FA welcomes 'racist' chant ruling

The Football Association (FA) has welcomed a High Court ruling this week which found that a football supporter who taunted opposing fans with a chant about "Pakis" had committed a criminal offence.

In the case - the first of its kind - Lord Justice Auld, sitting with Mr Justice Goldring, drew a distinction between "affectionate" nationality tags, such as "Brit" or "Aussie", and "Paki" - short for Pakistani - which was "a slang expression which is racially offensive".

In his ruling the judge said: "It is odd and a shame that this is so in this country, but the unpleasant context in which it is so often used has left it with a derogatory or insulting, racialist connotation."

The supporter had been part of a group of Port Vale supporters who chanted "You're just a town full of Pakis" at rival Oldham Athletic fans.

The two High Court judges directed that the case be sent back to the magistrates' court and that it convict Mr Ratcliffe of the offence.

An FA spokesman said today: "Racist and anti-social behaviour has no place in football. We have always said that the joint effort of all involved, including the courts, will make a difference.

"We are confident that this strong stance is having a positive effect in unifying the football community against racists, hooligans and other troublemakers who threaten the health of the game.

"The FA has a steadfast commitment to drive racism out of the game and to play a part in changing the culture of football. This is a key part of the overall Ethics and Sports Equity Strategy which is a unique approach to ensuring that issues of equality and fairness are central to everything we do."

(GMcG)