Give them what they deserve (Verbal Abuse from Spectators)

Member Name: AdvocatusDiaboli

Product:	Verbal Abuse from Spectators
Date:	18/01/02 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lets the players know what you think

Disadvantages: none

Verbal abuse from the fans is only really prevalent at football matches. As a long-suffering Birmingham City fan I feel I have the right to criticise a player who isn't doing his best on the pitch. I am the one who is indirectly paying for the players massive salaries and if it is obvious they are not productive enough I'll tell them.

In business if a worker is not working at optimum levels they will be told so and football should be no different.

When a footballer plays well or scores a greta goal the fans will sing his name for the rest of the match (how many other professions have this sort of adulation from the people paying for their services?). I do not think the players seriously expect the fans to keep quiet when they aren't playing at their best, you can't have one without the other.

Racist abuse from fans is a controversial subject but I honestly don't view it as that serious an offence. Just as a fat player may be identified by the singing of "Who ate all the pies" other players may be identified by the colour of their skin. I do not consider that to be racist abuse, just a way of making sure everyone knows which player you are criticising. eg "Put it on target you black *******" is not attacking a striker in a rascist way it is simply identifying that you are talking about your team's black striker whilst "track back you fat *******" simply identifies a fat midfielder who won't do his share of the defensive duties (eg David Ginola).

Over the last 15 years I have heard all forms of abuse from the crowd and there are only a couple I would disagree with, one that stands out was when Birmingham City played Middlesbrough a few years ago and Juninho was playing for Middlesbrough at the time. One extremely ignorant fan decided to shout out "Get back to the Jungle Juninho, you Brazilian *******", to my knowledge Juninho wasn't raised in the Jungle so it wa
s a rather stupid piece of abuse.

I do find it pathetic when footballers complain about abuse from the fans, if it really gets to them then they should just go home and check their bank account balance, that would certainly cheer me up. Footballers are paid the salaries they are because the have a very high-profile/stressful job, They should compare their situation with other professions that are far more stressful yet do not get paid anywhere near the amount footballers do (eg Prime Minister - far more stressful but his salary can be eclipsed by a footballers within a matter of weeks.)

As a final word of advice, if any players are reading and want to stop getting abuse from the fans then just play your hearts out and you won't hear a word, you have a job that many fans would kill to do and you have to take th rough with the smooth for that.

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