Football fans should hang their heads in shame at this abuse
AS A lifelong Spurs supporter, I read martin Samuel’s article about the 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea (Sportsmail) with a grin. But then I looked at the faces of the Chelsea fans in the picture of Dele Alli celebrating one of his two goals in the match and I realised what emotions football brings out in people. I was a Spurs season ticket holder for a decade and have experience of the language you can hear on the terraces. I remember the vile language directed at ex-Spurs defender Sol Campbell when he returned to White Hart Lane. It was not the sort of thing you would want a woman or child to hear. my friend who sat next to me was black and we looked down in shame. I was not averse to the odd expletive when goaded by an opposing player after he had scored, but not to the extent of wishing him bodily harm. Take a closer look at the picture from last week’s game and you will notice the women fans: one looking down, not just because Dele Alli has scored against her team, but maybe because of what is being said around her; another looks quietly away while the young lady next to her has put her hands to her face in despair. Some rows back, a young boy looks sad while many of the men around him scream and make obscene gestures. What a contrast with another picture recently published in the mail, marking the 100th anniversary of the rAf. The men in both photographs would have gone through the same excitement, elation, happiness and even hatred. I doubt the fans would have experienced the pilots’ fear, terror, loneliness, despair and shock at what they had gone through.
LES SMITH, Potters Bar, Herts. I HAVe loved football all my life, but the moronic behaviour of some fans makes me despair. I was shocked at the photo of Spurs’ Dele Alli in front of rival fans making obscene gestures because he’d had the temerity to score a goal. By contrast, when a try is scored during a rugby match, the opposing fans understandably look disappointed, but there will be no displays of anger, swearing or obscene gestures. I am getting to the point where I feel I can no longer stand the pathetic tribalism of football and will watch rugby instead.
STJOHN COX, Taunton, Somerset. AS A supporter of Liverpool, I am ashamed of the supporters who attacked the manchester City bus. A brilliant win reduced to a loss. Violence has no part in our game and must be eradicated.
B. McAVOY, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancs.