It is still unclear how Tottenham will be punished (if at all) for the racist and homophobic abuse against Sol Campbell last weekend.
The police refused to act at the time, saying there were too many supporters involved in the action against Sol Campbell for them to be able to make arrests. They asked the FA to act.
Then the FA said that they could do nothing if Portsmouth did not make a complaint.
Portsmouth said they would not make a complaint unless Sol Campbell made a complaint, although Harry Redknapp called for action.
So it stood – with the FA looking as impotent in dealing with Tottenham racism and homophobia as FIFA is in dealing with Croatian racism.
Now Hampshire police said that they have received one complaint (only one???) about the abuse and have promised to investigate it fully.
“This kind of thing has no place in football, no place in life,” said Harry Redknapp, quoted in the Guardian. “Someone has got to do something about it, somebody has got to make a stand, and if Sol wants to do that, we are right behind him.”
The police will obviously have access to the film that is taken of away supporters at Fratton Park, and Tottenham (if they co-operate) will have the names and addresses and photos of all their away support as they will be members of the travel club. So action should be possible.
But there is also the question of whether the FA will take action against Tottenham for failing to control their supporters – or indeed whether the FA believe that clubs have a responsibility to control the action of away supporters in the ground.
