I'm posting this mostly because it was creating a massive fuss on Radio Leicester this morning in the breakfast show. The presenter, Ben Jackson, had got hold of a clip of Forest fans singing:
"You're not English any more".
He was asking for opinions on it, and whether people thought it was about our Thai owners or Leicester's multicultural population, but he had decided one thing for sure: He was disgusted.
I wondered what everyone on here makes of it. The main question being asked was about whether it was banter or racism. Personally, I don't believe it's aimed at our owners at all but at the city itself, and then it's all about context. I wasn't at Forest on Saturday, but I have read and heard tales about what happened. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this was sung in response to "You're not famous any more", although I don't know that. However, I understand there was a chant of "You're just a town full of p..." at one point, probably from a small minority, which is blatant racism. Of course, this isn't to say that all our fans covered themselves in glory. I've read one account of one of our fans spitting at a Forest fan for instance, something which I can only describe as pathetic on every level.
But I digress. The point is: Did anyone encounter any of this on Saturday? Was your experience soured by any of this? Or is Radio Leicester making a mountain out of a molehill?
We're not English any more
posted on 10/1/12
why was my comment deleted?
posted on 10/1/12
I highly doubt its aimed at the owners and it's something that they can use to wind people up. It doesn't help when players at the top level are making racist comments / gestures, neither does protesting against punishment as it starts making it 'acceptable'.
IMO people who are hiding within a crowd, chanting these things just look complete cowards and morons anyway as they are going with safety in numbers.
posted on 10/1/12
Didn't hear a peep out of the trent end, could see A block singing but rarely heard them let alone make out what they were singing. You're not english anymore is just banter in my view, i think they're just highlighting the fact they maybe feel we've 'sold our soul' to foreign investors. But i really detest chants singing about hating P@*** like millwall did at our place or even just saying we're a town full of p@***. i think that kind of racism should be passed on to the FA or the Police and am happy to hear it has.
posted on 10/1/12
IsleOfMan-Red - I don't know, I didn't see it or delete it. Must have been done by admin.
posted on 10/1/12
Hmmmm.... as a Leicester fan I’m not sure about this.
If the chant had been Leicester is full of ***** I could understand the offence, but “you’re not English anymore” could have all sorts of connotations. Is it a reference to Leicester’s Thai owners and King Power branding? Is it a reference to the number of English born players in the team? Is it a reference to Leicester’s immigrant community?
If it is the latter then it does indeed raise further debate. Are the fans implying that a settled immigrant community can not be considered English even if they’re second or third generation? It opens up a much wider cultural debate about whether immigrants, predominantly South Asian (and amongst them mostly Indian), are less integrated than other immigrants from Polish, Afro Caribbean, East European etc. communities. Also, the use of the word English, excludes Scottish, Welsh and Irish.
In short, whilst it may make some of us feel uncomfortable, there is enough ambiguity to suggest that many of the fans taking part may have been misguided; but I’m not sure if they are really racist. It would, therefore, be a waste of Police time and resources to pursue a case of racial hatred.
posted on 10/1/12
I'm pleasd to say it's been removed from youtube.
posted on 10/1/12
The song 'you're not English anymore' was probably racist. It's just almost impossible to be proved as such. It's not like they don't sing other blatantly racist chants, they sing quite a few, so in the context of that it's quite clear what they meant. They probably thought it was witty.
posted on 10/1/12
Its was a racist chant like the one "Leicester is a small town in Baghdad". I was there on saturday and it was sung along with you use to be english a few times. Forest and Leeds always sing these songs when they play us.
Unfortunatley they are not very bright and can only sing these types of songs. i'm convinced they dont really mean a lot of what they say, but do it to get a rise from the city fans.....
posted on 10/1/12
I heard the "small town in Baghdad" but couldn't understand it? Our owners are from Thailand and a large part of the city population is from India-both thousands of miles from Iraq? Very strange! anyway, I'm amazed they could be bothered to sing anything towards us as they don't consider us to be rivals!
posted on 12/1/12
I can honestly say that I've heard the "Town full of ..... " song at Forest v Leicester games and it maes me ashamed to be part of the Forest crowd every time. In our defence however I'd say that it can't come as a surprise to anyone that there are racist/idiotic/xenophobic/bigoted fans at any football match. I'd be in favour of anyone proven to have sung the song being banned for life, they're no loss.