The racism debate carries on after the weekend’s disgraceful reports that saw Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi racially abused on a Rangers supporters bus.
The criticism was and condemnation was universal and Rangers acted quickly to find the fans responsible and ban them from Ibrox for life. For that they should be commended.
The media coverage has been intense and the discussion amongst all football forums and pundits has been continuous.
As Kyogo Furuhashi handled the row with class, he sent out a message via twitter yesterday afternoon that again, drew widespread support from all quarters.
I'll never walk alone 🙏🏼💚 #NoToRacism pic.twitter.com/GHUFO7weiZ
— Kyogo Furuhashi 古橋 亨梧 (@Kyogo_Furuhashi) August 23, 2021
The debate on racism and sectarianism in Scottish football took to the airwaves as the pundits on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard discussed racism and sectarianism and Hugh Keevins made an unbelievable statement as he recalled attending his first Celtic v Rangers match, that left host Gordon Duncan stunned:
HK: “I watched my first Celtic/Rangers game 61 years ago. And for me, speaking as a private citizen I think it’s worse now than it was 60 years ago.
GD: “Racism is worse now than it was 60 years ago?”
HK: “Not racism. Not racism, because we really didn’t practice racism 60 years ago.”
GD: “Really? Listen, anyone tuning into Superscoreboard will be saying what is going on here? But Hugh, I’m only 31 years of age and there were words used when I was young I don’t really hear now.”
HK: “I’m talking 60 years ago. It was all about sectarianism. And now sectarianism has been added to by racism. And for me, the atmosphere between the hardcore, I’m not talking about Mr. or Mrs. Whoever who go to Celtic Park or Ibrox that brought the family up on Celtic or Rangers. I’m talking about the hard core. It’s worse now than it was 60 years ago.”
GD: “I’m not sure how you’re confident enough to make that sort of conclusion.”
HK: “On the basis that you weren’t born and I was, then I can draw on personal experience of 60 years ago and in my personal experience, it’s worse now. The intensity of the dislike.”
GD: “I’m wondering if it’s social media is making you think that.”
HK: “No, no, just walking the streets makes it makes me think that.”
GD: “So you think you think racist language, sectarian language is more is more commonplace now than it was back then?”
HK: “I’m taking racism out of that on because 60 years ago racism was not the problem that it is now.”
GD: “Again now we are going miles away from football, and I appreciate I’m younger than I wasn’t there, I find that really hard to believe. We’re talking about an era where people genuinely feel discriminated against in terms of jobs and opportunities because of the colour of their skin or where they were from. You just have to ask any family that came here from elsewhere.”
HK: “And that problem was solved.”
GD: “When?”
HK: “I think you can no longer have a newspaper advertisement for a job, which would say RC’s need not apply.”
GD: “But that’s my point. I’m not just talking about that. How can you say that things were better then than they are now if that was even an issue?”
I mean there are simply no words. I am 44 years old. I remember growing up and being abused for being a Celtic supporter and a Catholic and anyone with any sense of self awareness will also know that racism has been rife for hundreds of years.
How Keevins can quantify his statement is beyond me.
Just ask Mark Walters and Paul Elliot about the abuse they endured in the eighties and nineties. Was racism just born then? Did it just come out of the woodwork one day and someone somewhere just decided to be racist in the seventies until it carried on until now?
Keevins has seriously let himself down here.
March the streets everysum. Nuthing is done