Plymouth Argyle in Home Park probe over racist chant allegation
PLYMOUTH Argyle are investigating allegations of anti-Gypsy chanting by fans, aimed at a Southend United player during Saturday's match.
The club said one person had been arrested for alleged racism at the game.
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Plymouth Argyle
The Pilgrims, who clawed back a 2-2 draw against the south Essex team, said they had already received reports from fans at the game who have raised concerns about chants and are expecting more to follow.
A spokesman for Argyle said: "We have received a number of complaints relating to crowd behaviour during Saturday's game.
"We are currently conducting a thorough investigation into these complaints."
Argyle say they will issue a full statement once the investigation has concluded.
The Plymouth Argyle Fans' Trust said it has also been made aware of the allegations.
The Plymouth Argyle Fans' Trust said it was "aware of a small number of incidents this season involving unacceptable and often aggressive chanting or comments."
It said it recognised the chanting "includes comments many would understand to be racist or homophobic in tone."
In a statement, the Trust said: "On Saturday an incident involving abuse coming from a supporter towards the Barn Park end of the Lyndhurst stand was reported to the police by a Trust member.
"Our message to any so-called fans who cannot put aside their own bigotry for 90 minutes is simple: you are not welcome at Home Park.
"The Fans' Trust will be approaching the club to ensure that a robust system is in place for reporting such behaviour, but in the meantime we would urge any other fans who witness it to report it, in confidence, to the club or the Trust."
However, Plymouth Argyle president Chris Webb revealed that there were two incidents at the game, the first – a religiously motivated insult at a player – resulted in an individual being ejected from the grounds.
The other, was the alleged mass anti-traveller chanting which is understood to have been aimed at French-Tunisian defender Bilel Mohsni.
A fan at the match told The Herald around 300 people were involved in the chanting.
In 2006 Southend Utd was hailed for its Romany traveller striker, Freddie Eastwood. The player was instrumental in The Seasiders beating Premiership giants Manchester United 1-0 with a stunning 30-yard free kick.
In response to the allegations, Chris said he felt there was a "lack of understanding" among some of the fans about what was acceptable chanting.
He was also keen to distance the newly formed Forza Verde 1886 organisation from any derogatory chanting.
Chris said the Forza Verde group was created in an effort to reignite the "atmosphere and passion at Home Park" with "a vibrancy and noise that has been lacking for too long."
Chris said: "At no time have or will Forza Verde support any anti-social, racist, homophobic or aggressive behaviour.
"Such behaviour is not welcome and has no place at Home Park or in wider society.
"My beliefs and values are such that it makes me sick to the pit of my stomach to imagine anyone being discriminated against for any reason."
He said the Trust would "play an active part from whatever comes out of the investigation at Home Park."
A spokesman for Southend United said the first they knew of the allegations was following contact from the press.
The spokesman said: "We understand Plymouth Argyle are carrying out an investigation. Southend United and Bilel have not made any complaints about comments made at Home Park.
"We are happy to support Plymouth Argyle in their investigation."
A statement from the club reads: "We are grateful to supporters who have raised concerns about racist language heard at our recent npower League 2 game against Southend United and we can confirm that one person was arrested for alleged racial abuse.
"An immediate enquiry was launched by club officials on learning of the impending arrest at half-time of the game.
"This arrest confirms a very simple unequivocal message embraced by everyone at Plymouth Argyle and connected with the Club - racism has no place in football; no place at Home Park; no place in Plymouth.
"We operate a very clear policy of zero tolerance towards any form of unacceptable discrimination whether it be based upon race, creed, religion or sexual orientation. Any form of discrimination has never been, and never will be, tolerated at Home Park.
"We are proud to be a family club, where people of all abilities, ages, beliefs, genders, races, religions and sexual orientation can unite to enjoy "the beautiful game".
"As a club, we have always embraced players and supporters of many nationalities and creeds; this is our heritage and our legacy.
"Prejudice and hatred simply do not mix with supporting our team.
"We remind all supporters that racist, sexist and homophobic chanting are criminal offences which will result in the perpetrators being banned from Home Park.
"We will continue to act against any supporters who commit such offences.
"We have excluded people for racist behaviour previously and will have no hesitation in taking this action again.
"We urge supporters who see any signs of any form of anti-social behaviour to inform us immediately.
"Any form of discrimination will be dealt with in the strongest possible terms.
"That is our very clear message."
12 Comments
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by Toffeegreen
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 9:12PM
“Pathetic ..Why don't we have no appmosphere at Home Park at all . I suppose "You dirty Northern basta*ds" is racist too is it ? What a joke .”
by jabbathebutt
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 8:15PM
“You should hear what gypsys say about and how you are regarded .... though none get arrested for it .”
by Rongreenblood
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 7:43PM
“I remember the game against Burnley in the play offs where Burnley had a black forward who was given a lot of stick from the Argyle fans including monkey sounding chants,well, he had the last laugh by scoring two goals to help his team beat Argyle 3-1.It probably spurred him on,and he was waving to the (Argyle)fans at the final whistle,and deep down,even though we lost,I felt chuffed for him,so it can backfire sometimes!”
by janner843
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 8:14PM
“shockin.
How can they say it was racist???? even the player was edging on the crowd on Saturday and he enjoy the crowd joking around.
Some people have got to get a life, there was people smoking in the ground on Saturday in the devonport end and when a woman complaint to the stewards they did nothing... to scared just in case they get done for being racist.
So Smoking is allow and banters not allow.
Green ARMY”
by jimmysi
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 5:11PM
“I was at the game in the devonport and enjoy banter between players and fans as much as the next guy but I did feel a bit uncomfortable with the 'gypo' chants on saturday. Dont get me wrong I dont think there was any Malice intended and I do not think it was anything to do with the players race. I just think there is a lack of understanding about what is rascist and what is not.
I think the gypo comments were made because of the players long hair ( which he deserved a bit of banter for). I dont think they were racist towards the player but I do think they were rascist. This is because they were intended to be derogatory. Imagine if you were a gypsy in the crowd, and people were using your identity and race as an intended insult.
The banter in the devonport is second to none, usally witty, and highly entertaining. Just dont think this was needed!”
by mrbenn47
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 3:57PM
“Would be interesting to know how many complaints were actually made. This country keeps getting worse when it comes to the minority controlling everything. Before too long it will be a case of don't talk to anyone in case you offend them”
by eddie_taylor
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 1:51PM
“How saddening this is for thousands of football fans across the country, or should I say countries including Wales, Scotland and Ireland; looks like their favourite chants will be banned as racist and some perpetrators hounded to the courts of justice, whilst the real threats to our society like the so called islamic clerics Abu Hamza, Abu Qatada etc etc, who via the courts of human rights, are permitted to preach and instil their evil words, thoughts of death and destruction to all and sundry.
Whilst I do not agree with or advocate malicious racist abuse, this matter could get out of hand and bring another cloud to hang over "The Argyle", as if we the club, including owners, management, players, staff and fans haven't already endured enough over the past few seasons.
I ask the question, is this a response by a do gooder who has taken an incident out of context and ignore the synical antics and jesturing of a Southend player who may have incited a biased response from fans; bearing in mind that no Southend player or their management have lodged any compliant. Perhaps they have reacted in a more mature way and accepted the incident as banter between player and fans. I have attended matches where the chants have initially made me cringe, but then after putting it into context have laughed along with those content to listen, sometimes admiring the originality and thought behind the words.
Come on Argyle make sure any investigation is FULL, conducted in a mnner appropriate to the sporting nature of the game with consideration of all parties and their conduct over the 90 plus minutes of the game. Was there an unfounded and unwarrantted verbally abusive attack on anyone? or are we getting carried away with the generalisation of the law, which is there for the guidance of wise men or the obeyance of fools?
Be careful that our club and the game of football is not wrecked because we fail to recognise the limits of "Freedom of Speech" and the banter that is exchanged between both fans and players. We are in danger of any football fans, who attends a game, being gagged and shackled or put in plain words - attend the game but don't make a noise, don't stand up but remain seated at all times and at the end of the game never show your appreciation of your team.
The game that has brought so much pleasure to millions of people, over the years, is in danger of becoming completely sterile, impassionate and boring; ultimately without fans and supporters. Do not victimise Argyle fans because we are easy targets, whilst the fans at so called bigger clubs continue in their own sweet way doing what they have done for years, and at the same time adding to the entertainment value of attending a football match.
Report abuse, but make sure you are certain it is malicious and onesided!!! don't mistake for the exchanges of banter.”
by markcollings
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 12:15PM
“Nonesence , all pathetic nonecense !!! i dare say a complaint will be forwarded with respect to bad spelling .......... As for caravans ...isnt there a large area of caravan holiday makers who attend the Southend area for " the time of their lives" in a caravan , nothing to do with gypsies ....Or is it ??? .... A certain Mr David Essex 70s pop star ( so my Mrs keeps on telling me )was from that area and was/is proud to a gypsy....
complaints .... who sang at Home Park " a town full of seamen"...
or ....... ambroiser oe err ambroiser
we sang to Everton fans ( cup match ) " you got my stereo " assumming all scousers are thieves ....... err well ...
most chants are done because we HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH !!!! sadly to voice that opinion can get you into trouble , soon the national anthem " God save our Queen " will soon be banned .”
by ivyargyle
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 10:56AM
“This is getting ridiculous. This was no more than "banter" - nothing racist about it. First the player concerned is not a gypsy, so how could this possibly be racist abuse ? Secondly, how can chanting about someone having a caravan be offensive. If you asked a traveller/ caravan dweller, where his caravan is why is that offensive let alone racist ? If the guy had a big nose and the crowd were chanting "Big Nose" is that racially motivated ?
All this racial abuse stuff in the media is getting completely out of hand. Next we'll have the politically correct brigade saying that " who ate all the pies" is abusing people over 12 stone.
The reaction of Argyle and the politically correct brigade is little short of pathetic. I suggest that a weekend in Syria might bring them to their senses !”
by Luggyforever
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 10:11AM
“I wonder what would have happened if Southend had been awarded the penalty they probably deserved right at the end of the match and involving the player at whom the chants were presumably directed? Not that I'm condoning the chants but the player was a bit of a pantomime villain and did play up to it, to a certain extent, spitting towards the Devonport End and raising his arms in anger a couple of times.”