Dont give them hits guys.
Sex abuse victims 'left
suicidal' after being tortured by sick football chants
Survivor groups say there is a growing problem of child abuse chants and explicit banners at Scottish football, something that can trigger a major breakdown in victims
Sick football chants are leaving
childhood abuse survivors suicidal, it has been claimed.
Survivor groups have said there is a growing problem of child abuse chants and explicit
banners at Scottish football games.
Organisations say it has led to an increase in calls for help from survivors – and even claim it’s leaving some suicidal.
They have demanded the sick songs are treated in the same manner as sectarian and racist behaviour by football authorities.
It comes a week after the
Celtic and
Aberdeen Scottish Cup semi-final was mired in sectarian and child abuse chants from rival fans.
But it’s just one of a handful of games across Scotland that has seen an increase in the disgusting behaviour in recent months. Banners showing sex acts being performed have also appeared at other stadiums, including Fir Park and Ibrox.
Dave Sharp, of childhood abuse organisation SAFE, said he’s been inundated with calls in the past few weeks.
He said: “Recent football matches have seen a lot of these disgusting chants. There have also been banners with pictures of priests abusing young boys.
“No one is saying or doing anything about it, especially the football authorities.
“This has a major effect on victims and survivors. They go to football matches too.
“I was called by a survivor who was badly triggered when he saw a banner with a priest abusing a boy. He told me it hit him like a sledge hammer. It had left him contemplating suicide.
Dave Sharp says banners have major effect on victims, who go to football matches too (Image: Daily Record)
“This happens with survivors – something you might think is quite minor can cause a major breakdown.
“It is now the norm for supporters in football stadiums to blast out child abuse songs when they play Celtic.
“I’d like to see football authorities treating the problem like racism and bigotry – it’s a cancer that needs
to be cut out.”
Last weekend’s Scottish Cup game saw sectarian abuse aimed at Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes.
Celtic FC said the sex abuse chants aimed at them – which centred on historic abuse that took place at Celtic Boys’ Club – had “no place in football”.
Paul Goodwin says abuse chants should be treated the same way as racism and homophobia (Image: SNS Group)
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Paul Goodwin, of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, said: “There is a line between banter and decency and this crosses the line. Abuse chants should be treated the same way as racism and homophobia as having no place in the game.”
Sharp has arranged to speak with the
SFAabout the issues.
A spokesman for the SFA said fans chanting about childhood abuse was “unacceptable”.
He said the organisation had made improvements in training staff on issues surrounding childhood abuse since 2016.
He added: “This has included the adoption of consistent policies and procedures by all members as well as the training of almost 12,000 people on child wellbeing and protection by 700 club child wellbeing and protection officers.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Professional Football League declined to comment.
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