The Blades v Bradford in the Media

[William Henry Foulkes]

This is utterly barking mad. They were the best set of fans this year. Plenty of them. Generally in good voice. Roygbiv's View From was excellent. They really added to the atmosphere, but reading this from the outside must make it seem like a Blades v Bradford war zone.

Guardian

Sheffield United to investigate ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by fans
• Bradford’s fans reported racist chanting at Bramall Lane
• Bradford chairman: ‘I thought we had gone beyond that stage’


The Bradford chairman, Mark Lawn, said: ‘I’d hoped stuff like that and monkey chants were a thing of the past’ after his side’s defeat at Bramall Lane. Photograph: Gary Calton for the Observer


Press Association

Wednesday 30 December 201516.11 GMTLast modified on Wednesday 30 December 201516.26 GMT

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Sheffield United have launched an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by a small section of fans during Monday’s win against Bradford at Bramall Lane.

Bradford’s travelling fans reported racist chanting from a small minority of United supporters, while the home striker Billy Sharp claimed he had coins thrown at him from the away end.

“The club has received complaints about both sets of fans from the fixture – including a number of contradictory reports,” read a club statement. “The Blades will take every step to track down and deal with those responsible for any inappropriate actions, which ruin the matchday experience for other supporters.

“Sheffield United is an inclusive family and community orientated club where everyone is made to feel welcome and it endeavours to improve on this principle year on year.”

United have taken steps to identify any offenders in response to comments made by the Bradford chairman, Mark Lawn, after the match. He told the Telegraph & Argus: “I thought we had gone beyond that stage in football. I’d hoped stuff like that and monkey chants were a thing of the past.

“I feel very sorry for the Sheffield United board because they must be embarrassed by the morons who do that. Unfortunately it’s difficult to stop something like that. We’d look on cameras and if we could prove they are doing it, then ban them from the ground.”

Sharp later made light of the alleged coin-throwing incident when he said on Twitter: “Cheers Bradford for the coins.”

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

BBC

30 December 2015Last updated at 16:28

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Sheffield United investigate fan behaviour in Bradford City game
Sheffield United are investigating allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour by fans during Monday's home game against Bradford City.

Supporters of the Bantams reported racist chanting by a small number of Blades fans.

Meanwhile, United striker Billy Sharp complained about coins being thrown at him from the away end.

"The Blades will take every step to track down and deal with those responsible," said a club statement.

"The club has received complaints about both sets of fans from the fixture - including a number of contradictory reports.

"Sheffield United is an inclusive family and community orientated club where everyone is made to feel welcome and it endeavours to improve on this principle year on year."

Sharp scored the opening goal as the Blades won the game 3-1, but afterwards said "Cheers Bradford for the coins" as part of a post on Twitter.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

The Star

Sheffield United will investigate alleged ‘ISIS’ chants at Bradford City game

[email protected]
13:00Wednesday 30 December 2015
13HAVE YOUR SAY

A Sheffield United season ticket holder has said he is ‘disgusted’ to hear alleged racist chanting at their game with Bradford City.

Allegations that a small section of Sheffield United supporters that sang racist chants to Bradford City fans, will be investigated by the club.

The investigation comes after The Blades’ ran out 3-1 winners against the West Yorkshire club on Monday.

A ‘few hundred’ Sheffield United fans on the South Stand near the away terrace allegedly sang ‘You’re just a town full of ISIS’ towards the 4,000 travelling support from Bradford.



A Sheffield United season ticket holder, who attended the game, said he was ‘disgusted’ to hear alleged racist chanting at the match.

Ramon Mohamed, aged 55, of Totley, who has supported The Blades for more than 40 years, said it reminded him of the ‘dark ages’

Mr Mohamed has said he sent an email about the chanting to Sheffield United but has not received a reply.

He said: “It was more than just five or 10 fans it was more like a few hundred.

“I could make out they were singing ‘You’re just a town full of ISIS’ towards the Bradford fans.

“I was disgusted, you cannot compare a whole town to a murderous fanatical cult that has nothing to do with Islam.

“It saddens me that I’m talking about this but racism moves in mysterious ways and takes new forms. It’s current form is towards refugees and Islamic State.”

Mr Mohamed, who has been a Blade since the 1970s has said that much has been done to tackle racism but has said his experience during Saturday’s game brings back bad memories.

“It’s like a return to the dark ages. I looked around and I found there was no Asian faces in the crowds. It’s stuff like this that put these fans off coming.

“But this is a wider problem than Sheffield United. It goes on elsewhere and it’s still a problem that need tackling.”

Bradford City chairman, Mark Lawn also made comments about the alleged chants.

“I thought we had gone beyond that stage in football. I’d hoped stuff like that and monkey chants were a thing of the past,” Mr Lawn said.

The Star understands that Mr Lawn did not attend the game on Monday.

There were also reports that Blades’ striker Billy Sharp was hit by coins thrown from the away end.

He tweeted after the game: “Enjoyed that one today, superb win ... cheers Bradford for the coins.”

The FA have confirmed that an official complaint has been lodged regarding the chants.

Sheffield United spokesman said: “Sheffield United is currently investigating reports of inappropriate behaviour by a small minority of supporters during Monday’s Sky Bet League One encounter with Bradford City.

“The Club has received complaints about both sets of fans from the fixture - including a number of contradictory reports.

“The Blades will take every step to track down and deal with those responsible for any inappropriate actions, which ruin the matchday experience for other supporters.

“Sheffield United is an inclusive family and community orientated Club where everyone is made to feel welcome and it endeavours to improve on this principle year on year.

“The Club’s official website carries a Customer Charter and an Equality Statement which emphasises its commitment to eliminate discrimination.”



Read more: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local...at-bradford-city-game-1-7648694#ixzz3vqZPburT

 

[Tyler Durden]

I really wish United would stop banging on about that "Family Club" crap. It's an empty term which means fuck-all in reality.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Had a quick look at ITV, Mirror, and Telegraph online and couldn't see anything.

 

[Tyler Durden]

And another thing, there isn't a chance in hell that the Bradford lot heard it. So they're liars quite frankly.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Ramon Mohamed, aged 55, of Totley, who has supported The Blades for more than 40 years, said it reminded him of the ‘dark ages’

Mr Mohamed has said he sent an email about the chanting to Sheffield United but has not received a reply.

He said: “It was more than just five or 10 fans it was more like a few hundred.

Judging from everything I've read here and my experience at the match this is just wrong and should be challenged.

 

[penthouseblade]

I was stood at the back of the South Stand, just to the left of the press box; heard no 'dark age' chanting whatsoever. I agree with WHF, this guy needs to fully explain himself.

 

[PeteBlade]

You leave yourself open to shitty reporting by the media when you think it's clever to chant about ISIS at a football match.

God knows the media don't need much encouragement with the Blades following old Cheddy.

 

[nicksufc]

There were definitely idiots chanting that ISIS song on the Kop.

A little strange that the Bradford chairman, who didn't attend the game, is the only one to mention that there were monkey chants.

 

[Pedro Verde]

A little strange that the Bradford chairman, who didn't attend the game, is the only one to mention that there were monkey chants.

He hasnt said there were monkey chants at the game

 

[wizadry]

You leave yourself open to shitty reporting by the media when you think it's clever to chant about ISIS at a football match.

God knows the media don't need much encouragement with the Blades following old Cheddy.

You don't leave yourself open to anything unjust. No monkey chants and no Paki chants so the reports and what some people are coming out with is utter bollocks.

 

[wizadry]

He hasnt said there were monkey chants at the game

Why mention it at all in his report then?

 

[PeteBlade]

You don't leave yourself open to anything unjust. No monkey chants and no Paki chants so the reports and what some people are coming out with is utter bollocks.

None of the above articles or any I've seen mention us chanting either.

 

[wizadry]

None of the above articles or any I've seen mention us chanting either.

Their bellend of a chairman mentions it when there is no need to regards the monkey chants and some of our fans are saying that some of our fans sang town full of Pakis' on this very forum so i beg to differ. It's again utter bollocks on both accounts.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Why mention it at all in his report then?

He said Id hoped that things like that and Monkey chants had gone out of the game
Meaning the stuff the idiots on the Kop were chanting and Monkey Chants had gone out of the game
I think he was using the Monkey Chant term to emphasise the alledged racism
Ive not heard any monkey chants since the early 80s

 

[spongebobblade]

He hasnt said there were monkey chants at the game

Maybe not directly but has certainly insinuated it by mentioning monkey chants in the same sentence. I heard the ISIS chant on the kop. It lasted less than a minute and at a guess involved 50ish so called fans. If the south stand chanted it I didn't hear it which if was the case then there is no way the Bradford fans heard it from the kop. Make no mistake it was wrong but let's get facts right before people start sensationalising for the sake of a good story to hammer our club with

 

[PeteBlade]

Their bellend of a chairman mentions it when there is no need to regards the monkey chants and some of our fans are saying that some of our fans sang town full of Pakis' on this very forum so i beg to differ. It's again utter bollocks on both accounts.

The point I'm making is that the
media hasn't reported ether of those things. Theyve reported a small minority chanted about ISIS which is entirely accurate.

 

[Bladepicker]

It wasn't a few hundred. Mr Mohammed is doing nothing to quell the issue by lying about that. Perhaps he wants his 15 minutes on Jeremy Vine Monday lunchtime?

I know the Bradford chairmen didn't say there were monkey chants, he just used that as an example of behaviour he thought had died out but many will read it as him saying there were monkey chants.

That is very irresponsible by him and I hope the hierarchy at the lane are on to him to issue a clarification statement as that is defamatory to the club and us fans.

The football league should fine him where it hurts. No pies for 2 weeks.

 

[Bladepicker]

Their bellend of a chairman mentions it when there is no need to regards the monkey chants and some of our fans are saying that some of our fans sang town full of Pakis' on this very forum so i beg to differ. It's again utter bollocks on both accounts.

There were no monkey chants and I can never remember any since I've been watching United. I barely heard the Isis chant but it was never a few hundred. However, while I never heard the Paki song I have a good mate at the back of the kop. He tells me 100 per cent that a handful of people, even less than the ISIS mob, tried to get the paki song going first. He told me this before any of this kicked off and I would believe him 100 per cent.

It was hardly anybody which is again positive, but it did happen I reckon.

Edit: this doesn't mean I disagree with your point mate. The way it has been reported is fucking ridiculous and ott. Based on lies and misdirection to make us look worse.

 

[wizadry]

The point I'm making is that the
media hasn't reported ether of those things. Theyve reported a small minority chanted about ISIS which is entirely accurate.

The first post i replied to you on the issue is that basically leaving yourself open to things or suggestions as to what was said or sang was bollocks. Their chairman had no right to even mention the monkey chants, no right at all. Complete bellend! Not you mate 'btw'.

 

[wizadry]

He said Id hoped that things like that and Monkey chants had gone out of the game
Meaning the stuff the idiots on the Kop were chanting and Monkey Chants had gone out of the game
I think he was using the Monkey Chant term to emphasise the alledged racism
Ive not heard any monkey chants since the early 80s

I get what he's said but he had no need whatsoever to even mention it, it hasn't happened for years as you rightly say so in essence the monkey chants have gone out of our game.

 

[boo radley]

On the Kop there was a song "your just a town full of ISIS". I actually thought they were singing " your just a town full of Taxis" . Thing is it was not very loud so how come that section of the south stand sang it later?
Songs against a certain team and the perceived association are usually sung by lots of different sets of other club supporters throughout the season. I do not believe our idiots were the first to sing it. We are however a big easy target to make an example of, smaller sets of supporters are not.

 

[wizadry]

There were no monkey chants and I can never remember any since I've been watching United. I barely heard the Isis chant but it was never a few hundred. However, while I never heard the Paki song I have a good mate at the back of the kop. He tells me 100 per cent that a handful of people, even less than the ISIS mob, tried to get the paki song going first. He told me this before any of this kicked off and I would believe him 100 per cent.

It was hardly anybody which is again positive, but it did happen I reckon.

Edit: this doesn't mean I disagree with your point mate. The way it has been reported is fucking ridiculous and ott. Based on lies and misdirection to make us look worse.

Fair enough on that matter then mate but their chairman is still a twat.

 

[SRBlade]

Port vales chairman states that he didn't hire Jimmy Floyd because he was black.

Around a hundred united fans sing about ISIS.

Which one gets more media coverage?

Also, one important aspect for a football fan at a game is to bring about an identity that differs to the opposition team and/or set of rival fans. This is usually done through association, if we play a London team 'United hate cockneys'. A Lancashire team 'Yorkshire! Yorkshire!'. We play leeds we sing songs about sheffield. We play the pigs, we sing songs about sheffield united and how much we hate wednesday and what they represent'.

It was far from clever, but, this type of behaviour has been part of football since the start, I've heard songs on the kop more shameless than this with little spoken about it. It takes a special kind of person to get upset over a song sang by a small percentage of the fans in attendance. Maybe next time join a choir.

 

[James Boreman]

Can we stop trying to cover up our own fans racism please. Let them face the music.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

I didn't hear any sort of chants from the south stand, still its not nice to read reports about this stuff.
Shame some fans don't mind dragging the club through mud.

 

[Ricky]

If it was a 'few hundred' then nobody would be asking questions because everybody would've heard it.

It doesn't take more than a small handful chanting to be heard. I'd be surprised if it was more than 25.

 

[SWB]

Can we stop trying to cover up our own fans racism please. Let them face the music.

Thats right keep stirring the shit !!!
Only football banter GET REAL.

 

[Tezza1889]

I'm more worried about the comment where he says criticising Isis is the new racism, shouldn't we hound and criticise Isis to extinction.... After all they are murdering terrorists hell bent on sharia law and the enslavement and destruction of all other cultures...

He doesn't think that's fair.....Please answer that one for me.. My guess is he doesn't even exist and it's a star journalist looking for a bit of fame..