Is the England football team killing this government’s cynical culture war

That’s probably because football is the most popular sport in the world, followed & watched by millions. So law of averages means you’ll get more racists.
How you deal with that isn’t as simple as a few players bending down for 2 seconds before a match.
What about all the teams refusing to do it?
What should we do about that?
Last night England took the knee but Ukraine didn’t.
What message is that sending?

Galaxy

Crikey whitewave are you failing to unite the labour party and come up with decent policies again

??apparently so. But I have a broad back.

Crikey whitewave are you failing to unite the labour party and come up with decent policies again

Kandinsky

Ahh. So racists only go to football matches?

Well that’s that sorted.

I have no doubt that there are racists in every section and group in society (even on GN). They seldom express their racist feelings like football crowds have.

lemongrove

Yes, the title of the OP was predictable, but the written OP itself didn’t mention anything political, and if you had stuck to that it would have been better and a good subject for discussion.

Personally I think they should be encouraged to spout their nonsense. It’s what is holding them back from forming any kind of opposition.

They forget that the electorate are now perfectly capable of forming their own views and voting accordingly.

Looking down their noses at voters and implying that, if they disagree with the left wingers, they must be stupid shows a huge lack of respect.

It will keep them out of power, until they come up with some viable policies, unite and stop stabbing each other in the back.

Beckett

A slightly different meaning of populism:

In its current general sense, the word populism designates a political approach which tends to pit the people against the political, economic or media elites .

The feeling of being excluded from the exercise of power, even when it has been democratically elected, is the basis of this attitude which affects both right-wing and left-wing political sensibilities. Populism refers to a people who are considered excluded from power and not listened to by representative democracy, deemed cut off from reality.

That's not what was said though. As far as I am aware there is not a history of racist chanting in tennis, there is in football.

Ahh. So racists only go to football matches?

Well that’s that sorted.

Out of interest - are tennis players taking the knee before games? or in any other sport?
Don't think tennis players are, but then tennis doesn't attract crowds who yell obscenities and make monkey noises when a black player has the ball.

It should be up to each individual player as to whether they ‘take the knee’ or not. It’s associated with the BLM movement & that’s a political organisation.
If you’re only doing something because you’re being told to then what’s the point?
Plus some teams aren’t doing it at all ( the Ukrainian team last night just looking at England taking the knee was a bit awkward )
I’m not saying the entire England team are only doing it because they’ve been told to, they’d probably do it anyway, but not every team in the UK leagues are doing it so it’s not exactly uniting the entire game of football.
Out of interest - are tennis players taking the knee before games? or in any other sport?

Whitewavemark2
People who really understand racism have a different view.
www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-john-barnes-says-southgate-doesnt-understand-how-complex-racism-is-20210609

Sago

It’s the virtue signalling the crowds hate.

virtue signalling A phrase frequently taken to mean hypocrisy. So are you saying that the England team are really full on racists?

Or are all the booers upright, decent, fervent anti-racists who just don't approve of public anti-racist demonstrations?

Does this mean that those who are against the government don't agree that the concerns of "ordinary" people should be addressed?

In view of the fact that more than 50% of people who voted in the 2019 GE didn't vote for this government does this mean that 'ordinary people' are in a minority?

Or that there are more 'ordinary people' whose concerns are not being listened to than there are 'ordinary people' whose concerns are?

Or does it just indicate that 'populism' is very divisive?

Whitewavemark2

This government is nothing but a populist government. If England continue to win, just watch them row back on the comments that they have made regarding booing.

More from twitter

lizabeth Democracy depends on accountability
@ElizabethBangs
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9h
Who'd've thought we'd see the day when the England men's football manager and team have a better leader and are more genuinely educated, articulate, empathetic, capable, experienced, hard working and honourable than a chaotic bloody PM and his whole cabinet of thieves and liars?

Loved this! Thanks WW2 I
Isn't it odd. If they swapped places the footballers would probably cope, but the PM and cabinet would really struggle!!!

Beckett

Whitewave "This government is nothing but a populist government."

The definition of populist is: "relating to or characteristic of a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups" Does this mean that those who are against the government don't agree that the concerns of "ordinary" people should be addressed?

You have just described the politics of division and no I can’t agree with your conclusion.

Well fortunately I can enjoy the football. I also have other interests, a balanced view on life and thankfully am not obsessed by politics to the exclusion of all else. I feel very sorry for people who seem to make criticising the government the centre of their lives. Life is too short ?

Whitewave "This government is nothing but a populist government."

The definition of populist is: "relating to or characteristic of a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups" Does this mean that those who are against the government don't agree that the concerns of "ordinary" people should be addressed?

It’s the virtue signalling the crowds hate.

I’m just waiting for someone to drag Brexit into it….

As for booing, I can’t think why UEFA don’t take a really tough stand on this. Any booing and the anthem will be stopped, and the game will not proceed until there has been a boo-free anthem.
I’d like to think that peer pressure would shut the yobs up.

However UEFA is not exactly noted for giving much of a toss about anything but money.

Yes, the title of the OP was predictable, but the written OP itself didn’t mention anything political, and if you had stuck to that it would have been better and a good subject for discussion.

Gwyneth

Why can’t we just enjoy the football instead of bringing politics into it yet again? I’m sure if there was a post about the weather someone would politicise it. So tedious and boring.

What's political about being against racism?

Borussia Dortmund have been displaying anti-racist banners and selling anti-racist goods for years.

Football players have been used on posters to promote healthy lifestyles, such as more exercise and anti-smoking. They're role models for many. Why shouldn't they take a stance against racism? Their stance might influence some of their racist fans.

It is weird, given the heading of this thread, that people then moan about just enjoying the football or even appearing to have not read it at all and then accusing me of introducing anti-conservative rhetoric.???.

Read the headline folks!!

Why can’t we just enjoy the football instead of bringing politics into it yet again? I’m sure if there was a post about the weather someone would politicise it. So tedious and boring.

But you're not a footballer Sparkling. If the England team want to take the knee, what are you objecting to?

Nationalism, and nationalists of course are unable to see further than the country in which it resides, but these young men have their eyes lifted higher.

They are showing solidarity with all people of colour who suffer the racism and hatred. It doesn’t stop at the English border. That is why they are bending the knee they are in solidarity with all.