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Football racists who chanted at Campbell 'include a policeman'
Anna Davis12 Dec 2008
ONE of the men wanted for chanting racist and homophobic abuse about footballer Sol Campbell is believed to be a policeman.
Images of 16 men thought to have shouted obscenities at the Portsmouth player during a game against Tottenham have been released by police. Two men have already been arrested and a further seven are being questioned today.
Essex police admitted they are liaising with their counterparts in Hampshire over claims that one of their officers was involved in the abuse at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, on 28 September.
The man, in his early twenties, is believed to have joined the force recently after completing his basic training.
One of his former friends said: "The last time I spoke to him he was training to be a police officer and planned to join Essex police. I knew he was a Tottenham supporter and I knew he was a bit of a lout, so for him to be involved in this does not surprise me."
Campbell, 34, became a figure of hate for Spurs fans after he left the club to join north London rivals Arsenal in 2001.
A 36-year-old man from Wokingham, Surrey, and a 28-year-old man from Ringwood, Hampshire, who were arrested on Wednesday have been bailed until 21 January.
They were questioned on suspicion of indecent or racial chanting at a designated football match.
A police spokesman said: "Officers have received a steady stream of information and names. However, they are keen to stress that they would like to hear from anyone who recognises the remaining seven people."
Reader views (33)
You Brits have the same problems with the press evaluating the news that is published and the political and legal officials over-stepping their bounds when it comes to public decency issues that we have here in the U.S.A. I was wondering what the English' definition of "racist lyrics" and "homophobic remarks" so I could compare them with our American standards, such that they may be, but I have yet to find the text where I can see for myself what this brooh hah hah is all about. I was amused by and agree w/comments read here esp those that suggest that this non-issue has been blown way out of proportion by public officials whose time and the taxpayers' money both could better be spent on more substantive matters esp during these current times of global economic strife.
- Jordan Fernandez, San Pedro, California United States of America, 25/01/2009 08:04
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This is absurd. However, Bridget Bardot was arrested and finded in France for saying negative things about Muslims. However, have you ever known anyone to be arrested for saying anything negative about a CHRIRISTIAN. Me thinks not ! The entire EU is a police state.
- Bernard, London, 15/12/2008 01:52
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Britain the country of my birth , so sad
- Pws, Perth Australia, 15/12/2008 00:46
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I cannot comment on the alleged "Chanting", as I cannot discern from the Media exactly what was "Chanted"!!
Was it accompanied by placards and death threats as was used in the Muslim march in Central London a while back?
Is there anybody out there that can enlighten me??
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 14/12/2008 22:53
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Where is the proof that this happened? I see a lot of publicity and hoo har over this but I have not heard these so called offensives being made.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK, 14/12/2008 18:57
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Making negative comments to a player on a rival team is a crime in the UK? How astronomically absurd! The nitwits who made such typical behaviour among sports fans a crime should be tarred and feathered and then promptly and permanently dispatched to Siberia. Enough already of that politically correct horse manure!
- Pat Riley, USA, 14/12/2008 14:08
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What a fuss over very little!
- Rachel, UK, 14/12/2008 11:24
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If it's "okay" for coppers to shoot innocent/unarmed people - as they not infrequently do - what's the big deal with shouting at a soccer game?
Get a life! ...And stop wasting the taxpayers' money.
- Croyboy, Croydon, 14/12/2008 09:28
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Disgraceful headline, this is not a racist chant and Tottenham fans have been singing it for years, get over it!
- Paxton, N17, 14/12/2008 08:49
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These people are innocent until proven guilty.
After all, all the other people vilified as chanting the racist comments were allegedly Journalists!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 13/12/2008 11:38
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Im a paramedic in london and get sworn/shouted at most shifts, and thats for £32 a year not a week.
- Lee, London, 13/12/2008 11:01
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'Police are not there to set an example'
WRONG !!!! That's exactly what you are supposed to do . That's why the discipline offence of 'Bringing the police
service into disrepute' exists . In 30 years of street work I only came across two truly racist officers . I knew officers who didn't like certain members of our diverse population , but the important thing is that these people never let it effect the way they dealt with people . That is the true character of a properly selected , well trained police officer - maybe things have changed but never forget that police officers are foremost members of the public who largely through a sense of civic duty and a strong sense of right and wrong want to do thier bit so that your wife , son , daughter etc . can walk through a town center without being assaulted, mugged or flashed at ,.
- Nigel - Ex-Met, France, 13/12/2008 00:29
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Any luck finding those individuals who were throwing stones and bottles at the police at this year`s carnival? I believe that you had some photos of them; they haven`t received quite as much publicity as this case though.
- M. John Namrah, San Diego, USA, 12/12/2008 23:41
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Let's get rid of all the racist police. Oh dear, we've got none left. Let's employ ex woolies staff
- Paul Fox, Croydon,surrey, 12/12/2008 21:03
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Here's an idea - why not wait to see if the guy is actually guilty before chucking him in the Tower and throwing away the keys? You know, that 'innocent until proven guilty' thing.
A police officer is not there to set an example, unlike someone else said - but his behaviour is expected to be lawful. So, if guilty, sort him out then - not before he has answered questions in court related to the accusations.
- Rogan, Irving, 12/12/2008 18:43
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Absolutely disgraceful. There is no place for the likes of him in Essex Police.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex, 12/12/2008 17:24
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I am stunned.
- Maya, London, 12/12/2008 17:08
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Sarah Bradshaw - police are to set examples whether on or off duty and racism is not acceptable in any form.
- Sharon W, London UK, 12/12/2008 16:33
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There is one question I would like to ask all these do gooders," Have you nothing better to do?"
- David Chertsey, Chertsey UK, 12/12/2008 16:33
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"More important things to solve" Same old moronic excuse. If the police are incapable of doing more than a few things at the same time than god help us - although those things shouldn't include verbally abusing football players in public for 90 minutes.
- James, London, 12/12/2008 16:24
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Sarah Bradshaw - are you really saying that you want a) for it to be ok to racially abuse other people, as long as you do it in your own time. and b) that it is OK to employ people as police officers who harbour not only racist but aggresively racist views?
In addition, do you want a policeman who is prepared to act like this when he knows CCTV covers football grounds? He is clearly stupid and probably could not be trusted to sit the right way on a toilet.
- Jon, london,England, 12/12/2008 16:20
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People should understand that they are responsible for what they chant. Would the policeman chant those lyrics in his PC station. I think not!
- Anthony, Golders Green, 12/12/2008 16:09
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Ridiculous. The Police are there to protect us not censor idiots singing at a football match. Let the clubs pay to investigate it and then ban them from the ground if they want. I deeply resent my tax money being wasted investigating this.
- Mark, London, 12/12/2008 16:03
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Typical modern policing - chase the soft targets and solve the high profile crimes and ignore people having their cars nicked or their loved ones stabbed.
- St, London, 12/12/2008 15:42
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Fair enough if he was chanting the abuse while dressed as a Policeman and on duty, but surely what he does in his own time is his own business?
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 12/12/2008 15:09
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They used to sing songs about Elton John's sexuality at Watford. It's a football game - we have other important problems to solve.
- Frederick, London UK, 12/12/2008 13:42
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While the chant isn't pleasant, it certainly isn't racist. It is probably more homophobic than anything else. People who are unaware of the lyrics are being misled by the press.
- Lisa, London, 12/12/2008 13:11
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Now theres a surprise a racist policeman, and described by his friends as a lout!
Let me guess he won't lose his job, and he'll be suspended on full pay!
- Jason Piers, London UK, 12/12/2008 12:24
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Could someone please explain to me how the chant was racist?
- Jules, London, 12/12/2008 12:14
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Are they sure only one of them was in the force and not more?
- P I Staker, London, 12/12/2008 12:04
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I think this is being too politically correct. It's a football match. Britain has much bigger problems than this to deal with.
- Alan In Bow, London, 12/12/2008 12:02
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Racist Police?? wow thats something new isnt it.
- Anwar, London, 12/12/2008 11:29
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These football players are surely paid enough already to take some foul language??
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 12/12/2008 10:49
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