OzzieMandias

I think you have to stop at clueless. Why would be sabotage his own reputation?

Yeah, amazing that the club would release a statement so far adrift from mainstream opinion.

In England they're probably all shagging some left back from Brentford.

Have to admit that Mido sounds like a real whiny git, though.

Ince certainly sounds like the pressure is getting to him.

"Dream ticket"

The club has already emailed its views to Cockney journos.... http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1476884,00.html

OK, I don't see any Racism in that. It's interpreted, quite understandably, as the negative stereotype which says muslims = terrorists. Racism is the wrong word because Islam isn't a "race", but it's the same kind of bigotry: taking a negative characteristic from one or some and applying it to all members of a human category. "All them blacks/Jews/Muslims is lazy/miserly/terrorists." Why weren't the Newcastle fans singing it at Tuncay? Yeah, great excuse. "It can't be prejudice because it was only directed at one guy." And why do you think it was directed at one guy, and one guy only. Could it possibly be the fact that (pre-haircut) he had a passing resemblence to a Mr Richard Reid, something that had already been picked up by other football club supporters and the press? You can chunder on about Richard Reid to your heart's content, but anyone looking at this is going to deal with the words that were actually said. Ok then, why don't you tell us all why Mido was singled out last year then if it wasn't anything to do with looking like Richard Reid? Fuck knows how these morons think. But if they hadn't realised after last year that the chant would cause this kind of trouble, then they deserve what they get. I've got no sympathy for any knuckle-dragger who brings the club into this kind of disrepute.

I guess that they could claim Incitement to Religious Hatred but I doubt that could be proven when looking at the chant. I'm afraid I'm not well-versed in the legalities, but I'm sure it doesn't just have to be about "race" to count as hate speech. Jews aren't a "race" but that doesn't mean that prejudice against them doesn't exist or doesn't matter. I think you'll find Jews are a race. Well, the Nazis thought so, anyway.

OK, I don't see any Racism in that. It's interpreted, quite understandably, as the negative stereotype which says muslims = terrorists. Racism is the wrong word because Islam isn't a "race", but it's the same kind of bigotry: taking a negative characteristic from one or some and applying it to all members of a human category. "All them blacks/Jews/Muslims is lazy/miserly/terrorists." Why weren't the Newcastle fans singing it at Tuncay? Yeah, great excuse. "It can't be prejudice because it was only directed at one guy." "All them Muslims is terrorists apart from that one over there with the long hair and that one at right back for Newcastle and what religion is the black fella up front for us, anyone know?" Some of our best friends are Muslims, eh?

OK, I don't see any Racism in that. It's interpreted, quite understandably, as the negative stereotype which says muslims = terrorists. Racism is the wrong word because Islam isn't a "race", but it's the same kind of bigotry: taking a negative characteristic from one or some and applying it to all members of a human category. "All them blacks/Jews/Muslims is lazy/miserly/terrorists." Why weren't the Newcastle fans singing it at Tuncay? Yeah, great excuse. "It can't be prejudice because it was only directed at one guy." And why do you think it was directed at one guy, and one guy only. Could it possibly be the fact that (pre-haircut) he had a passing resemblence to a Mr Richard Reid, something that had already been picked up by other football club supporters and the press? You can chunder on about Richard Reid to your heart's content, but anyone looking at this is going to deal with the words that were actually said.

I guess that they could claim Incitement to Religious Hatred but I doubt that could be proven when looking at the chant. I'm afraid I'm not well-versed in the legalities, but I'm sure it doesn't just have to be about "race" to count as hate speech. Jews aren't a "race" but that doesn't mean that prejudice against them doesn't exist or doesn't matter.

OK, I don't see any Racism in that. It's interpreted, quite understandably, as the negative stereotype which says muslims = terrorists. Racism is the wrong word because Islam isn't a "race", but it's the same kind of bigotry: taking a negative characteristic from one or some and applying it to all members of a human category. "All them blacks/Jews/Muslims is lazy/miserly/terrorists." Why weren't the Newcastle fans singing it at Tuncay? Yeah, great excuse. "It can't be prejudice because it was only directed at one guy."

OK, I don't see any Racism in that. It's interpreted, quite understandably, as the negative stereotype which says muslims = terrorists. Racism is the wrong word because Islam isn't a "race", but it's the same kind of bigotry: taking a negative characteristic from one or some and applying it to all members of a human category. "All them blacks/Jews/Muslims is lazy/miserly/terrorists."

Saying that he was a peado would be slander and unlawful, saying he looks like somebody isn't against the law, yet. The chant does not say he looks like someone. Or am I wrong? Let's look at it: "Mido he's got a bomb you know" Nope. Nothing at all about Mido resembling some other person.

The reports said that Keegan was verbally told he'd been sacked, it could be bollocks or it could be true. We could all say anything verbally then realise we'd dropped a bollock and pretend it didn't happen. My question still stands.

To be fair, it has been said that Llambias told Keegan that he was sacked and the amount shouldn't come in to it, it's should be down to who is right and who is wrong. If Keegan was formally sacked then why would he be claiming constructive dismissal?

Bobby was sacked, Keegan probably walked, the cases are different and I doubt a single Newcastle fan thinks Keegan hates the club. Keegan is going for constructive dismissal. the only difference is that Robson's case was more clear cut so there wasn't this much vaunted but vague and ultimately naive idea of the 'facts coming out' with him. The only difference is that Bobby was sacked, Keegan wasn't. I haven't seen the slightest suggestion anywhere that Ashley actually wanted him to go. But there are other differences, of course, like the difference between five years at the helm taking us from mid-table mediocrity to the Champions League and less than a season at the helm (this time around) before disappearing at the worst possible time for the club, and the difference between £2 million and £8 million.

Bobby was sacked, Keegan probably walked, the cases are different and I doubt a single Newcastle fan thinks Keegan hates the club. Keegan is going for constructive dismissal. the only difference is that Robson's case was more clear cut so there wasn't this much vaunted but vague and ultimately naive idea of the 'facts coming out' with him. The only difference is that Bobby was sacked, Keegan wasn't. I haven't seen the slightest suggestion anywhere that Ashley actually wanted him to go. Except for the other differences, of course, like the difference between five years at the helm taking us from mid-table mediocrity to the Champions League and less than a season at the helm (this time around) before disappearing at the worst possible time for the club, and the difference between £2 million and £8 million.

So he's just another opportunist out for what he can get?

Hey Phil, if you were one of the chanting wankers, maybe you'll get arrested too!

I hope they don't get Strachan. David O'Dreary would be good.

Indeed. They have to be fucking morons to chant this shite again after the fuss it caused last time. Even if they genuinely think they're chanting about Richard Reid (which sounds to me like a particularly lame excuse and presumably does to neutrals listening in too) they should have realised by now that this is not how people understand it. Yes, it's banter, but it's the banter of bigots. I don't care what happens to these knackers.

I wondered how they could arrest 2 people when there were considerably more than that singing the bomb thing around me. Also, with Mido being at the other end of the pitch, would he have heard it. However, I did see some mention of some "racist behaviour" when he was warming up - maybe something was said then for which the 2 were arrested. I hope they manage to arrest the rest of the tossers.

I don't think it'll be any prob for KK if it goes to court, but it will be for everyone else you mention: Ashley, club, fans.