Peter Herbert gets his wish

Most people would be forgiven for not knowing the name Peter Herbert much before the end of October this year. I personally had never heard of the man or read any of his views on racism.However over the last few weeks this gentleman has become the voice the media run to each time there is a hint of racism to comment on.

I am sure Mr Herbert’s point of view is well meaning after all who can argue that racism is right? Nobody in their right mind surely.

On Thursday last week several Tottenham fans were ambushed and severely stabbed and beaten in a bar in Rome. Anti-semitic banners and chanting were heard throughout the game.

On Sunday the visitors to White Hart Lane were West Ham United. Once again vile anti-semitic chants were heard throughout the game.

The thing is Rome and English supporters is not a good mix. There has been trouble there each and every time an English club has played there.

The issue missing with the other clubs is the anti-semitism, so why so prominent on Thursday?

Then there is West Ham. One of the originators of the hissing that used to ring around Upton Park whenever Tottenham played there. The same supporters who came up with the ditty Spurs are on the way to Auschwitz, Hitler’s gonna gas em again!

But that was back in the bad old 80s.

Whatever you say football has moved on massively over the last 30 years, supporters from all walks of life go to games together shoulder to shoulder to support their team. Long gone are the days of the National Front man recruiting in the stands.

Like most other Spurs supporters I was outraged when Peter Herbert dared suggest that we should stop chanting Yid Army. I even wrote an article in support of it as a positive influence in my life.

But with all the discussion and debate on the issue, inevitably there has been massive media coverage. It is here where I feel that Peter Herbert has got what he wanted.

The more we stood up to his misguided crusade the more the issue has become a weapon for those stupid enough to want to use it. I still strongly believe that the reasons for taking on the Yid Army identity are valid. I also believe that over the last 30 years it has contributed to the demise of the chants which were heard around the Lane on Sunday.

Peter Herbert’s crusade on the other hand has just thrust us back into the bad old days!

Had this issue not been thrown into the limelight I doubt very much is West Ham supporters would have disgraced their club as badly as they have. There will always be idiots and bigots in football grounds, but on the whole their influence is normally muted by the sensible majority who want banter not hatred.

I don’t believe the attack in Rome was initially due to our Jewish connections, I believe they would have attacked us anyway, they always seem to. But raising the Jewish connection time and again through the media has given these idiots even more cause.

Peter Herbert will say that its because we make our chants it legitimises the opposition fans behaviour? I disagree I think that the massive coverage in the media and on social networking has pushed the issue back to the forefront allowing some supporters the opportunity to prove Mr Herbert’s point.

Unfortunately Peter you got your wish!

[author name=”Lee Taylor” avatar=”https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/2825217795/2891139da356c25ff8adfb98b94aac58.jpeg” twitter=”HackneytoPoole” tag=”LeeTaylor[/linequote]