Racism at the match

Racism at the match

Well, here goes - I know this is going to open a big can of worms - but I was so surprised at this I think it needs addressed

Today, at the Olympic v Naenae game when Naenae had one of their Sudanese players sent off there were monkey noise chants(oooh-ooh-oooh), shouts of 'Cheeky Darkie' and 'Cheeky Bwana' from sections of the crowd.

What century are we living in people, FFS I though it was bad enough 20 odd years ago when Mark Walters signed for Rangers - but I thought most football fans in civilised countries were beyond that now.

I think the people involved need to have a long hard look at themselves, they may have thought it funny at the time - but really - it's bang out of order in this day and age.

It's not the first time these allegations have been made against the same people.  Last time there were howls of rage from Olympic supporters trying to claim it didn't happen or it wouldn't happen again. This time there were a hell of a lot more people there, representing a lot more interests.

As someone who has a bit of a soft spot for Olympic I think it is something the club desperately have to do something about, if there were people using some of the abusive terms used towards people of Greek background the uproar would be heard across the nation...

Come on Olympic time to step up and take some action for your own credibility.
Hard News2008-05-18 18:52:32

What you should have done is:

not the first time its happened towards these lads either, ffs give them a break, they come here and do there best to be socially involved in the community and why the f**k should they have to put up with that sort of crap, really gets me ticking aye ABSOLUTE shame on whoever made those calls, you are low-life scum whoever it was

Interesting. I was at the game and didn't hear the alleged calls, although in fairness it was a noisy match with lots of chanting and I tried to focus on the football and not what was going on behind me. However one of the match officials asked me if I'd heard said monkey chants to which I replied no. So I think it could be a possibility this match official might follow this up.
The only other thing I will add is that I thought the club official for Olympic chain smoking in front of the bench really put his club to shame with his immature actions and was rightly told to leave the area  on several occasions, which he choose to ignore which is just plain disrespectful. That kind of behavior in a professional league would earn a fine and sanction.

As far as the game goes 3 sending off's said it all, the Naenae players looked a vengeful side after it was clear they couldn't get a result, however both sides had their share off awful tackles.

Today was my first Olympic match experience and I was left bemused at the actions of both supporters and management. Seeing a club official from Olympic smoking in the technical area and some geezer in a white hoodie marching between both team's technical areas and mouthing off was rather ridiculous. I enjoyed the initial support from the Olympic crowd as they were very passionate. But hearing the monkey chanting truly disgusted me. After seeing acts of racism from minorities of Greek supporters at other sporting events (Australian Open for example), I hoped things would be different here. Unfortunately, a minority today proved to me otherwise. I regard Olympic as a top national club with some of the most passionate supporters in the country. However, the conduct of management and supporters continuously lets them down in the eyes of Wellington football who perceive Olympic as arrogant and unsporting. I will be enquiring as to how to make the appropriate footballing authorities aware of what happened today. Will welcome any support for the case.

Congratulations to the club on their victory today. Football has brought together the people of Wellington regardless of colour or creed. I just hope a small number of fans today realise this.

For the Good of the Game.DKP222008-05-18 23:02:04

First of all those "monkey" chants were from what i take it not aimed at the sudanese players.
If you come to Olympic 3rds, 2nds, or 1st team games and sit with the Older Greek Men, who we call the villagers, they make grunts and scream wierd noises becuase, well, i dont know, but they do it for amusment and is ment to cause no racial harm or have any affiliation towards them what so ever.

I really dont know what to say, I agree that maybe a couple people acted out of hand, but please try not to stir sh*t unless you have a solid claim.

I really feel sorry for the people who came to the match today and were 'put off.'I love the club and would never do anything to its detriment, and i hope i could safley say this for the rest of its supporters and club alike.

...and just a side note to Opax, when you say "That kind of behavior in a professional league would earn a fine and sanction."
Take it this way, in a Professional League, we would have ref's that know which way round your ment to blow the whistle.

Ha and when I clicked regional football and saw under topics, 'Racism at the game' I knew it was about Olympic and that there is what disturbs me the most, knowing that I can tell what the post is about before even clicking it. I dont want the club to be labeled as Racist, never, and i urge you guys to do the same.uncle steve2008-05-18 23:52:17

Im with you on that.Thats just plain disgraceful to try to offer that up as an excuse.You must think many on here are as stupid as those using this type of noise.

This type of thing needs to be stamped out and i sure hope those who need to know this type of thing is going on are to be informed,so steps can be taken to remove this from our game.

I totally agree that there is no place in the game or in life (for that matter) for racism and as a senior member of Olympic I am disgusted to hear that this has come up again. Obviously I ddin't hear the noises/remarks being made but I think as a club something does need to be done about it and it is something that will be discussed by myself, other senior players and management.

Way to front up chops.  People can't ask for anymore than that at this stage. 

Chops, that is a good start. 

Why would old Greek blokes yell "Cheeky Darkie" to each other...?

In a rare moment I agree with Feverish.

We f**king NEVER over-react.  You hear me.  f**king NEVER.  And I won't stand for such bullsh*t on here.  It's ridiculous.  What sort of a f**king idiot ARE you to suggest we woudl EVER over-react.

For anyone who missed it...that was said with a

How you can deny the monkey noises were not racist is crazy.As per usual yes the Greek contigent were making grunts and all types of noises all game and there is nothing wrong with that. But after the Sudanese players came on and when they were coming on the monkey noises started and "throw him a banana" was said also.These are facts that were loud and clear to everyone at the game.  pride_of_london2008-05-19 10:19:19

The fact that the noises weren't heard when the non-Sudanese player was sent off said it all to me.

Agree on the Chops front - Post of the Month.
Hard News2008-05-19 10:35:53

Not the best look for a club with the history of Olympic.

Over the last 3 years ive watched 5 out of 6 of the Olympic vs Stop out Central league games...

The sad thing is that the actions of a few could have massive ramifications on the PLAYERS of the club, who have done nothing wrong. Should this matter be brought to the attention of Capital Football, what could happen? what do people see happening to Olympic as a club? What, if any, sanctions would be placed on Olympic?

At the end of the day it is the supporters who make the club what it is but its the players who have to carry the burden when sh*t hits the fan.

It's going to be like keeping the whole class in for detention after school becoz Feverish was down the back tryingn to chat up the birds....

I will admit to have dished out a few "racis"t comments in my career........most of which were in jest and were made to players i've known a long time.......and i was quickly reminded that "You Scottish Pricks Have Never Won Anything" - touche i say!

Onya Chops, lets hope this can be sorted out by players and people like yourself and other senior players and staff at Olympic. Best of luck.

Brutus The Barber

Cheers for the comments people. As mentioned I hope this will be the last we hear of incidents like this.

Does anyone know if this is being followed up by Captial Football? Not sure of the severity of the incidents as I wasnt at the game. But could Olympic be looking at playing behind closed doors? Although that could be a difficult thing to make happen.

Firstly, the reason i KNOW the monkey noises were not directed at the players is because since the moment I met the older greek guys i have, every time ive seen them, got those grunts and noises in more of a greeting rather than racial abuse.

Secondly if the so called "throw him a banana" was said, then that has no excuses what so ever. I condem the people that throw any racial hate upon players that are just enjoying their favourite past-time.

I feel strongly about the club and to see so much being said, about what kandyman highlights as a minority kills me. I feel like Olympic have been backed into a corner due to a few misunderstandings and a few racials comments (I stand by the noises being not racial, but comments on the other hand, yes)from certain induviduals.

I can with the whole of my heart say Olympic as a club is the most passionate, emotionally driven, and strong club in the Wellington Reigon, and the last thing i would want to follow in that list is rasist.

As many of my fellow supporters and players involved in the club have stated, Olympic do not condone rasism, and feel sorry for the people that brand us with the tag.

...and reefside, i question your integrity, to say that the Greek supporters have used the N word is bullsh*t. I have never heard of anyone using that at ANY Olympic game and dont see how you can come on here and thrust it with such easy, upon us.

Put it this way, I love the club, and at the end of the day would do anything to defend it, and it saddens me to see that a group or even a couple individuals have ruined Olympic's name once again.

Can we change the topic?

It should read: Lock away Olympic, and throw away the key.

Da Boss, we all know its not a WHOLE CLUB thing, we are not that stupid. It is not a representation of the Greek culture and I think it IS important that we all understand that.

The same fuss (although i'm sure you will argue otherwise) would be kicked up if it was Wests or Lower Hutt or Brooklyn or Wainui.....the problem are the PEOPLE INVOLVED, not THE CLUB.

I'm not an Olympic hater, but I think all of us hate Racism, which is the issue. The fact it came from a group associated with Olympic is minor.......I dont, and im pretty sure all of us don't, want Olympic to be punished AS A WHOLE, just THE PEOPLE in question.

Good call Uncle Steve, Olympic are through to the next round - thats what matters here
Barber212008-05-19 11:54:15

Rubbish Uncle Steve, just about everyone who has posted has accepted that it's a minority, we're watching the thread very closely because (as Smith and I have both said) we have a soft spot for Olympic but it is apparent that it is a problem that has gone on for a while.  It came to a head yesterday because instead on 20 people being there there were a couple of hundred and many of those are people who won't ignore it.

Posts from Chops saying something will be done are more important to this discussion that the persecution complex of some others.  Accept there is a problem and those of you at the club who can influence it, fix it. 

As I said, those noises weren't made when the right back got sent off, but they were when the Sudanese player was and when Ivan was yellowed for his run in with Chops... to me that undermines any claim it wasn't race based.
Hard News2008-05-19 11:57:49

Hmmm.

I am behind you all the way when you say action is needed. I am not arguing the point that football has no space for rasism.

You can defenatly expect this issue to be taken up internally.

I have just as much hate for rasism as the next guy and will do my best to see it is struck down, and most importantly I dont want to see my club being brought down with it.

Hence all the repetition.

uncle steve2008-05-19 12:16:19

We all realise its only a few who may be spoiling it,but as we all know if they support your team then unfortunately it reflects on you all.

Lets face it look what happened when the idiot threw the bottle suddenly it was YF that was the problem,when we all knew it was just some dickhead.

Maybe its time your club was proactive and took its own actions to sanction these people if they can be identified.

From what i have read it wouldnt have mattered to most people what club these people supported the reaction would have been the same its just unfortunate they appear to have been your supporters.

I agree Ballane.

Hopefully their will be reprecuations.

Yeah but we all know Olympic is the team people love to hate, no one will deny it. I even hate them a little bit.

...well not really.

I hate them coz they always have a bloody nice kit....... :) im a fan of the white away one they had a few years ago.

Haha i agree.

Certainly cant Uncle Steve, and Petone were the first to introduce the colours to New Zealand Football way back in 1889. Candy Stripe in those days.

Incidentally, I've always referred to you guys as "The Greeks". Hope I dont fall into the racist category for that.

I was at the game. and yes i did hear some noises, but unless the culprits can be identified then you guys cant blame the Greeks!.. yes i do play for them and yes we are a passionate club, but i also saw people from Miramar Club, Wellington United Club in the stands as well! so you cant point the finger at the Greeks!. It was open to everyone!