I didn't blog anything about Wednesday's match, because I just caught the closing minutes on the radio in a cab home, plus I haven't been to a football match in years, plus I haven't been frequenting the smoking room at work, which is the best source of informed opinion on such matters.
I suppose I felt that certain tabloids screaming in outrage at the racist abuse of various England players was utter hypocrisy. Considering the persistent racism of the headlines and lead stories in those papers. Even the casual criticism of the Spanish fans was a form of xenophobia.
As I say, I haven't been to a match since 1996 or so. (Me, Jonah - my boys contrived to lose when I was there, despite actually winning the Double that season. They're even better off without me watching them on TV...)
However, back in the 1983-1996 seasons when I was a regular on the Terraces (and latterly, in seats) I was very aware of racism. I missed the era of the Monkey Chants and the bananas, but I was more than aware of the number of so-called fans who would boo their own black players, and of the hostility towards black fans. I've stood in pubs where Chelsea fans have been singing 'There ain't no black in the Union Jack' - so fucking ignorant they don't even know the name of the flag they wrap themselves in.
It was in my last job (2000-01) that I had a long conversation with my wonderful colleague Neil about just how racist is the commentator Barry Davies. It seems that certain sections of the media has only just woken up, belatedly, to the pernicious evil that is Racism in football. And I suspect they are motivated as much by a desire to portray foreigners - from a city that is a rival to London's 2012 Olympic bid - as all bad so that we the plucky English can come up smelling of roses.
How many black men have captained the England football team? (And as a BTW, how many the England rugby team?)
