Well done to Wycombe for signing up to the Government Charter for Action to stamp out homophobia and transphobia, the first football club to do so. Admittedly the Charter is rather woolly, a set of four vague pledges with no concrete targets or deadlines, but the sentiment is key, and Wanderers’ stated commitment laudable. Of course, the news begs a critical question. Why, given that the Charter was launched by Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone in mid-March, has it taken so long for just one club to endorse something so self-evidently worthy? The simple answer is that, while racism in football…
All posts tagged politics
Football vs Politics (Spoiler alert: politics wins)
As Preston North End’s Northern Irish born Daniel Devine has opted to play for the Republic of Ireland instead of the football association who developed him at under-age level, it seems I have an excuse to write a bit relating to Irish football for this blog.Devine is just the latest player of Northern Irish nationality to declare for the Republic after Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy, Marc Wilson, Daniel Kearns and Paul George. The controversy arises as under the 1998 Good Friday agreement, the people of NI have the right to citizenship of the republic if they so desire. Far be…
The Monday Profile: Clarke Carlisle
“It really bugs me”, an exasperated Paul Calf once exclaimed. “They say, ‘Oh, David Beckham - he’s not very clever.’ Yeah. They don’t say, ‘Stephen Hawking — he’s a bit shit at football.’” Many a true word is spoken in jest, and Steve Coogan’s mulleted Man City fan may have been onto something.While adored and idolised for their abilities on the pitch and for their “intelligence” in terms of passing, positioning and anticipation, footballers are routinely pilloried by the general public for their intellectual deficiencies. Most of us are probably guilty of doing so at some time or another, but…
David Fellerath: Sounds awful, but why would the Nottingham Forest men's club pull the ...
Ben: They certainly impressed against Newcastle, eventually running out of ...
Lanterne Rouge: I think the principle that football fans should be treated equally is ...
Lloyd: Great piece, Tom, which comes just days after my dad lamented the chan...
Steve: I would also point out that in my seat I have little elbow and leg roo...
