dingdangdo

I don't really care just don't get the authorities involved - a private spat should stay just that - private not public

No - Evra says something and sorts Suarez out - possibly with the help of others - without the intervention of the prying eyes of the establishment

Ziggy - I didn't say that. Of course it's not ok for anyone to racially abuse another. My beef is wih the new cult of snitching to the authorities. Evra should have given Suarez some back rather than acting like a big girls blouse and reporting him. Did Eddo Brandes report Glenn McGrath to the ICC for asking him why he was so fat - no, he said "because every time I fuck your wife she gives me a biscuit" Geddit!

Simple Racism is a political issue - not a football issue. The personal is not political The personal private sphere is under attack from an army of middle class football fan hating illiberal miserabilists The FA bosses wouldn't know the first thing about fighting discrimination - they should stick to the administration of the game and the promotion of football for football's sake

Thankfully monkey chanting is a thing of the past - but it's demise was not caused by the FA's official anti racist campaign. Hostility to "authority" led anti racism isn't being soft on racism or any other form of discrimination - quite the opposite.

For love?

MD - don't you think there's a world of difference between cameras to help the ref make better decisions - and using video technology to police hate speech? The laws on hate speech are a monumental affront to liberty and should be repealed - and attempts to blur the distinction between the public and private sphere is bad for all of us - look at the latest nonsense to come from Scotland to see the road we're heading down - if you really think hate speech laws, official campaigns like kick racism out of football, the CRE and the police are the way to fight racism we really don't have much common ground between us.

Sure there's a world of difference - and a large degree of commonality too. It's about time we stopped thinking that pro footballers need to be role models - it's a barmy idea when you think of it. Let's kick political correctness out of football and enjoy the beautiful game for what it is. There's far too many advocacy groups out there trying to colonise our sport to further their own narrow aims. It's about time we put a stop to it.

Happy to be challenged on the points made nb...what points did you disagree with?

Happy to be challenged on the points made nb...what points did you disagree with?

What ever happened to the maxim "what's said on the pitch stays on the pitch"? Surely what's said on the pitch is a private not a public matter? Players say things on the pitch they that they don?t really mean. I play football and mouth the most outrageous things at fellow players and opponents and I don't mean a bit of it....anyone who has played the game knows this to be true. Whatever insults are traded during a game, players are expected to shake hands and leave animosities when the match is over. Yes, you need a thick skin, but the rules of engagement are fairly clear. If this nonsense carries on we'll have more codes of conduct, player surveillance and lilly livered players running to the press at the first opportunity....football is the loser in that game. If Evra was offended by the comment her should have had the balls to confront Suarez directly and keep the authorities out of it. That's the way to tackle racism if you ask me. And as for that twat QPR fan who snitched John Terry - disgraceful!

Anyone thinking of chucking in the towel now can't really call themselves a true fan....fairweather fan is more apt. Come on lads (and lassies) keep the faith!

I was in the Atletico section behind as I have friends in Madrid (the wife is Spanish). The violence was pretty shocking it has to be said - Bolton fans were well oiled and fairly lively but the cops went completely OTT. Mind you some of the scenes in Plaza Mayor during the day were not pretty - bolton fans attacking innocent onlookers (I saw it with my own eyes). Didn't like to see that - though doesn't excuse the police actions

Nah - Ed Page - not nearly as wealthy as Mr Davies

I went to St Cuthberts - left aged 16 in 1976. We did have many a ruck with Whitecroft boys - we went down your way one sunny afternoon with a gang of us ready for a fight - got to yours just as school finished - all hell broke loose! I ended up trading fisticuffs with one of your boys in a neighbour's garden after we fought our way through their hedge....them wer't days!!! I think your lot had the edge on us though - after getting our arses kicked we didn't go back for more. PS The uniform was bloody awful - a nasty shade of purple.

My thoughts exactly. Living "darn sarf" I have a fair few chelskea mates - they're very happy with their dealings with us - the cunts

needn't sorry

You needen't be - I'm quite happy to tell you my life story if you like and how BWFC has driven me to the depths of despair on many an occasion. I'm no troll nor have any connection with any site - though I do recall back in the 90s being on a BWFC site for a while - can't remember it's name though - Manny road comes to mind - I do remember a split at the time - perhaps there's a connection here - maybe this site and it's twin "burnden aces" were born out of that schism? Whatever - I'm buoyed by some of the posts on this thread - I like the points about being an adult site, hostile to attention seekers, open to all shades etc etc - so looking forward to sharing thoughts in the coming weeks/months. PS: I first heard of this site in a bar in Madrid after the Atletico game - a family from Bolton had moved there, had been to the game and we enjoyed more than the odd cerveza and it was the mother who mentioned this site and that travel and tickets were organised via here....that's why I joined then ( I remember now!)

So how would you describe this site? Is it a bit of a closed shop in terms of football debate? I mean if someone holds a strong opinion that differs from the dominant view is there a tendency to personalise? I ask because I'm genuinely interested in being an active poster but would like to know the culture is open to debating thoughts and ideas about football rather than descending into abuse. Mind you - when anyone adds "thanks for reading" (or similar) - I do find that a bit naff

Fair enough - bear with me

With you on the FC St. Pauli - most interesting club ever! But the mighty Celtic has to be my 2nd club....

What's with the hostility to Gloria? I've looked at a fair few threads now and can't see what she's said that warrants the instant abuse. Appreciate I'm a newby here so there's obviosly some previous...can anyone care to explain? Is she an annoying troll or simply a dissident voice? I hope the latter.

Excellent post

Hi guys - actually joined the forum back in 2008 after a heady night in Madrid but never followed through with a post - must have been drunk when I registered and forgot I even did it...then prompted by an email today I do have a shady recall and am amazed I chose such a cool name as "dingdangdo".... Anyway - as a loyal wanderer for over 40 years I guess I'll have some obscure and not so obscure points to make in the weeks and months ahead..and looking forward to the banter! I moved away from Bolton many mons ago and now reside in Milton Keynes so manage to get to London games - though bit worried I might be watching the whites at the MK Dons stadium in the not too distant... Anyway - howdy to you all - I hope you had a merry christmas and have a great new year - starting with the demolition of those black country idiots on new years eve