is a pretty crucial moment for the club and they could make a real statement on Saturday that discrimination is not acceptable at OUFC, and do it in front of a big crowd.

How about the team being led out with a rainbow flag?

 

[werthersoriginal]

How about the team being led out with a rainbow flag?

Actually that’s a good idea, it could be done on Saturday and would be a direct counter to the guys chanting

 

[Jolteon]

How about the team being led out with a rainbow flag?

Really decent idea that! I've already given a couple ideas to @OUSP Secretary but this is definitely something very doable and makes the statement needed for sure.

 

[Colin B]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

 

[Brahma]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

That is a genuine observation and question, Colin. My question is what various reasons would people object to it?

Sadly we live in a world now where people want to erase history as opposed to use it for change.

 

[battman]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

It would be interesting to see what those objections could be. The only one I can think of is the perception of pinkwashing, but that's already been covered.

 

[Manorlounger]

Really decent idea that! I've already given a couple ideas to @OUSP Secretary but this is definitely something very doable and makes the statement needed for sure.

I've emailed OUSP as well with that very idea. A quick and positive reaction without a great deal of fuss.

 

[Jolteon]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

It really depends on the reason. If it's about club identity then I'm partially in agreement. The home kit shouldn't be touched at all, and if anything were to be done kit wise it should be on the third kit only IMO.

 

[Manorlounger]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

I would hope that is not the case however, there will be other causes and groups that feel they are being ignored or discriminated against by the efforts to show support to the LGBTQ+ community. I would hope that anyone in that position can approach the OUSP with their feelings and so justify the inclusivity of that same panel. It's how it was set up (I was involved with setting it up) and I know that the current members are fully behind the concept.

 

[tatabanya]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

Hopefully they've been educated in reading the thread

 

[Wallop]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

It's a good question @Colin B and there have been some sensible responses to your post. However, if as @joleton has suggested, the design is fairly subtle and on an away kit, then I'm struggling to think of why any fan could really object apart from the obvious unacceptable reason.

 

[theWizard]

The concern over "cashing in" should be discarded. I doubt that this would be a massive cash generator but I would expect it to wash its face

On the concerns of full rainbow, rainbow trim or no need to develop such a kit are all good and valid ideas. These are merely ideas and suggestions. They are not decisions

 

[Manorlounger]

I'm led to believe that the club are meeting today to discuss a reaction to the events. Watch this space (as they say)

 

[Colin B]

I can't speak for others, but for me I think club colours are sacrosanct, and I would be against a change from yellow, whether it was to a rainbow kit, a red kit, a blue kit or any other coloured kit.

Lots of other ways we can support equality, as we absolutely should, I just don't think changing our home shirt colour is the answer.

 

[Essexyellows]

I wonder if there are a lot of fans reading these proposals for rainbow kits etc who disagree with it, for various reasons, but are now too afraid of being labelled homophobic to comment?

Genuine question.

My differing viewpoint is this...... we all have one thing in common, our football club.

It is the one thing that unites us all irrespective of anything else. I don`t care if the person stood next to me is pink, yellow, brown, black, gay, trans or from Mars they are there for the same reason as me.

I wouldn`t buy a rainbow kit, but if the club wants to sell them and folk want to buy them then carry on.

No issue with recognising minorities either, if the need is judged to be there, or as part of a national campaign such as the rainbow laces, kick it out etc etc.

Education is the key and taking the broad brush to 1800 travelling fans for the moronic actions of maybe 20 people is not how the world should work.