Be very careful.

[cashgenerator]

Boys got charged for singing the infamous Sol Campbell song which is neither racist nor sectarian nor overtly homophobic (no matter how people try and claim it is). Offensive yes, but at least 75% of songs at the football are, that's the point! Wind up the opposition.

 

Of course it's good to sing songs to encourage your team on, but it's also fun to take the p*ss out of opposing teams and their players.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7825711.stm

 

Even with my undoubted PC credentials this is a bridge too far in my opinion.

[droid]

Boys got charged for singing the infamous Sol Campbell song which is neither racist nor sectarian nor overtly homophobic (no matter how people try and claim it is). Offensive yes, but at least 75% of songs at the football are, that's the point! Wind up the opposition.

 

Of course it's good to sing songs to encourage your team on, but it's also fun to take the p*ss out of opposing teams and their players.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7825711.stm

 

Even with my undoubted PC credentials this is a bridge too far in my opinion.

 

how does it go?

[speedbump]

A certain Narwich fan knows the lyrics, he posted them on here a while ago.

[number16]

i'd be more concerned that they've only been charged, not found guilty, and their names are being published on the bbc website.

[cashgenerator]

Sol Sol, wherever you may be, you're just one step from lunacy, and we don't give a ***** if you're hanging from a tree, dirty judas ***** got HIV (originally sung around the time when he walked out at half-time and Wenger was quoted as saying he hoped Sol didn't do anything stupid).

 

Like I said, very nasty, very offensive, but the police have looked at CCTV, printed the faces of people they claimed were singing it in the paper, and now charged them.

 

Thin end of the wedge if you ask me, where do you draw the line?

[cashgenerator]

i'd be more concerned that they've only been charged, not found guilty, and their names are being published on the bbc website.

 

The papers (and therefore websites) can publish the names of anyone charged with an offence unless they're under 18 or in special circumstances (I think).

 

I'm more worried about the precedent this sets, meaning the police can then start arresting anyone for "indecent chanting". Take "Ian Murray, you're a w*nker" during the game on sunday, technically indecent I would imagine. I'd be devastated to get a record (even a caution) for something which is part and parcel of football for most people.

[Boris]

i'd be more concerned that they've only been charged, not found guilty, and their names are being published on the bbc website.

 

Why? It's a high profile case and when the Police charge someone for it that usually becomes public knowledge, doesn't it?

[number16]

as far as i'm concerned, unless there is a danger to the public or their identity being released is in the public interest their name should be anonymous until proven guilty.

 

when someones been found not guilty (or not proven) they are rarely given the same press coverage as when they were announced as a suspect, arrested or charged. while they may not be punished in the law, there is still the risk that they will suffer as a result of negative press coverage for a crime they did not commit.

[Boris]

as far as i'm concerned, unless there is a danger to the public or their identity being released is in the public interest their name should be anonymous until proven guilty.

 

when someones been found not guilty (or not proven) they are rarely given the same press coverage as when they were announced as a suspect, arrested or charged. while they may not be punished in the law, there is still the risk that they will suffer as a result of negative press coverage for a crime they did not commit.

 

How can someone remain anonymous in Court when they have to confirm their name and address at the begining of the trial?

 

Going by your no name logic then the Police wouldn't be able to put out wanted posters etc either.

[Genghis Khan]

The papers (and therefore websites) can publish the names of anyone charged with an offence unless they're under 18 or in special circumstances (I think).

 

I'm more worried about the precedent this sets, meaning the police can then start arresting anyone for "indecent chanting". Take "Ian Murray, you're a w*nker" during the game on sunday, technically indecent I would imagine. I'd be devastated to get a record (even a caution) for something which is part and parcel of football for most people.

 

I think you could use a defence of The Truth to that one.

[number16]

How can someone remain anonymous in Court when they have to confirm their name and address at the begining of the trial?

 

Going by your no name logic then the Police wouldn't be able to put out wanted posters etc either.

 

do unnamed youths not also have to confirm their name and address?

 

it would not go against my logic to have wanted posters. the majority of these are for people who pose a danger to the public or have not turned up for sentencing after having been found guilty.

[john brownlee]

Another step in confirming we live in a police state when are they going to start building the concentration camps.

 

Only this weekend concering us fans

 

photo survaliance at the match

checking the pubs for early drinkers

checking pubs to see if they have the correct signage

procucuting fans having a sing song

 

I bet you there are more things that can be added to this short list

 

What is the most ridiculace reason the plods have given you for stopping ,question or general hassle.

 

Mines was I had my car window open. mind you it was one of these rare warm summer nights. They said they thought my window looked broken, Doh!

[Paolo]

The papers (and therefore websites) can publish the names of anyone charged with an offence unless they're under 18 or in special circumstances (I think).

 

I'm more worried about the precedent this sets, meaning the police can then start arresting anyone for "indecent chanting". Take "Ian Murray, you're a w*nker" during the game on sunday, technically indecent I would imagine. I'd be devastated to get a record (even a caution) for something which is part and parcel of football for most people.

 

I am more worried about the fact that you could be charged if a photograph, in the cops eyes only, suggest you have sung an indecent chant.

[Eldar Hadzimehmedovic]

Sol Sol, wherever you may be, you're just one step from lunacy, and we don't give a ***** if you're hanging from a tree, dirty judas ***** got HIV (originally sung around the time when he walked out at half-time and Wenger was quoted as saying he hoped Sol didn't do anything stupid).

 

Like I said, very nasty, very offensive, but the police have looked at CCTV, printed the faces of people they claimed were singing it in the paper, and now charged them.

 

Thin end of the wedge if you ask me, where do you draw the line?

 

Touchy subject this. Who knows the answer? What I do know though, is that if those are the lyirics, that is in horrificly bad taste. I'm all for maintaining the unique atmosphere football crowds create compared to other sports but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. Surely that line should be somewhere before celebrating the hypothetical death of another person.

[suzie_preston]

sorry forgot quote

[suzie_preston]

Another step in confirming we live in a police state when are they going to start building the concentration camps.

 

Only this weekend concering us fans

 

photo survaliance at the match

checking the pubs for early drinkers

checking pubs to see if they have the correct signage

procucuting fans having a sing song

 

I bet you there are more things that can be added to this short list

 

What is the most ridiculace reason the plods have given you for stopping ,question or general hassle.

 

Mines was I had my car window open. mind you it was one of these rare warm summer nights. They said they thought my window looked broken, Doh!

When I first moved into the house were I live we had visit's from the police regular as clockwork every Saturday night, once there was 3 cars and a police van watching the house till 11pm and they've had some stupid reasons, it seems our neighbours for some reason unknown to us don't like us and keep reporting us though we have never met or spoken to them.

 

Our neighbours have accused us of talking to loudly, yes talking not shouting and our house is detached so they must have super hearing?

 

Having to many friends come to the door? My children have friends.

Having foreign people visit us, they accused us of running some sort of hostel for foreign student's. Some of my own childrens friends from uni are Spanish, Mexican, Dutch or Italian and they also have friends they met when they went backpacking for a year who have come to visit.

 

Running a car sales business from our driveway even though there has never been any cars with For Sale signs on them and then having to many cars parked on the driveway,we have space for 4.

 

And even though everytime the police have come they have agreed with me there wasn't a problem it still goes down as a call out to my address, I know this because one officer commented saying it's not the 1st time we've had complaint's about this address and when I argued that they had all been unneccesary visit's by them he said it was still a problem address.

 

And yet when I needed them because someone was trying to break in at 2am it took them 2hrs 40mins to arrive as they were busy somewhere else.

 

Waste of taxpayer's money

[7628mm]

When I first moved into the house were I live we had visit's from the police regular as clockwork every Saturday night, once there was 3 cars and a police van watching the house till 11pm and they've had some stupid reasons, it seems our neighbours for some reason unknown to us don't like us and keep reporting us though we have never met or spoken to them.

 

Our neighbours have accused us of talking to loudly, yes talking not shouting and our house is detached so they must have super hearing?

 

Having to many friends come to the door? My children have friends.

Having foreign people visit us, they accused us of running some sort of hostel for foreign student's. Some of my own childrens friends from uni are Spanish, Mexican, Dutch or Italian and they also have friends they met when they went backpacking for a year who have come to visit.

 

Running a car sales business from our driveway even though there has never been any cars with For Sale signs on them and then having to many cars parked on the driveway,we have space for 4.

 

And even though everytime the police have come they have agreed with me there wasn't a problem it still goes down as a call out to my address, I know this because one officer commented saying it's not the 1st time we've had complaint's about this address and when I argued that they had all been unneccesary visit's by them he said it was still a problem address.

 

And yet when I needed them because someone was trying to break in at 2am it took them 2hrs 40mins to arrive as they were busy somewhere else.

 

Waste of taxpayer's money

 

As they say "there is nowt as strange a folk"

 

if all of this is true then I would seriously consider encouraging the police to take some action against these neighbours for wasting police time.

It is important to keep a note of all the times that you have the boys in blue attend your place and build up a case against your neighbours. perhaps a word with a solicitor may be of use to you.

Perhaps a letter from a solicitor to the chief constable may be a good idea.

[hmfc_steve]

The papers (and therefore websites) can publish the names of anyone charged with an offence unless they're under 18 or in special circumstances (I think).

 

I'm more worried about the precedent this sets, meaning the police can then start arresting anyone for "indecent chanting". Take "Ian Murray, you're a w*nker" during the game on sunday, technically indecent I would imagine. I'd be devastated to get a record (even a caution) for something which is part and parcel of football for most people.

 

 

how can the polis tell if they were actually singing, or as I'd claim... just miming... unless that's against the law as well

[Bomber Harris]

don@t panic good people of JKB

 

they were spurs fans

[Bindy Badgy]

I think you could use a defence of The Truth to that one.

 

The "judas ****" and "one step away from lunacy" lines in the Sol Campbell song aren't far from the truth:)

[Deevers]

Well, I think they are going to have a very hard job to prove that this chant/song is in any way racist. Offensive it may be - but racist it certainly is not.

[H2]

The Sol Campbell song is offensive and totally unnecessary.

Some things are amusing, but a lot comes down to the individual, for example when Stevie Fulton joked about geeting boooked for being ugly, the fact it did not offend him makes it inoffensive.

 

One thing that confuses me though is some of the things you can and can't say. It seems to be ok to call people fat or ugly, but offensive to use other terms which I can't post in case it offends someone, or more likely someone acting on behalf of someone who they might think might be offended even if they are not.

[Craig R]

Well, I think they are going to have a very hard job to prove that this chant/song is in any way racist. Offensive it may be - but racist it certainly is not.

 

Hanging from a tree is a blatant KKK reference.

[richiehmfc]

Hanging from a tree is a blatant KKK reference.

 

I certainly didnt think of that straight away....i assumed they meant they wouldnt care if he hanged himself???

 

also how is that song homophobic???

[dc-jambo]

I thought these arrests were over-the-top UNTIL this threat reminded me of the song in question Now that i've been reminded, I hope the judge puts the yiddos in question in the stocks, in Brixton high street, for a year, and I'll go down there to p*** on them every weekend

[cosanostra]

Hanging from a tree is a blatant KKK reference.

 

That reference was because he was suicidal, it's not a KKK reference.

 

Sickos.

[Primavera]

Hanging from a tree is a blatant KKK reference.

 

According to Jahwehs book of fables, I vaguely recall that Judas Iscariot was reputed to have hung himself from a tree after collecting 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. The hanging/Judas parts of the song both referred to his move to Arsenal, which was viewed as the ultimate betrayal by Spurs fans.

[4marsbars]

Whatever the rights and wrongs here, that's quite a song and makes me realise how mild-mannered even the most rabid Kickbackers are, say, in relation to S Pressley.

 

Yes, as the OP says, it's fun to take the p*** out of opposing players, that's part of the game, but I don't think there's a "freedom of speech" defence to be made in favour of this vile song or its singers. Making a joke out of serious mental health issues is never funny.

 

Probably, simply ejecting the idiots from the ground would be enough though.

 

I doubt it's the thin end of any wedge we'll be encountering for some time. Judging by what I see every day on the roads, people talking on mobiles while driving, ignoring speed limits, etc. the idea that we live in anything resembling a police state is laughable.

[I'M IBRAHIM TALL]

I'm no prude but its not particulary clever or indeed funny as football songs go. You can magine some puffed up mockney **** lording about his manor having made that one up.

[djf]

People have this mistaken belief that being part of a football crowd makes them above the law for some reason. If you were walking down Lothian Road singing that song on a Tuesday afternoon I have no doubt you'd get lifted as well.

[Carl Spackler]

Charging them for that song is ridiculous. The song is completely out of order in my opinion but that's only my opinion. I'd like to know the rationale behind it being considered illegal.

 

The concerned club requesting the perpetrators leave the premises would be entirely acceptable however. The song would be below the general standard of decorum any club would expect.

 

There's a massive difference between illegal, offensive and distasteful; or at least there should be.

[I P Knightley]

According to Jahwehs book of fables, I vaguely recall that Judas Iscariot was reputed to have hung himself from a tree after collecting 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. The hanging/Judas parts of the song both referred to his move to Arsenal, which was viewed as the ultimate betrayal by Spurs fans.

 

Bang on. You paid attention at Sunday School!

 

You'd have to recruit a team of PC consultants to turn this round into a 'racist' chant. Or Charles Manson; he was pretty good at that sort of stuff.

 

There's no getting away from it being an offensive chant. I'm certain that those singing it have done nothing to hide their contempt for Campbell.

 

The 'HIV' bit may have been having a go at him over allegations that he's gay but surely this is no worse than singing, "All the Hibees are Ga-ay"?

 

So exactly where should the line be drawn?

 

Personally, if I was getting ?100k a week, it would more than compensate me for having to hear this type of song a couple of times a year.

[Deevers]

Hanging from a tree is a blatant KKK reference.

 

Only in the minds of those who want it to be - loads of people have been hung from trees - Rapists, murderers, arsonist, highwaymen, thieves sheep stealer's etc etc etc etc - so now we have the thought police on the go exercising their opinion on the hidden meanings behind songs! It's as much of a nonsense as banning Baa Baa Black Sheep.

[ScottishSandstorm]

Wow. Sol sure does make a lot money to play football in a nice friendly atmosphere wherever he goes. This is wrong IMO, no way the police should be cracking down on this. Sol makes a ****load of money and if he can't take the abuse, he should switch careers. If Tottenham wants to crack down on this, then fine, have the stewards ask them to stop singing the song, but there is no way these men should face legal consequences for singing this song.

[Tynie b]

This country is going to the dogs (IS:eek:) You get a Paedophile teacher who gets community service for having 457 child porn pictures, Now you'll get these guys, whole get the same or probably worse, for Singing a freakin song at some "Judas" Footballer...What kind of treatment would we hand out if Webster came to Tynecastle?? The law in this country is a freakin joke...Let the Club handle it, find the culprits, ban them from the stadium, ban them from ALL stadiums, who cares, spending tax payers money on this, Unbefreakinleavable!!

 

Rant Over!!

[Shanks]

Be very careful??

 

No I dont think I will! I will personally continue to use the language I have always used, Sing the chants I have always sung, and behave the way I always have.

 

If thats not pc well they can do what the **** they like I wont be changing in a hurry.

[4marsbars]

Wow. Sol sure does make a lot money to play football in a nice friendly atmosphere wherever he goes. This is wrong IMO, no way the police should be cracking down on this. Sol makes a ****load of money and if he can't take the abuse, he should switch careers. If Tottenham wants to crack down on this, then fine, have the stewards ask them to stop singing the song, but there is no way these men should face legal consequences for singing this song.

 

I think the issue here is about his mental state rather than his bank balance. If someone experiences severe mental ill health then it should not be used against him, no matter how well paid.

 

There is a line, and it has been crossed. "Fans" like that should be barred for a while (not sure about the criminal justice involvement, though). Clearly unacceptable behaviour.

 

What next? Let's sing songs about players who have just suffered a bereavement, "where's your father gone?" or something. If they can't take it they are in the wrong job.

[I P Knightley]

This country is going to the dogs (IS:eek:) You get a Paedophile teacher who gets community service for having 457 child porn pictures, Now you'll get these guys, whole get the same or probably worse, for Singing a freakin song at some "Judas" Footballer...What kind of treatment would we hand out if Webster came to Tynecastle?? The law in this country is a freakin joke...Let the Club handle it, find the culprits, ban them from the stadium, ban them from ALL stadiums, who cares, spending tax payers money on this, Unbefreakinleavable!!

 

Rant Over!!

 

Good rant, though.

 

WEB-STER

Wherever you may be

You're one step away from the infirmary

And we won't give a ***k if you're hanging from a tree

You're a Judas ***t with a dodgy knee

 

Not pleasant but it's possible it could be sung at Tynie. It's neither racist nor homophobic and only slightly removed from the Sol Campbell one. Could even have left in the HIV as the sentiment of the song lends itself to wishing no good on Webster.

[Optimus Prime]

Good to see the Feds have remained consistent by booking Prince Harry for his outburst.....oh hang on...

[Guest S.U.S.S.]

Hanging from a tree is a blatant KKK reference.

 

No, its not.

[Tynie b]

Good rant, though.

 

WEB-STER

Wherever you may be

You're one step away from the infirmary

And we won't give a ***k if you're hanging from a tree

You're a Judas ***t with a dodgy knee

 

Not pleasant but it's possible it could be sung at Tynie. It's neither racist nor homophobic and only slightly removed from the Sol Campbell one. Could even have left in the HIV as the sentiment of the song lends itself to wishing no good on Webster.

 

See, that's what I'm talking about...Perfectly understandable!!

 

The difference is that Sol Campbells Black...SO, any song against him is automatically racist..there have been rumours about his sexuality...SO automatically the song is Homophobic!!

The world is going PC mad!! If I was getting ?100,000 per week, people could sing, shout, dance Freakin Write what they wanted...I'd still be minted!!

 

Unfortunately I'm not him, so, I'm skint

 

BUT, he's white, how the freak can the PC,Easily offended brigade have a go at this?? They'd find a way!

[cashgenerator]

I like the Webster song!!

[IMA MAROON]

ref to Judas Iscariot.