NationStates Jolt Archive

During the last few weeks, the reputation of Spain as a liberal country has taken a severe nosedive. The first incident was the training ground incident wherein Spanish soccer manager Luis Aragones told one of his players (Jose Antonio Reyes) to show that "black shit" (Thierry Henry who plays for the same club as Reyes) "who's best" in the build up to a game wherein Reyes and Henry would face each other in a match between Spain and France.

This was followed by shameful scenes in the Spanish under 21 match against England's Under 21s wherein loud racist taunts from the crowd alongside 'monkeycalls' were directed towards England's many black players on Tuesday evening. This incident was repeated last night, on a much larger scale in the match between the senior sides of Spain and England.

Are these incidents in isolation? Is they fact that they are all connected with football the key? Or is there an underlying feeling in Spanish national thought?

Please discuss. (This is not a flamebaiting thread, I am merely trying to create legitimate discussion.)

The problem is Football.

It's such a simple game that it attracts the simple people, among which are many racists

Unfortunately football is often used as a showcase by racist thugs. Much of it has been stamped out in Britain, but in a lot of other places they haven't got to grips with it.

Having said that, as a Brit, I know that the reason our police are the best at dealing with crowd trouble is because our fans have started most of it, so they've had a lot of practice.

Yes. Every single Spanish person in the world is racist. Obviously.

Go generalisation!

Yes. Every single Spanish person in the world is racist. Obviously.

Go generalisation!

Grow up. I am not of course saying that every Spanish person is racist. But is there in anyway institutionalized racism as in the British Police Force until the 90s. That was an undeniable fact, but it didn't mean that all policemen were or are racist.

Grow up. I am not of course saying that every Spanish person is racist. But is there in anyway institutionalized racism as in the British Police Force until the 90s. That was an undeniable fact, but it didn't mean that all policemen were or are racist.

I think you'll find it's extended beyond the 90s.

Looks like hangovers from the Reconquista and the conquest of the New World to me. Spain lost all it's colonies and the New World, so all it's got left to boast about is football.

I think you'll find it's extended beyond the 90s.

Absolutely.

Looks like hangovers from the Reconquista and the conquest of the New World to me. Spain lost all it's colonies and the New World, so all it's got left to boast about is football.

Club football, though. Not international football.

Spain was in the past a facist country, I wouldn't be suprised if there wa a little risidual Facism.

Bastards.

And how is this racism any more noteworthy that that which comes out of the US?

Racism is everywhere. It disgusts me.

Spain was in the past a facist country, I wouldn't be suprised if there wa a little risidual Facism.

Bastards.
Spain also has a very strong Anarchist movement, so I don't think that has anything to do with it.

As in every country, racism is an issue. There's no special reason for it. So long as we have nations, we'll have racism.

And how is this racism any more noteworthy that that which comes out of the US?

How many threads are there on American racism?

And how many threads are there on Spanish racism?

Football has nothing to do with how 'racist' a country is. Football sparks more emotion than Hockey, Base-and-Basket ball together. The tensions in stadiums seriously affect supporters causing them to throw stuff, shout taunts and insults at the arbiter and opposing team, and finally to molest bus-stops, shops and cars. It is just part of the football culture, and doesn't say anything about the team or country itself.

And how is this racism any more noteworthy that that which comes out of the US?

Lol just like every other thread on this board. Scapegoating about the United States. This thread wasn't even about the US, or started by a citizen of the US, so feel free to stfu imo.

There are racists everywhere. English people have been at least as much racists (historicaly speaking) than Spanish...

But I think this is not the point. I don't feel responsible for what my ancestors did. Society devellopes much faster.
I think that the main reason of racism is the contact with other cultures. If you don't have to mix with someone different, you don't have to fear it. (FEAR=RACISM) The point is that England has got much more immigration than Spain, who is beginning to have it now massively...
Who's more racist?
¿Spain, which immigration is crashing right now with the rest of the society?
¿England, with a lot of historic racist issues?

I think that we sould talk about how to avoid racism, better than saying who's more racist.

(I'm spanish. Please apologize mi poor english)

There are racists everywhere. English people have been at least as much racists (historicaly speaking) than Spanish...

But I think this is not the point. I don't feel responsible for what my ancestors did. Society devellopes much faster.
I think that the main reason of racism is the contact with other cultures. If you don't have to mix with someone different, you don't have to fear it. (FEAR=RACISM) The point is that England has got much more immigration than Spain, who is beginning to have it now massively...
Who's more racist?
¿Spain, which immigration is crashing right now with the rest of the society?
¿England, with a lot of historic racist issues?

I think that we sould talk about how to avoid racism, better than saying who's more racist.

(I'm spanish. Please apologize mi poor english)

Very good point. I accept that far from most spanish people are racist.

My problem is that Fifa has such a big stink over David Beckham's "deliberate" foul on Ben Thatcher against Wales, and rightly kicks up a huge stink over hooliganism by banning English fans from going to matches. I just feel that it would be unfair for Spain not to get punished in some way for the actions of thsoe fans. That would be acceptable if it happened over here, you know we'd have the book thrown at us. I just hope that the Spanish FA do too.

[...] I just feel that it would be unfair for Spain not to get punished in some way for the actions of thsoe fans. That would be acceptable if it happened over here, you know we'd have the book thrown at us. I just hope that the Spanish FA do too.

But holligans where punished for something much more violent that these racist songs...

Anyway, I agree with you. They must be punished...
Why there isn't an issue in NS? Ban the football right now!!

Spain is extremely racist! They started slavery! They went into Africa and forcibly took men women and children! America is blamed all the time for slavery... it's time to point the finger at Spain!

Yup.. racist are everywhere. Screw them.

Hope they ban the use of Barnebeu stadium for 6 month :D

Lol just like every other thread on this board. Scapegoating about the United States. This thread wasn't even about the US, or started by a citizen of the US, so feel free to stfu imo.


Another good issue: Ban the US right now!
(yust joking ;) )

Spain is extremely racist! They started slavery! They went into Africa and forcibly took men women and children! America is blamed all the time for slavery... it's time to point the finger at Spain!
¿?
You miss understand your History.
Maybe Spain started with slavery... But the main commerce was done by England and Portugal.
And America is always blamed for slavery because US continued to have slavery till very late!

During the last few weeks, the reputation of Spain as a liberal country has taken a severe nosedive. The first incident was the training ground incident wherein Spanish soccer manager Luis Aragones told one of his players (Jose Antonio Reyes) to show that "black shit" (Thierry Henry who plays for the same club as Reyes) "who's best" in the build up to a game wherein Reyes and Henry would face each other in a match between Spain and France.

This was followed by shameful scenes in the Spanish under 21 match against England's Under 21s wherein loud racist taunts from the crowd alongside 'monkeycalls' were directed towards England's many black players on Tuesday evening. This incident was repeated last night, on a much larger scale in the match between the senior sides of Spain and England.

Are these incidents in isolation? Is they fact that they are all connected with football the key? Or is there an underlying feeling in Spanish national thought?

Please discuss. (This is not a flamebaiting thread, I am merely trying to create legitimate discussion.)
that isn't all. one of the mayors in spain create electronic signs on his city and write on them: Sharo is murderer, kill the beast, stop the new nazis.
you can think anout it as racism too.

¿?
You miss understand your History.
Maybe Spain started with slavery... But the main commerce was done by England and Portugal.
And America is always blamed for slavery because US continued to have slavery till very late!

That's a bunch of crap. It was Spain. Spain was once a leading power in this world. They started slavery and they continued selling slaves even through the American Civil War. America joined France in ridding the rest of the world of slavery. The end of slavery brought down the economic power of Spain.

The end of slavery brought down the economic power of Spain.
Another missundertanding.
The fall of the economic power was because there was no more gold and silver in the mines of south américa.
And of course the loss of the colonies... (Last one after loosing Cuba, with the help of the US)
But the main reason of loosing the colonies was that there was no money for supporting the Spanish army.
The decadence of the Empire, they call it here.

Someone remind me what year it is.

- In response to the taunting of Ashley Cole by Spanish fans. I think this is the first time he's ever had made a good point.