RUFC - Red carded for swearing?

The Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt says that swearing in football has gone too far and something must be done about it.

Speaking to Daybreak on the ITV, Mr Hunt said that being a qualified referee he feels he has a right to speak out saying, 'I've been at the receiving end of it and I do think that it has gone too far and I would like to see the football authorities do more.'

Also, during the weekend that has just passed, the Professional Footballers' Association Chairman Clarke Carlisle, came out and said that it's about time there was a clampdown on foul and abusive language in football.

This argument has been on-going for as long as I can remember and yes, I think we all know, that swearing isn't the best thing for anyone to have to listen to. I think Rotherham fans have been 'sheltered' from the swearing on the pitch for the last four years with the stands at Don Valley being a fair way from the action but, I have to say, stood behind the dugouts on Saturday at the friendly game, there was some 'bad language' although, to be honest, it didn't bother me. But should it have? Is it right that I expect the 'colourful' language at football games?

Mr Carlisle thinks that players should be sent-off and banned for using swear words which, as he points out, should make them address their behaviour.

But which words would that include - in fact, what makes a swear word? I admit to using 'bloody' and 's**t' - usually at football games (mind if you'd watched Rotherham as long as me …. well, you get the picture!) Should they be 'red card' words?

And what about the crowd? Will stopping the players swearing on the field of play stop the fans swearing in the stands? Will they get thrown out of the ground for using naughty words? (If so there won't be many left in). I do know that in the family Stand in the Millers New York Stadium there is zero tolerance to swearing and, when booking your season tickets you were told in no uncertain terms that you`d be shown the door if heard.

Yes, I agree, it's not right that children should hear the vulgar words when they are out at a sporting event. Although, I'd like to bet most of them hear the same words at home and at school but no, they shouldn't be subjected to it involuntarily.

I do think a lot of swearing is done in the heat of the moment and brought out due to frustrations but maybe there is a time and place for using bad words. And I do wonder why it's wrong to say '*&"*' but it's fine to say 'Oh my god'? And what is the difference between 's**t' and 'pooh'??

What do you think? Would football change if players were sent off for vulgar language? Does hearing certain words upset you and would it stop you attending football games? Would you be annoyed (and driven to swearing) if one of your team were red carded for using the wrong words? And, isn't it the way the words are spoken as much to blame for the word itself?

Tell us here on Vital Rotherham what you think about swearing at football games




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