Police investigate chanting at Forest game

This article is published in today's Nottingham Post:

Police investigate chanting at Forest game

Police are treating a report of racist chanting by Nottingham Forest fans during the club's FA Cup derby with Leicester City as a "hate crime".

The force has launched an investigation after a member of the public complained about footage posted on the YouTube website which was recorded by a spectator at last Saturday's match at The City Ground.

The 53-second clip, posted online by user RedAndWhiteDogs, shows a handful of fans in the Main Stand directing chants at Leicester fans in the Bridgford Stand.

The fans are first heard chanting 'England, England, England' before shouting 'You're not anymore, you're not anymore, you used to be English, you're not anymore'.

The clip had last night been viewed more than 2,500 times.

Superintendent Mark Holland, who led the police operation at the match, said: "The incident is being treated as a hate crime and we are reviewing CCTV footage and following up on a number of lines of inquiry.

"We take all reports of racism very seriously and work extremely closely with the football clubs in a bid to kick racism out of the game."

A Nottingham Forest spokesman said: "Nottingham Forest have a zero tolerance attitude towards any inappropriate language at The City Ground.

"Any incidents of racial or abusive language reported to us during the game against Leicester City were dealt with immediately and appropriate action was taken.

"The club are continuing to assist the police with their investigation into this matter."

It is unclear whether the chants referred to Leicester City having Thai owners or the large Asian community in the city.

Having watched the footage Dr Kevin Harvey, a lecturer on sociolinguistics at the University of Nottingham, said: "The context is important in this case. Who or what are the fans directing their abuse at? Is it the owners of Leicester City or the Leicester people?

"Leicester is an ethnically diverse area so if they are aiming their aggression at that target it seems to me there's a prima facie case of racism.

"A lot of commentators argue in football matches you expect this and it's par for the course, but the question is when does it become abusive?"

Keith Mather, chairman of Nottingham Forest Supporters' Club, who went to the match, said: "I didn't hear the chants, but it is wrong and shouldn't be happening.

"In the 40 years I've been following Forest there's never been that underlying racial tension."

CCTV viewed in racist football chant probe

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

CCTV viewed in racist football chant probe

Police investigating alleged racist chants aimed at Leicester's Asian community at an FA Cup tie between Leicester and Nottingham Forest on Saturday are treating the incident as a hate crime.

Video clips posted on YouTube show a group of home fans aiming insults at Leicester City supporters inside and outside Forest's City Ground.

Two Forest fans, who could face lifetime bans, were thrown out after stewards intervened and alerted the police but they were not arrested.

Police said none of the 11 people arrested at the match were detained for alleged racist remarks but stressed investigations were continuing.

Superintendent Mark Holland of Nottinghamshire police said: "The incident is being treated as a hate crime and we are reviewing CCTV footage and following up on a number of lines of inquiry.

"We take all reports of racism very seriously."

The chanting has sparked a heated debate on fans forums which largely condemn those responsible.

Prith Singh, a City season ticket holder born in Leicester and who grew up in the shadow of Filbert Street, started one thread on the Foxes Talk forum.

He said: "I heard the racist chants in the City ground and I was subjected to abuse outside the ground when I was leaving."

He said: "We all like a bit of banter, but racist and homophobic chanting is derogatory and should not be allowed in 2012. Firm action must be taken."

Fellow City fan Kevin Coe, 44, from St Andrew's, Leicester, said: "It was disgusting and must be stamped out. I hope those responsible are banned. I was with my mate who is Asian and he and his son were visibly upset."

Leicester author and keen Liverpool supporter Bali Rai joined the debate on Twitter and said: "Racist issues in football are receiving high profile in the media at the moment. I have no time for racist chants."

Editor of The Fox Fanzine Gary Silke, who has followed City for 37 years, was at the game but did not hear the chants.

He said: "Racist chants are totally unacceptable but there are always a few idiots who make them. You try to ignore it but it is still bubbling underneath. However, it is a thousand times better than it used to be."

A Forest spokesman said: "Nottingham Forest have zero tolerance attitude towards any inappropriate language at The City Ground.

"Any incidents of racial or abusive language reported to us during the game against Leicester City were dealt with immediately and the necessary action was taken."The club will work with the police and continue to investigate any incidents reported. We support all police prosecutions where alleged racism is involved."

He said: "Our stewards identified two men who were allegedly making racist chants and they were removed."

The third round match ended in a 0-0 draw and the replay will be at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday January 18.

"Racist songs at cup game"

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

"Racist songs at cup game"

Allegations of racist and offensive chanting at Saturday's FA Cup match between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest are being investigated by police.

Sections of the home support at Forest's City Ground are said to have sung offensive chants aimed at Leicester's Asian population.

Videos have also surfaced on YouTube of Forest supporters racially abusing Asian City fans outside the stadium.

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire police confirmed it was aware of the incidents and would be investigating.

Nottingham Forest FC said it would work with the police and continue to investigate any incidents reported.

The third round match finished 0-0. The replay is at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday, January 18.

Equality Act 2010 regional event

REDP holds its first major regional event at Walkers Stadium, Leicester (home of Leicester City FC). Great attendance, good contributions, positive and supportive atmosphere. Here's how we've described the event, for publication in local media:

City takes lead on new Equality Act

Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium was the venue for a high-profile regional conference promoting the new Equality Act.

The Act, which became law just before Parliament was dissolved for the General Election, protects people from discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender and gender identity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.

Around a hundred people attended the conference, drawn mostly from the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Public Sector from right across the East Midlands.The event was hosted by the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership, which works across the East Midlands to strengthen the voice of the Voluntary Sector on these important issues. REDP has grown out of a successful collaboration of a number of Leicester-based organisations that have worked together in a variety of combinations over the past decade.

Sheila Lock, Chief Executive of Leicester City Council, officially opened the day, welcoming delegates to the event and to the city. She said that it was right for the conference to be happening in Leicester as the city is widely celebrated for its diversity and has a history of speaking up for equality. Sheila further said, “The Third Sector has been instrumental in bringing about improvements in equalities. … colleagues [in the public sector] have much to learn from the experiences of colleagues in the voluntary sector when it comes to challenging established systems and practices. I welcome that challenge, it is what helps people improve.”

A trio of nationally prominent speakers addressed the morning session , each one speaking about one important aspect of the new Act: Alison Pritchard (Head of Strategy at the Government Equalities Office), Amanda Ariss (Chief Executive at the Equality and Diversity Forum) and Anthony Robinson (Director of Casework and Litigation at the Equality and Human Rights Commission). The speakers also took part in panel discussions; workshop sessions in the afternoon helped attendees focus on major issues that affect them now and that will arise in the future.

Iris Lightfoote, Chair of the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership, said, “The number of people that felt this event was important enough to attend demonstrates the continuing significance of work to bring about equality of outcomes across the East Midlands. The profile of the contributors demonstrated the support that REDP is able to bring to this work and, hosting it in Leicester shows how much the voluntary sector’s contribution to this work should be valued.”

 Sad to report, the Leicester Mercury didn't publish anything about this event.

Leicester City isn't playing fair say disabled couple

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester City isn't playing fair say disabled couple 

A couple say that Leicester City is forcing them out of their season ticket seats and segregating them in a disabled section away from their friends and family. 

Wigston couple Colin and Mary Holden have been told by the club they must give up the Walkers Stadium seats they have held for four years and sit elsewhere if they want to continue to qualify for concessions for disabled supporters. 

Mr Holden, 67, has angina, back condition spondylolysis and arthritis in his hips and knees. His wife, 66, has walked with a cane since she damaged the muscles and nerves in her back in a fall. 

Both are registered disabled but do not use a wheelchair so are able to sit among able-bodied fans.

In a letter to the couple, seen by the Leicester Mercury, the club says it is introducing designated areas manned by "specially trained safety stewards" to provide "better provision, support and assistance on match days".

As a result, they have been informed they must change their current seats in the JCC Lighting Spion Kop if they wish to continue to benefit from reduced prices. They will have to move into the East Stand, three sections away, and sit apart from the friends and family they currently sit near. 

Mr and Mrs Holden pay £140 for two season tickets but if they choose to remain in their current seats they say the season tickets will cost them upwards of £500. 

"To say we are disappointed is an understatement," said Mrs Holden. 

"We have sat in there for the past few seasons with no trouble and now they are telling us either we move or we pay a lot of money to stay where we are. 

"We feel that they are forcing our hand to do what they say. 

"We want to stay in the seats close to our friends and family, but the club is segregating us from them. 

"We have been loyal supporters for several years and they did not even ask our opinion. They just said this is what we have got to do or else." 

Mr Holden said: "We feel we are being victimised and it is wrong to treat disabled people this way. 

"We enjoy the football, but if they want to be like that then they will lose the support." 

Mr and Mrs Holden's daughter, Helen Hodgkinson, 31, and her husband David, 37, from Hamilton, Leicester, act as carers for the couple and qualify for free tickets as a result. 

Mrs Hodgkinson said: "I am absolutely disgusted. It is only last week that the club were talking about respect for the players and the referee, but we feel that we are being shown no respect."
Nobody from the club was available to comment. 

But according to the letter, the changes have been brought in to allow "health and safety officers to audit attendance and, in the event of an emergency situation within the stadium, pay greater attention to the needs of our disabled supporters".