I'm just listening to this on radio5 live. Scotland has it's own national team, so I think the Scots should be able to support whom they wish, as for the t-shirts, that's just a bit of typical Scottish humour and I don't understand anybody getting upset about it.

I don't think it's racist, although I can see the English retaliating with a similar t-shirt which I hope doesn't start trouble. I don't know that much about the football rivalry, but isn't it just friendly rivalry or do the English and the Scots smash the crap out of each other? Educate me, Crusty bits!

As Cologne says, this is just typical Scottish humour.

However, stepping-back and taking it seriously for a moment:

The T-shirt can only be considered racist if you consider the English population to be a "race". It's true that some people claim that the term "English" refers to a specific racial group. However seeing as the England football team represent every citizen of England, and seeing as England has got to be one of the most racially-diverse countries in the world, I would suggest that the idea of anti-England sentiments being racist is ludicrous.

I don't know about the old days, but now it's just friendly rivalry (i think). To be honest in my lifetime of watching football we've only played Scotland a couple of times.
But if it was the other way round and Scotland were in the WC and we weren't, I personally wouldnt wear an 'ANYONE BUT SCOTLAND' tshirt, but then again we wouldn't really have to worry about Scotland winning the world cup would we, lets face it but even so I think it's an over-reaction people saying it's offensive.

It's more to do with the way the media react, than anything against England as a nation.

It would be hugely hypocritical of me to wear an anyone but Scotland T-shirt anyway, given that a quarter of my genes are Scottish! (I have no English blood in me at all). You're right about the diversity though, England has to be one of, if not the most diverse country surely? (Not including the US obviously cos that's 52 times bigger than the UK). But I get behind England when the World Cup or Euro comes up cos I was born and bred here.

I think stories like these make people concerned that it isn't always a friendly rivalry.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5105452.stm

Thing is though, will we ever know for certain that them wearing England shirts actually had anything to do with the attacks?

Bloody hell they punched the 7 year old for wearing an England top?? WTF?

True EFFT, but from reading the story that was the impression that was given.

Regardless of what the true reason was though, a grown man punching a child is beyond any kind of mitigating factor. What possible excuse could EVER make that in any way an understandable course of action?

I know there is huge rivalry between Celts and Rangers fans in Scotland. As far as I understand it, it is a Catholic/Prodestant thing? (Please correct me if that's inaccurate). I just find football violence completely unnecessary. It's great to get behind your team or country, but why the need to bash the crap out of each other? Can someone explain that to me?

Would it not be seen as racist if people wore T shirts which said Anyone but Israel/Jamaica/Poland/Nigeria? 

And I have no idea if all or any of those countries are in the World Cup finals

Ello Growls me dear! xxx

I was thinking the same thing, how would other countries react, but I don't feel angry at the t-shirt (like I normally do in racist situations). Do you think it is?

Well, it seems that I stand corrected.
I Am Not A Lawyer, and I don't know how the anti-racism laws apply in this particular case. However in the case of employment at least, The Race Relations Act 1976 protects individuals from being discriminated against on the grounds of colour, race, nationality, religious beliefs or ethnicity.

See, that's what makes me wonder if him wearing a Rangers shirt and the boy wearing an England shirt was in any way significant. It's a very strange thing for an adult to attack a child in that way.

I agree though that the article has been written in a manner that emphasises the wearing of a football shirt and thus giving the impression that this was the reason for the attack - but not giving any proof that it was. Unless I've missed something.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but you might want to consider the following:
"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting."
- George Orwell, The Sporting Spirit
http://www.orwell.ru/library/a...rit/english/e_spirit

This one is clearer.

http://sport.scotsman.com/worl...acked-for.2793484.jp

And this one wasn't wearing an England shirt, but sounded English!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t...e/article5512401.ece

It also mentions the incident with the seven year old!

A spate of anti-English racial attacks by Scots came in June 2006, during the football World Cup. In the most shocking incident, a seven-year-old boy wearing an England shirt was punched in the head in an Edinburgh park. Hugo Clapshaw, whose father is a New Zealander and whose mother is Scottish, was attacked by a man who shouted “This is Scotland, not f****** England” before running off.

Hello Karma     I would definitely think it was racist if it was another country, so yes, I suppose I do see this as being racist.   But it's difficult because it's aimed at English people rather than Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish, none of which are separate nations.   If it was aimed at British people, I think I would find it more offensive because it would be referring to a nation, but then for some strange reason, we don't have a UK or British football team in the World Cup so it wouldn't arise anyway .  And then again, I'm not proud to be British, so would also be less likely to feel offended at a racist remark made towards my nationality.

At least in my game of choice everyone comes prepared...  

Pam!

By Jiminy, I thought that was my conscience turning up!

Sorry I was away plucking eyebrows and applying fake tan (have meeting tomorrow). I'm sitting here typing like I've got stilts under my arms and holding my nose in the air cos I dont want the tan to smudge

*** wonders what Blousey's conscience looks like... waits in anticipation ***

Karma!

*** wonders if it's racist to laugh at the orange people ***

Ye gods! You've heard about the 'merkins coming too!

Don't ask me. I've never seen it!

I just want to see if she's got a phone-shaped white bit now!

She should definitely put the sunglasses back on!

She should have settled for a paper bag!

I've been too scared to move!

What sort of weird meeting do you have to do this for though?!

That depends...

They've got those orange wigs on to indicate Scottishness! So no! Mustn't laugh! ... On the other hand, they are very orange, thereby indicating Netherlands connections... oh crap! ....

Definitely the Nether Regions, Pam!

Where would we be in our fine country now without William of Orange?

sorry... haven't perfected the re-size thing yet  ... and before your mind goes down that line Blousey... just don't!