Racism in Sport?

[medhead]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

The sad fact is, there is quite a lot of violence in our cities - including Adelaide - resulting in loads of arrests and numerous injuries every weekend, and even some fatalities. Those incidents will inevitably involve people who happen to be fans of one or more sports, and in many cases people who happen to have attended a sporting event earlier that day. I guarantee you some of the young men who end up in the police stations and hospitals of Adelaide every weekend are AFL fans, but the media do not report those incidents as AFL fans causing trouble.

You're reminding me for two things:

1. The number of times I walk to work and see blood on the footpath, in well known 'entertainment' districts.
2. The stories of SWMBO's uncle who has been involved with Aussie Rules forever in Adelaide as a player, kicking 16 goals in one game, coach and with 2 sons who both played in local leagues and have both been paid to play at a senior level. In particular the under 15s game where one of the other players had an axe at the game (just in case) and walked off the field, got the axe and then went after his opposite number.

But there is no violence in AFL in Adelaide



BTW Mods, this has been split from a thread that raised RACISM to do with attacks on Alan Joyce and Violence in sport. Not Racism in sport. Suggest a title change.

 

[Jack_OC]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

AFL and NRL are Football. If you're referring to soccer being held up to extra scrutiny then perhaps it is because they use higher profile weapons such as flares etc during their street riots?

I find the use of flares at sporting events to be highly objectionable, but thankfully they are very rarely seen at A-League games, and I have never come across an example of them being used as "weapons".

By the way, interesting article in today's Age, which gives an insight into how much violence in general there is in our society. Anyone who thinks soccer is the problem, or even a major part of the problem, has their head in the sand.

http://m.theage.com.au/victoria/alarm-over-violence-in-melbourne-hospitals-20131228-300v9.html

 

[Pushka]

There's a difference between players who also happen to be thugs versus sport that engenders violence amongst supporters.

Men (and maybe in future, women) just seem more angry and violent.

 

[samh004]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

AFL and NRL are Football.

That may be so, but I'm not sure why Australia, and the US I suppose, has such an aversion to calling football, football. After all, it's the only one where it really is all about a foot and a ball, perhaps occasionally a head. The others have a lot of hands...

That said, I'm not sure how this relates to racism in sport? To perhaps bring that back on topic, I think the ICC should take a firmer stance on sledging. It's supposed to be a gentleman's game and I don't think it can be with the current level of sledging going on. I'd like to see them all wired up with a microphone and see what happens

BTW Mods, this has been split from a thread that raised RACISM to do with attacks on Alan Joyce and Violence in sport. Not Racism in sport. Suggest a title change.

Ahh, I don't agree with all the attacks on Joyce concerning his nationality. If you have an axe to grind because of the way he's handling his job, then stick to the facts. It's not hard... if it is hard, then you're just a racist (not you medhead)!

I find the use of flares at sporting events to be highly objectionable, but thankfully they are very rarely seen at A-League games, and I have never come across an example of them being used as "weapons".

Without trying to stereotype too much, or be racist, the flares tend to usually come from just a few ethnic groups... the FFA (governing body) should perhaps take a harder line view when this happens and not sell tickets for the next game/void tickets. Hard to light a flare if you're not allowed in the ground, hard to make friends if you've got them all barred from the ground too

 

[Jack_OC]

Without trying to stereotype too much, or be racist, the flares tend to usually come from just a few ethnic groups... the FFA (governing body) should perhaps take a harder line view when this happens and not sell tickets for the next game/void tickets. Hard to light a flare if you're not allowed in the ground, hard to make friends if you've got them all barred from the ground too

To be fair, the FFA have taken a very hard line and generally been very successful in minimising unsavoury behaviour at the games, while simultaneously growing the game and hugely increasing the audience - it's now very much a mainstream sport here, which is what makes it so infuriating to see certain people continue to portray it as a strange obsession of violent "ethnic" nutters!

 

[Pushka]

Players have always sledged on the cricket field. It used to stay on the field. Now because of all the mikes we just hear about it.

 

[Hvr]

Players have always sledged on the cricket field. It used to stay on the field. Now because of all the mikes we just hear about it.

And that makes it right?

Surely some things are better off being exposed and eliminated from daily life?

 

[erkpod]

There's a difference between players who also happen to be thugs versus sport that engenders violence amongst supporters.

Men (and maybe in future, women) just seem more angry and violent.

There's some angry & violent women out there today.


As a society in general, we seem to be getting angrier & often at stuff that years ago would have been shrugged off.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

That may be so, but I'm not sure why Australia, and the US I suppose, has such an aversion to calling football, football. After all, it's the only one where it really is all about a foot and a ball, perhaps occasionally a head. The others have a lot of hands...

A little off topic but the bigger question for me is why the name soccer disappeared and was replaced by football in the UK.

To keep on topic there is a storm brewing in the UK, and France, for Nicholas Anelka at the moment.

 

[Jack_OC]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

A little off topic but the bigger question for me is why the name soccer disappeared and was replaced by football in the UK.

The name soccer originally came into use to distinguish association football from rugby football (rugger), at a time when both were in their infancy. I think use of the name soccer died out in the UK simply because it became the dominant code of football to such an extent that it was no longer necessary to differentiate it from other codes. Similarly, in America they don't call their game American Football or gridiron, they just call it football, and the same is generally true wrt Aussie Rules in Victoria.

 

[Pushka]

And that makes it right?

Surely some things are better off being exposed and eliminated from daily life?

Actually I think it's part of the game. When done without racial abuse of course. In "the old days" it was done purely to put players off their concentration. It was clever when well done. And afterwards all would share a beer and laugh. Have those days gone?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

Surely that sort of behaviour would lead to arrests would it not?

people have now been identified and charged.

 

[mannej]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

people have now been identified and charged.

Two people?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

Two people?

yes. So far.

but the point is we should be able to walk the streets of our cities without coming across an incident that required police to intervene, and results in four injuries and two sets of charges. We should be able to go to a sporting event without flares being set off in the stands.

I'm not sure i understand why some people (those involved) think this is ok?

 

[mannej]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

yes. So far.

but the point is we should be able to walk the streets of our cities without coming across an incident that required police to intervene, and results in four injuries and two sets of charges. We should be able to go to a sporting event without flares being set off in the stands.

I'm not sure i understand why some people (those involved) think this is ok?

I have no arguments about that. Violence in sport does happen in most sports, yet very little of it does get reported. FWIW, the flares will more than likely attract a fine from FFA.

It is a pity when the minority ruins it for everyone.

 

[Jack_OC]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

yes. So far.

but the point is we should be able to walk the streets of our cities without coming across an incident that required police to intervene, and results in four injuries and two sets of charges. We should be able to go to a sporting event without flares being set off in the stands.

I'm not sure i understand why some people (those involved) think this is ok?

I don't think anyone is disagreeing with you about any of the above (I'm certainly not anyway), but the point being made is that these things need to be put into context. In the last financial year (2012-13), over 38,000 offenders were arrested by Victoria police for assault (see Victoria Police - Media). So if yesterday was an average day, the chances are that over 100 people were arrested for assault in Victoria alone. What was so remarkable about the assaults committed by the Western Sydney Wanderers fans, compared to all the other assaults, which the media tells us nothing about?

 

[Jack_OC]

Interesting article on the same subject: http://m.theage.com.au/sport/soccer...e-fans-give-game-its-edge-20131231-3041v.html

 

[JohnK]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

Good to see these people came to Australia to get away from the poverty and problems in their own lands.

Why oh why does anyone need to bring their problems from the old country to Australia? Obviously penalties are not harsh enough.

 

[drron]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

That may be so, but I'm not sure why Australia, and the US I suppose, has such an aversion to calling football, football. After all, it's the only one where it really is all about a foot and a ball, perhaps occasionally a head. The others have a lot of hands...

When I played soccer Sam I always used my hands.
But then a goalkeeper does.

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: How easy to use QFF points - A tale from an Infrequent Flyer

Good to see these people came to Australia to get away from the poverty and problems in their own lands.

Why oh why does anyone need to bring their problems from the old country to Australia? Obviously penalties are not harsh enough.

But hang on Frank Lowy ethnically cleansed Australia of ethnic clubs? These clubs are just fair dinkum Australian clubs just looking to make a profit.