Archived News from March 2015
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BBC TV VIDEO REPORT ON SEXISM IN FOOTBALL
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Sexist chanting must be tackled says FA after 'horrible' footage
Video report broadcast on BBC TV Main news on Thursday 5 March 2015. See the video here --> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31750397 The Football Association is calling on fans to report sexist abuse at games after being shown disturbing scenes of women officials and staff being subjected to obscene chants. Footage obtained by the BBC shows Chelsea's female medic Dr Eva Carneiro and a female assistant referee Helen Byrne suffering taunts during recent matches. FA board member Heather Rabbatts described the abuse as "horrible". She said it should not be tolerated, adding: "We are absolutely encouraging people to report incidents like this." The footage was taken at Chelsea matches against Manchester City and Manchester United, as well as a game in the Football League. This season, 25 match-day incidents of sexist abuse have been reported to anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out and equality group Women in Football (WiF). Last season, there were just two. However, a lack of evidence means no club or fan has ever been punished by football's governing bodies. Manchester City admitted "a breakdown in communication" meant "the usual investigation process was not followed". The club added: "A new specific guidance on sexist abuse was introduced from the very next game and a new training programme implemented." Manchester United said: "No complaint was made at the time, so any feedback of this nature made after the event has to be referred to the police, which the club did within 24 hours." The Football Supporters' Federation said it "doesn't receive many complaints in relation to sexist chanting at games, although that isn't to say it doesn't happen". Carolyn Radford, the chief executive of Mansfield Town, says sexist chanting is a big problem. When she joined the League two club at the age of 29 in 2011, the headlines were about her blonde hair and looks rather than her university and legal qualifications. "I've had fans chanting abuse at me," she said. "It's hurtful." Radford said such abuse was not widely reported because women are "kind of made to feel" they should tolerate it. "If it was racist language being chanted at me, perhaps people would do something about it," she added. "But because it's 'banter', so to speak, I've got to flick my hair and just accept it." |
Latest | March 2015