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Racism is a form of tribalism – no wonder it flourishes in football

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Thursday 26 December 2019 14:56 GMT
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A teargas grenade explodes near an England fan ahead of England's Euro 2016 match in Marseille
A teargas grenade explodes near an England fan ahead of England's Euro 2016 match in Marseille

Professional football is a business. It makes money by persuading people to attend matches to support “their” side. If spectators didn’t have some feeling of affinity to a team, they probably wouldn’t go. Tribalism is, therefore, of the essence.

Racism and nationalism are forms of tribalism. Some people, in the excitement of a match and possibly disinhibited by the consumption of alcohol, will express these traits in unacceptable, sometimes illegal, ways. It’s not right. But neither is it surprising.

Susan Alexander
South Gloucestershire

Safety doesn’t need an officer

I see the NHS has devised yet another way to waste millions of pounds and introduce another layer of (possibly overpaid) bureaucracy: safety officers. While no system can ever be 100 per cent safe, I assumed the well educated professionals of the NHS had issues of patient safety at the heart of their practice. It’s every NHS employees’ responsibility and should be embedded in everything the health service does.

Dr Anthony Ingleton
Sheffield

Independent thinking

Nicola Sturgeon can look back on 2019 with some satisfaction. She’s clawed back a number of the Westminster seats she lost in 2017 and daily manages to keep the focus on constitutional matters. Despite her anti-Tory rhetoric, Sturgeon feels she has in Boris Johnson a prime minister she can spin, and the Brexit she truly longs for. As a single issue politician, the SNP leader believes she can employ both to grow support for her raison d’être: Scexit.

But the general election result and Labour’s disarray suggest Johnson could be in power for a decade. There is no way he is going to risk being the PM who presides over the break up of the UK. In that time, Brexit’s usefulness for the SNP can only diminish. It’s already fading in the minds of Scottish voters and trade deals will likely emerge with the EU and around the world next year. Crucially too, most voters understand an independent Scotland’s path to EU membership is strewn with fiscal impediments.

After five years with Sturgeon at the helm, still only 45 per cent of Scots support independence.

Martin Redfern
Edinburgh

Socialist values

Tony Blair‘s negative contribution to the Labour Party election campaign came as no surprise. I always hoped I might bump into him one day and ask “why did you choose to join the Labour Party?” I don’t think the man has ever had a socialist thought in his head.

David Hiley
Address supplied

Christians still face persecution

The Christmas message of hope, peace and compassion becomes more relevant in the Middle East where millions are left to languish in lingering homelessness and destitution. A few countries such as Jordan and Lebanon offer a unique example of tranquillity, religious tolerance and moderation, where Christians and Muslims live in harmonious coexistence.

However, in the occupied Palestinian territories, Christians are dwindling in their numbers and face unimaginable persecution due to the cruelty of Israel’s occupation and siege.

It’s time for the international community to understand that Christians are a part of the Holy Land and that it is time to end this egregious violations of human rights.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London NW2

A message for Nazanin

I want to send a message Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe that, although this is terribly desperate time for you, please know that you are not and never will be alone.

There are millions of people like me that think about you all the time and hope that justice and sanity prevails, meaning you will be home with your family very soon. Please stay strong and try to keep your spirits up.

Georgina Hadley
Address withheld

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