Eurosport - Thu, 11 Dec 10:14:00 2008
Police have made their first arrests in an investigation into racist and homophobic chanting during Portsmouth's match against Tottenham Hotspur.
A 28-year-old man from Ringwood, Hampshire and a 38-year-old man from Wokingham, Berkshire were brought in for questioning just hours after an appeal was launched to track down people caught on camera directing abuse at Portsmouth defender and former Spurs captain Sol Campbell during the Premier League match at Fratton Park on September 28.
Hampshire Constabulary said they have received "a steady stream of information and names", but are still urging members of the public to contact them if they can help identify any of the 16 suspects identified in images released in the media.
Superintendent Neil Sherrington said when the images were released: "As part of our investigation into indecent chanting at Fratton Park, we have identified 16 people we would like to speak to.
"Our inquiry is aimed at identifying and putting before the court those individuals who engaged in unacceptable behaviour at this public event.
"Their abuse caused distress to some supporters and was targeted at an individual.
"We want to send a clear message that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated and that we are taking robust action.
"I'd urge anyone who recognises these people to contact us as soon as possible."
The offence of indecent or racist chanting at a designated football match under the Football Offences Act 1991 can be punished by a fine of up to £1,000 and can also lead to a football banning order.
Tottenham have lent their full backing to the investigation, and the club's safety officer Sue Tilling said: "The club does not tolerate any form of abusive or discriminatory chanting and we would ask fans with any information to please come forward and assist the police with their investigation into this matter.
"In order to ensure that matchdays are enjoyable for everyone we shall not hesitate to ban, indefinitely, supporters whose behaviour is proven to be unacceptable."
Campbell has been targeted by some Spurs supporters since he left White Hart Lane for arch-rivals Arsenal in 2001.
In October, Spurs vowed to ban for life any fan found guilty of racist of homophobic behaviour.
Comment 201 - 220 of 220
What has happened to freedom of speach people, Do we all want a big brother state telling us what we can and cannot do?
Paul W you are an ignorant loser and know nothing of real life
You call Britain a pathetic little country, but we have more history and prestige then any other country in the world you ignorant fool. You should go back to school and LISTEN then when you have matured you can try making an educated comment instead of the drivel you have come out with.
To all Spurs fans who will be at the Pompey home game, lets all complain to the met police about the treatment are new manager will recieve from the away fans.
And see how their supporters like getting a visit from the London boyz in blue? For questioning if Harry no's his anglo saxon father, and whether his Mother is off good stock!!
Sounds very familiar to another Judas having a hissy fit at the moment dos'nt it??
I'm a spurs fan live in Ireland and get over when i can .Sol,thing has got out of hand i really wonder if did'nt go to the filth and want to man u or liverpool nothing would be said ,The thing is Sol is old news to me and really means nothing to me since he left london .To be truthful i'm more pissed at keane going to liverpool .Enough said on this matter the better for the club and it's fan base ,Not to rise the profile of a ex spurs player who's playing days is coming to a end,and the bad press we are getting because a bunch of guys who turn up and ends up @#$% the day up for us.Dose anyone remember John Barnes in the world cup and the @#$% he got of some of the english fans .Are spurs rasist No! some of them are missed guided But not rasist .I've gone to spurs and heard stuff about gassing jews has the police and the press jumped in has the F.A said anything No and never would
Why is that an invalid comment oh moderator????
That is why England have wond sweat FA for so long - there is no sport just bigotry and fetid filth reigning down on Saturday and Sunday afternoons round the grounds. Money talks more than talent and that is translated onto the terraces too - no imagination, no wit, just pure unadulterated excrememnt. #What a cess pit of a country you are.
Now I truly understand the malaise of English society when I read the comments which people have had the time and effort to write up. Bringn back National Service and I would send the lot of you out to Afghanistan to put your money where your mouth is. Pathetic litlle country!
but still a cup is better than nothing, as is the charity shield or the cup winners cup these are all alot better than that piece of @#$% man u went to brazil for a few years back? cant remember whats its called. surely a winners medal and a place in europe is better than a runners up spot, from a winners point of view yes. From the view of the boardroom stiffs who only care about the money No. Last year the final of the carling cup was Spurs vs Chelsea, the year before i think it was Arsenal vs Chelsea this year it mite be Man u vs Spurs. I mean does this sound like a bad cup to win?
In comment 213 i mean without huge debts, before some of you pretentious do gooder pompous pr**ks point it out for me. Yes a typo, its a blog about football not a letter to the queen so i didnt proof read it
In fairness it is the least important cup in the country!!
Not like the FA cup anyway ;)
And why is it the carling cup only seems to be not important as soon as the team gets knocked out? until then, its a cup...but cry babies start saying its a mickey mouse cup and come out with lame excuses only when they get knocked out...its pathetic
I wasnt aware of anyone else exect arsenal, personally i dont really see west ham, fulham, chelsea etc as rivals any more than i would liverpool, wigan or sunderland. I thought millwall was always pretty hated. Maybe its there own rasist feeling towards judasism or maybe its because spurs are the only team in london with huge club debts or living off one mans oil fund.
That may be it Gekko!
But its been ages since Spurs won anything important! Are you sure its purly down to jelousy? Again im not having a pop, but all of London seems to see Tottenham as the 'scum team' dont they?
Because mikey s tottenham have a great tradition and despite in recent years not as many trophys as chelsea, we have still won more than them, west ham, millwall and every other london club except arsenal....who havent won fa in 3years(spurs have) who have only done ok with the talented mr wenger. So the main reason spurs are probly hated is down to pure jealousy. And at least any spurs sucess will not come as a result of debt....unlike arsenals
His black his queer he takes it up the rear.....sol campbell...sol campbell
If you think that song makes you a rasist homephobe, then you my friend have alot of growing up to do. The world is a cruel harsh place and if something so pathetic upsets you, prepare for a life of crying yourself to sleep at night you loser.
How come nobody in London likes Spurs?
Millwall, West Ham, Aresenal, Chelsea! i know there are loads of rivalries between the differnt clubs, but everybody seems to hate Tottenham!
im not having a pop, just genuinly wondering why this is so?!
What a huge waste of police time for a song...its a joke. What next? arresting school kids for swearing....this is where we are going people. We are having every last drain of competitive spirit and passion wrung out of us. Then we dress it up as something much worse than it is by calling it rasism. If people want to see real rasism go to spain where they behave like animals.
These people are killing freedom of speach, i dont agree with rasist behaviour but its gone way to far. Anyone is welcome to call me white and straight and i promise not to go to the police
Can any of you free loving hippies with your views of a perfect utopia explain to my "small mindedness" how calling a queer black man, black and queer is worse than making fun of genicide. As spurs fans have have to accept the hitler taunts for years with no police inquests
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