"Banter" (urrghh) v. Discrimination

[WestStandNomad]

Back to this old argument again, but with a slightly different twist...

The authorities in Italy this season have decided to take a zero tolerance approach on discrimination of any kind, including "territorial discrimination". Obviously stopping discrimination is extremely important, but this is clearly a reaction to the embarrassment the various incidents of racism in the last year or so has caused. However, they are taking it to some extreme lengths: AC Milan had their curva closed for a game due some anti-Napoli chants being sung. After the Milan fans used the chants again at Juventus in protest, the closure has now been extended to the whole stadium and the next home game (v. Udinese on 19 Oct) will be played behind closed doors.

We're talking about the same level of abuse as the regular chants you hear here suggesting the fans of Glasgow teams are serial bath-avoiders, and those from Edinburgh are all junkies. I can see that some sensitive souls could take offence, but are they really as bad as racism/homophobia/sectarianism and warrant stadium closures? And where do you draw the line? One that I've heard away fans at San Siro singing is "you only have the fog". It's territorial discrimination technically, but hardly offensive. Should people be punished for singing that?

Ultras of various groups have called on everyone to sing as many offensive songs about their rivals as possible at the games over the weekend of 18-20 October, which in theory will result in all games being behind closed doors the following week. It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

 

[Dub]

Back to this old argument again, but with a slightly different twist...

The authorities in Italy this season have decided to take a zero tolerance approach on discrimination of any kind, including "territorial discrimination". Obviously stopping discrimination is extremely important, but this is clearly a reaction to the embarrassment the various incidents of racism in the last year or so has caused. However, they are taking it to some extreme lengths: AC Milan had their curva closed for a game due some anti-Napoli chants being sung. After the Milan fans used the chants again at Juventus in protest, the closure has now been extended to the whole stadium and the next home game (v. Udinese on 19 Oct) will be played behind closed doors.

We're talking about the same level of abuse as the regular chants you hear here suggesting the fans of Glasgow teams are serial bath-avoiders, and those from Edinburgh are all junkies. I can see that some sensitive souls could take offence, but are they really as bad as racism/homophobia/sectarianism and warrant stadium closures? And where do you draw the line? One that I've heard away fans at San Siro singing is "you only have the fog". It's territorial discrimination technically, but hardly offensive. Should people be punished for singing that?

Ultras of various groups have called on everyone to sing as many offensive songs about their rivals as possible at the games over the weekend of 18-20 October, which in theory will result in all games being behind closed doors the following week. It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

I guess the decision makers in all of this will have decided what is offensive and, erm, I was going to say what isn't but, given what you have posted there isn't much in the 'isn't' column. In a way it is refreshing that someone is actually taking a stand.

Over here in the good ol' SPFL it's okay to sing party songs or songs that celebrate historical events such as wading up to one's knees in fenian blood and guarding old derry's walls to name but two. These must be perfectly acceptable as the choir get to bang them out without any recourse from plod who is usually in attendance but obviously suffers from selective deafness.

 

[emerald green]

Back to this old argument again, but with a slightly different twist...

The authorities in Italy this season have decided to take a zero tolerance approach on discrimination of any kind, including "territorial discrimination". Obviously stopping discrimination is extremely important, but this is clearly a reaction to the embarrassment the various incidents of racism in the last year or so has caused. However, they are taking it to some extreme lengths: AC Milan had their curva closed for a game due some anti-Napoli chants being sung. After the Milan fans used the chants again at Juventus in protest, the closure has now been extended to the whole stadium and the next home game (v. Udinese on 19 Oct) will be played behind closed doors.

We're talking about the same level of abuse as the regular chants you hear here suggesting the fans of Glasgow teams are serial bath-avoiders, and those from Edinburgh are all junkies. I can see that some sensitive souls could take offence, but are they really as bad as racism/homophobia/sectarianism and warrant stadium closures? And where do you draw the line? One that I've heard away fans at San Siro singing is "you only have the fog". It's territorial discrimination technically, but hardly offensive. Should people be punished for singing that?

Ultras of various groups have called on everyone to sing as many offensive songs about their rivals as possible at the games over the weekend of 18-20 October, which in theory will result in all games being behind closed doors the following week. It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

I would suggest it is not about those sort of chants... this is political, and its definately authorities trying to tackle the UltraS.

There are 2 types of Ultras in Italy.The usual fanatical football fan ultras, and then there is the political lads.

I know this as I read a rare book recommended by EBG from this site :dali: iirc they are ultras or ultraS.

eegie will remember better than me...

 

[WestStandNomad]

I would suggest it is not about those sort of chants... this is political, and its definately authorities trying to tackle the UltraS.

Not really - the chants that triggered the lock-down at Milan were the usual ones that everybody sings about Napoli: that they're all destitute cholera-sufferers and that it would be better for all if Mount Vesuvius erupted again pretty soon, nothing overtly political in it. There aren't actually that many groups over there (beyond the obvious Lazio and Livorno) who go in for overly political messages these days. You're right though, the authorities have been scrabbling around for an excuse to get shot of the ultras for a long time. I think this one is going to backfire though.

 

[WestStandNomad]

Interesting development.... after protests from the club, the authorities have gone back on their original decision and fans are now allowed in for Milan v Udinese on Saturday. Will be interesting to see what the ultras come up with for that!