The furore over the sacking of Sky pundit Andy Gray over sexist remarks has attracted massive attention in the media over the past week. As far as one can judge from radio phone-ins, imprompu polls and vox pop, fans are divided in their opinons. For some of them it is simply banter or what ‘most men would say anyway’, an illustration of political correctness gone mad. For others, it reflected the fact that football had not caught up with changes in society.
The furore over the sacking of Sky pundit Andy Gray over sexist remarks has attracted massive attention in the media over the past week. As far as one can judge from radio phone-ins, imprompu polls and vox pop, fans are divided in their opinons. For some of them it is simply banter or what ‘most men would say anyway’, an illustration of political correctness gone mad. For others, it reflected the fact that football had not caught up with changes in society.
Reflecting on the week’s events. the Financial Times commented, ‘No one disputes the progress made [in English football] in terms of its infrastructure and finances. Questions remain about how progressive the people involved – players, fans, administrators, pundits – are. Football people have never quite shaken off their negative image.’
Hugh Robertson, sports minister, last week described football ‘as the worst-governed sport in the country.’ A ‘government insider’ told the Pink ‘Un, ‘It has always been quite clear that we want better representation and diversity in sport at all levels. That means ensuring that the voices of women, black and ethnic minorities are heard at the top.’
David Goldblatt, who has been working on a cultural history of English football, says that there is a closed shop mentality among football administrators and players that can be traced back to the 1902s when the Football Association expelled any club that alllowed women to play, effectively killing the women’s game for a generation. As the Bloke Behind Me likes to assert, ‘It’s a man’s game.’
Goldblatt argues that this attitude is not found in other sports. ‘It’s an attitude that says “If you’re not white and working class like me, get lost.” They are so profoundly insecure and emotionally dysfunctional.’ That seems a bit over the top to me. Indeed, one of the complaints of some fans is that rising prices have made the game more middle class and corporate. However, those who support football rather than rugby often have working class origins, even if they now have managerial and professional jobs.
A survey of spectators in the 2008-9 season found that 19 per cent were women and 8 per cent from black or ethnic minority backgrounds. Research last year by Staffordshire University suggested that homophobia may not be as entrenched on the terraces as is often assumed.