Gypos

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justi ... lence/bill

The above link outlines the new law the Scottish Parliament has just passed to tackle offensive chanting at football matches. The main aim is to cut out Sectarianism at Celtic/Rangers matches, but it does cover all football matches in Scotland and you can even fall foul if you say something offensive whilst watching a game on TV in your own home!!!

I wonder how everyone feels about this. Is it marginalising football fans and even discriminating against them, as to repeat the same words away from football would-not be a criminal offence.

Also what if the Welsh Assembly Government followed suit and we could no longer chant 'Gypos' as it would be deemed as offensive? Might sound farfetched, but the WAG hate football and might feel this would be a good move to cut out offensive chanting at Cardiff/Swansea games.

There are people who see the term gypos has offensive and racist

There is a difference between racism and prejudice. Racism is predjudice with power, black people in this country, even those who are predjudice do not have the power to put white people in an inferior position. To say Anton Ferdinand is more racist than the BNP actually shows a high level of predjudice by the writer Anton or (Trevor Phillip,s) do not have a heritage they can trace back to Mosely and the black shirts beating up jews and smashing up shops, or to the Nazis who slaughtered millions and millions of people. My understanding is Anton Ferdinand did not make a complaint of racism at all, but by making this mistake and picking on one individual. You are showing your true colours.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/sectarianism-action-1/football-violence/bill

The above link outlines the new law the Scottish Parliament has just passed to tackle offensive chanting at football matches. The main aim is to cut out Sectarianism at Celtic/Rangers matches, but it does cover all football matches in Scotland and you can even fall foul if you say something offensive whilst watching a game on TV in your own home!!!

You clearly haven't put much effort into researching or reading this topic, as you've stated a load of Bollocks and appear to be scaremongering!

If you read the following section, something should smack you square in the face:-

Offensive Behaviour
This offence will cover sectarian and other offensive chanting and threatening behaviour related to football which is likely to cause public disorder. It covers:-

expressing or inciting religious, racial or other forms of hatred;
threatening or offensive behaviour;
will also cover behaviour of players and managers;
applies at, on the way to or from a "regulated football match", which includes league, European and international matches involving Scottish teams;
"regulated football match" based on football banning orders (FBO) legislation, which means an FBO will be available in every case.
also covers anywhere a match is being broadcast, except domestic property.

I wonder how everyone feels about this. Is it marginalising football fans and even discriminating against them, as to repeat the same words away from football would-not be a criminal offence.

Also what if the Welsh Assembly Government followed suit and we could no longer chant 'Gypos' as it would be deemed as offensive? Might sound farfetched, but the WAG hate football and might feel this would be a good move to cut out offensive chanting at Cardiff/Swansea games.

I think you'll find, that virtually everything under the new propositions, are already covered in England, Wales & Northern Irish legislation, under various sections and sub-sections, of The Public Order Act 1986!

These new propositions, merely make the offences specific to football matches and I doubt whether there'll be many fans up and down the country, who would openly support fans singing or chanting, the type of things sung at the Celtic/Rangers matches, the sort of things sung between the Leeds & Man Utd fans a few weeks ago and love him or hate him, the sick stuff aimed at our most recently departed (Innocent) manager!

Also what if the Welsh Assembly Government followed suit and we could no longer chant 'Gypos' as it would be deemed as offensive? Might sound farfetched, but the WAG hate football and might feel this would be a good move to cut out offensive chanting at Cardiff/Swansea games.

I've always said, that the best things sung at football matches, is stuff that is funny and we've had some really funny ditties over the years, so if your life revolves around being able to chant Gypo or any other form of singing or chanting, that may be deemed offensive, especially if it falls into any of the categories being looked at under the new proposals, then you need to grow up!