In the week that Paul Elliott, who played for Celtic, Chelsea and Aston Villa during his 12 year career, was speaking at Homophobia, Football's Final Taboo conference in London, where he stated he knows of at least 12 gay footballers in the Premiership too scared of 'coming out' due to the extreme homophobia within the game - it's come to light that Philip Scolari, Chelsea manager, stated a few years ago that any player he knew of on his team who was gay would be "off the team". Scolari made the comments when he managed Brazil to World Cup glory.

 

Interviewed about homophobia in the game, Scolari commented, "If I found out that one of my players was gay I would throw him off the team."

 

Scolari later backtracked saying he had "gay friends".... but his outburst received this comment from gay MP Chris Bryant "Perhaps they should make sure he understands the laws in this country as it is illegal to sack someone because of their sexuality".

 

Surely this makes his position at Chelsea untenable? If he'd made these comments about another minority group - would he really be managing one of our biggest football teams? And mores the point - should he be allowed to?

 

A spokesman for the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, made a statement regarding Scolari's outburst: "The government view is that any form of discrimination in the game is wrong and it should be about the colour of shirt, not skin, sexuality or gender that matters. Therefore, we wouldn't expect somebody to be appointed who had clearly demonstrated that they did not adhere to this principle."

 

The conference comes within weeks of the shameful abuse hurled at Portsmouth's Sol Campbell when his team played Spurs - to which Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger commented: "The abuse only becomes singled out when it is racism. That is not the only abuse which you get in the stadium, but maybe people only get touched by it when it is racism. Insults of any way should not be tolerated either."

 

Homophobic abuse is against the rules in every Premier League and Football League club - the Football Association's decision to amend the ground regulations was approved in 2007 after consultation with the leagues.

 

In May a campaign was launched to help stamp out homophobia in British football. It aims to "vindicate the memory of Justin Fashanu, the world’s first openly gay professional footballer."

 

A 2006 survey found out that 57% of footballers think that football is homophobic.

 

Hampshire Constabulary said that the scale of the abuse against Campbell meant that arrests could not be made, but a spokeswoman said that the incident will be fully investigated.

 

"Clubs employ us to keep situations like this to a minimum and with the help of stewards on their staff we can normally warn people they are committing a public order offence," she said.

 

"That often solves the problem but on this occasion it was just too much. I cannot say whether the chanting was obscene, homophobic or racist, not having been there, but the FA officer we contacted said he understood from his background experience what it was."

 

In July two Preston North End fans were banned from the club's ground for a year and fined by magistrates.

 

They were convicted of public order offences after chanting homophobic slogans during a game in Blackpool in March and banned from Blackpool FC's ground.

 

Nine Blackpool fans were banned from their home ground for shouting homophobic and racist abuse during the same match against Preston.

 

 

Absolutely despicable behaviour and attitudes from Scholari.... It seems to me that in many ways football is one of the last bastions of the sexist, the racist and the homophobe (religion and the armed forces being the others -_- )... Well, fukk that, there should be no haven for such narrow-minded attitudes, not in this day and age.... Scholari should be sacked not so much for having these attitudes (of course this is bad enough) but for very explicitly threatening to sack players based on nothing but sexuality....

 

The footballing world seriously needs to put its house in order....

Absolutely despicable behaviour and attitudes from Scholari.... It seems to me that in many ways football is one of the last bastions of the sexist, the racist and the homophobe (religion and the armed forces being the others -_- )... Well, fukk that, there should be no haven for such narrow-minded attitudes, not in this day and age.... Scholari should be sacked not so much for having these attitudes (of course this is bad enough) but for very explicitly threatening to sack players based on nothing but sexuality....

 

The footballing world seriously needs to put its house in order....

 

I totally agree. I find it incredible some of the chants sung in grounds (especially the disgusting chant towards Sol Campbell by Tottenham Hotspur fans), that if used by an individual outside the ground would lead to arrest and prosecution.

 

This is one thing the FA, the Government and authorities should have put an end too after Heysel & Hillsborough as it is a relic that belongs to a bygone age when The Black & White Minstrel Show was a very popular family TV show.

This is one thing the FA, the Government and authorities should have put an end too after Heysel & Hillsborough as it is a relic that belongs to a bygone age when The Black & White Minstrel Show was a very popular family TV show.

 

:lol:

 

With you on that one.... I actually think that this is really one of the main reasons why I have such hostility to football in general.... The fact that it just seems to be a magnet for such unpleasant and really nasty behaviour/attitudes.... People like Scholari dont exactly help the cause of trying to wrest it away from such unpleasantness....

 

 

 

I think it's a bit extreme to sack him on the basis of a throwaway comment made 6 years ago, whatever that comment was about. Also remember that Brazil is still a developing country, their attitudes are still far less progressive than ours are (especially for someone of Scolari's generation) - we just have to take comfort from the fact we are more informed and educated than he is. Of course, if he ever DOES throw anyone off the team for their sexuality or any other superficial tag, he should be sacked immediately.

If you wanted convincing proof of how attitudes in Football belong to a neanderthal bygone age then please read this Wikipedia piece on the first top flight footballer who came out Justin Fashanu.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu

 

It is a very depressing read, showing time and again a mindset in football that is of the lowest common denominator, which explains why the metro sexual David Beckham is so hated by "true, proper Football supporters".

I just hate it when the vast MINORITY give us passionate football fans WHO CONCENTRATE ON THE GAME a bad name :( Scolari better watch out for Wayne Bridge (who plays for Chelsea if anyone doesn't know) as there were rumours of him going out with Will Young not so long ago. :lol: I recieved my ticket for Manchester United v Hull this morning and of course I'll join in with the banter as I always do but there is a line for the fans which I never cross just as they as there is for managers and players. IF Scolari said anything of this nature again while he is Chelsea manager (this comment was said while he was managing Brazil) then he should definitely be sacked and I'd even unfortunately feel the same if Fergie did the same thing! Believe it or not English fans are among the better behaved nowadays especially when you see the frankly disgusting abuse black English players get abroad.

 

Tonight I'm gonna sit down infront of the TV and enjoy supporting my team like the vast majority of football fans do. I can understand Scott's hostility towards football however as Rangers and Celtic have certainly contributed giving football a bad name over the years bringing all kinds of c**p into two teams kicking a ball of leather around like bloody religious arguments ffs! Lets not forget Rangers in the UEFA Cup last season. <_<

 

That kind of thing will probably never stop which is why neither should be allowed into the English League meanwhile I'm sure the majority of REAL football fans will join in with the aggressive campaigning to get rid of this unwanted $h!te from the pitch, the touchine and the stands in football!

I think it's a bit extreme to sack him on the basis of a throwaway comment made 6 years ago, whatever that comment was about.

 

I don't agree at all - if the comment was made about any other minority group, whether it be 6 or 16 years ago, you can bet your bottom dollar he'd be escorted out of the football grounds and out of the Premiership....

 

Also remember that Brazil is still a developing country, their attitudes are still far less progressive than ours are

 

He actually made the statement when he worked in Kuwait - here's the full copy...

"He said he had not liked Kuwait because there were too many homosexuals there. "I don't like to see so many gays. If I find out that one of my players is gay, then I quickly get rid of him."

 

So he's stated, quite clearly, that he HAS already gotten rid of players he's found out to be gay. So why oh why has ANY British team touched this most unsavoury man with a bargepole?

 

Scolari made so PR many c**k-ups (excuse my French) whilst at Brazil, he was nicknamed The Donkey... a blunderer who simply couldn't keep his ill-educated mouth shut. He even gave an interview praising Pinochet - saying what a great man he was and how, despite him torturing quite a few people "there's no illiteracy in Chile!" :o :rolleyes: !

 

Some Scolari pearls of wisdom..

 

"PELE knows nothing about soccer. He's done nothing as a coach and his analysis is always wrong. If you plan on winning a title, do the opposite to what Pele says."

 

"IF someone talks about my private life, I'll give them a good punching. I'm not interested in suing. I like to sort things out my way."

 

"IF we have to play ugly to reach the objective, we will play. What's the point of a cup? To be champions."

 

Isn't football stupid, violent and corrupt enough without adding to it on the management side? :(

 

 

If you wanted convincing proof of how attitudes in Football belong to a neanderthal bygone age then please read this Wikipedia piece on the first top flight footballer who came out Justin Fashanu.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu

 

It is a very depressing read, showing time and again a mindset in football that is of the lowest common denominator, which explains why the metro sexual David Beckham is so hated by "true, proper Football supporters".

 

A tragic story for sure - it highlights, in particular, what thoroughly unpleasant and foul men both his brother John Fashanu Brian Clough are. Clough, especially, I hope has no peace in the afterlife for his shameful treatment of Justin Fashanu.

Yes it's a touchy matter. Scolari is well known for his over-obsessive views, and while I don't agree with them a lot of it is to do with his character. I think players who know a player is gay, will be very concious of them, especially when they're in the changing rooms, showers etc.

 

Players coming out as gay, can really tarnish their career, which is why no-one else has done it. Football fans are very vicous at times, I have been witness to it a number of times. In the lower leagues there's a player called Leo Fortune-West, and although he's not publicly come out, everyone knows he's gay because of the strories that have been told from all the different clubs he's been at, and he gets A LOT of stick on the football field. It's really, really bad at times.

What has gay stuff got to do with it anyway, it's just a sport (like any other sport!).

What has gay stuff got to do with it anyway, it's just a sport (like any other sport!).

 

Football is a vicious circle. The amount of abuse that gets thrown at players, never mind opposition players is just stupid.

Football is a vicious circle. The amount of abuse that gets thrown at players, never mind opposition players is just stupid.

I think maybe sometimes it's just everyone getting caught up in the atmosphere. It's fun to patronize the other teams fans, but when it happens to its players then it doesn't become funny any more.

I think maybe sometimes it's just everyone getting caught up in the atmosphere. It's fun to patronize the other teams fans, but when it happens to its players then it doesn't become funny any more.

 

Yeah that's true. I mean, i'll admit to saying something in the heat of the moment at a football match (nothing racist or homophobic) but on this case, the player deserved it. But the thing is you can't cut it out of the football, why is abusing someone because of their sexuality, worse than absusing someone because of how fat they are (and the famous "who ate all the pies" chant), it's not.

Ljungberg is one.

If you wanted convincing proof of how attitudes in Football belong to a neanderthal bygone age then please read this Wikipedia piece on the first top flight footballer who came out Justin Fashanu.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fashanu

 

It is a very depressing read, showing time and again a mindset in football that is of the lowest common denominator, which explains why the metro sexual David Beckham is so hated by "true, proper Football supporters".

 

this atricle highlights the reason why i detest footy/footy fans... i KNOW the majority are not like that... but still

 

scolari is an arse... and has shown himself to be that way...idiot.

why is abusing someone because of their sexuality, worse than absusing someone because of how fat they are (and the famous "who ate all the pies" chant), it's not.

 

Er, you can do something about being fat/obese mate, by changing your diet, you can't "change" your sexuality, so I dont feel the comparison is appropriate.... :rolleyes:

 

Er, you can do something about being fat/obese mate, by changing your diet, you can't "change" your sexuality, so I dont feel the comparison is appropriate.... :rolleyes:

 

Not always. Some people are naturally that shape, so it's not like they can click their fingers and change shape. People take the p*** out of players names too, they can't change that either.

 

Like I say, football is a vicious circle, and you can't do much to change it. It's not as simple as "kicking all these fans out of the game" or whatever as it's not hard to get back into football games if you've been banned with thousands of people at the game.

A tragic story for sure - it highlights, in particular, what thoroughly unpleasant and foul men both his brother John Fashanu Brian Clough are. Clough, especially, I hope has no peace in the afterlife for his shameful treatment of Justin Fashanu.

Clough later said he regretted his treatment of Fashanu.

Not always. Some people are naturally that shape, so it's not like they can click their fingers and change shape. People take the p*** out of players names too, they can't change that either.

It's a good job Bernt Haas isn't built like Emile Heskey, looks like Wayne Rooney and has Paul Scholes' hair...