Ryan Atkin: Gay referee says football has to 'drive out hate'
"Football must take positive steps and it must take it now to drive the hate out", he said."So many football clubs have top of the range security so people shouldn't be able to hide anymore."Just because you're a paying member of public attending a football game, it doesn't give you the right to abuse other people."
'Football must do more'
Mr Atkin said: "Is homophobia or racism taken seriously? It says it is but actually, what are the consequences? "Football must do more, it has to take a hard line to it."Why do people think it's acceptable to come to a sporting event and use racist or homophobic chants?"Protect your club, protect your players, protect your image - that for me is really key."He added: "You want to be judged on your profession or your sport, not your sexuality."I'm a referee who happens to be gay."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
Riders cycle from Yorkshire to London for The Jo Cox Way
More than 100 people have cycled from Yorkshire to London in memory of Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered in June were welcomed in the capital by Mrs Cox's parents alongside her sister Kim Leadbeater, the MP for Spen Cox, who was MP for the constituency under its former guise of Batley & Spen, was shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, West Yorkshire, by white supremacist Thomas 290-mile ride – The Jo Cox Way – has been taking place for a decade, and it raises money for The Jo Cox Foundation. Ms Leadbeater said: "We've had more cyclists than ever... I think it's fair to say the 10th Jo Cox Way has been a huge success."These riders are just amazing. It just shows the best of people."It's a huge physical and mental challenge and every single one of these cyclists has earnt the respect of everyone they know."Jo was a passionate campaigner for gender equality so it's wonderful to see nearly 60 women riding this year and showing that cycling really is for everyone." The youngest of the 103 participants in this year's ride – which involves 13,000ft of climbing – was 21 while the oldest was 80-year-old Kath Lyons from Skipton, who completed the route for the fourth time."I've been doing The Jo Cox Way again to remind myself what Jo stood for," Mrs Lyons said. "We all have more in common than we think."There are always times on the ride when you think 'What the hell am I doing this for?' but we just encourage each other to get to the top of the next hill." Ken Avery, 76, from Liversedge, West Yorkshire, has terminal cancer. His daughter rode alongside him for the first few miles of the journey, and his son crossed the finish line with him in London."I think they're both proud of me because I'm doing something that I enjoy and it's keeping me fit and healthy," he Avery was told he could expect to live for another 10 years – but that was 15 years ago. He said: "I believe it's down to cycling and keeping fit." Saeed Umar, 50, from Blackburn, was taking part for the first time."It's a great event, bringing together people of different abilities from across the country to help each other through this epic ride - working together, working through challenges," he said."Cycling and charity has brought us together." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
No-one can stop Stokes overdoing it but himself
I had everything crossed while watching Ben Stokes run in to bowl on the final day of the fourth Test against times he looked like Laurel and Hardy's car with various bits of his body looking like they were going to fall off because of his Stokes there is always lots of talk about someone in the dressing room, whether it is his vice-captain Ollie Pope, his friend and team-mate Joe Root, or coach Brendon McCullum, having to tell him not to push himself too are past that point now. It is clear no-one is going to be able to tell Stokes what to is hard because Stokes knows how important he is to his team. He feels the responsibility because it is his team and at Old Trafford he was head and shoulders above the other bowlers on either he has got to look after himself and look at the bigger him, England's hopes of winning this series at The Oval next week or in the Ashes in Australia this winter would be massively diminished. It really is Stokes or bust for England right now. Archer 'not the express bowler some expect him to be' It is both a huge compliment to Stokes and a concern that he offered so much more threat than the rest of his bowling attack, particularly with the old has taken six wickets after a ball is 40 overs old in this series. Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue have taken two wickets combined across the same shows his bowling really is world return to Test cricket has been largely encouraging but on Sunday he discovered what it is to be truly Test-match feet looked sore, his pace was down to 83mph in his final spell and he did not look as also confirmed he is not the express bowler some people expect him to can do that role for a spell here or there where he really heats things up, like he did at times in his comeback at Lord's, but he is not like Mark can bowl at 95mph whenever you throw him the ball but, for whatever reason, Archer's rhythm is not always is great he is back and that he has been able to play two games is another step on his progression to playing in the he just needs a few weeks to put his feet up because if he did not remember what Test cricket feels like, he will now. 'Dawson not threatening but may work down under' After Archer made his comeback at Lord's, the England player returning here was Liam Dawson after eight years away, in place of the injured Shoaib Bashir.I am still not sure about Dawson as England's bowled tidily – 47 overs for only 95 runs in the second innings – but that he did not take a wicket as England pushed for victory on the final two days summed it up. He did not look action is is very chest-on compared to the more traditional off-spinner's technique of getting sideways and using your hips to pivot and put more action into the Dawson is 35 and has had a good career, I am by no means calling for him to change his technique but that is a reason why he is never going to be a big turner of the course the other way of looking at his performance is that he was largely accurate and may actually be what England need when it comes to bowling in the heat down under, you do not want to leak runs through your need to hold up an end to allow the quick bowlers to rotate and have a rest. That is why Graeme Swann was so valuable when England won under Andrew Strauss in the 2010-11 will rightly get another go at The Oval, where he will hope to make even more of an impression. Changes are a must for The Oval When it comes to the fifth Test, England will have to make changes because Woakes, Carse and Archer look is no surprise given all four Tests have gone the full five days – something unheard of in recent years in this Tongue and Gus Atkinson look certainties to return to bolster the bowling attack and then it will be about whether Stokes is fit to play a full part, fit enough only to play as a batter, or not fit at when Stokes has not been able to bowl England have looked to squeeze in a fourth seamer, like they did in the 2023 Ashes when Moeen Ali was recalled to be a spin-bowling will be desperate for Stokes to play but if not they will just have to go in with three pace bowlers plus Dawson. That keeps the batting strong for a game they cannot afford to will be desperate for some more grass on the pitch, anything to give pace and bounce to help his bowlers, and then hope his body need him. Without Stokes they are half the Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's Matthew Henry
South Wales Guardian
4 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Jubilant scenes as Lionesses keep Euros dream alive with second-half equaliser
Arsenal striker Alessia Russo rose highest to divert Chloe Kelly's cross past Cata Coll in the Spanish goal in the 57th minute – sending Lionesses supporters into raptures. England fans had watched on nervously as they once again found themselves behind in a crucial Euros tie. Fans draped in England flags joined the Prince of Wales and his daughter Princess Charlotte in holding their heads in their hands as Mariona Caldentey put Spain 1-0 up in the final on Sunday. A nervous atmosphere transformed into a jubilant one at Boxpark Croydon as Russo's header found the net, with England flags being waved and supporters hugging each other during the celebrations. At the final whistle, fans of the Lionesses appeared confident as they started dancing and cheering as the match went into extra time. William and Charlotte were pictured in Switzerland for the Euros final as the royal family led the nation in wishing good luck to England's Lionesses. Shortly before kick-off, an image of the pair was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account with the caption 'let's go, Lionesses'. Let's go, @Lionesses! 🏴 — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) July 27, 2025 As Caldentey's header found the net in the 25th minute, William and Charlotte were pictured with their heads in their hands and crowds in fan zones across England fell silent as they watched proceedings. Before kick-off, supporters waved England flags and loudly sang the national anthem at Boxpark Croydon and star striker Michelle Agyemang's former team, Brandon Groves Community Club in Essex. Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. Ahead of the game, 11-year-old Violet Ingram, a left winger for Brandon Grove Emeralds, said: 'Seeing her (Agyemang) and the team just makes me feel like I can do anything I want to do.' Lionesses fans stood on their feet while some children said 'come on England' after Russo's header put England on level terms. The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Football Association (FA), applauded the national anthem as he stood next to Charlotte in the stadium. In a show of support ahead of the final, the Band of the Grenadier Guards performed Three Lions on the Buckingham Palace forecourt, while the royal family's official X account posted: 'Wishing the very best of luck to the @Lionesses in the Women's Euro Final this evening.' Let's go girls!! 💪🦁⚽️ Wishing the very best of luck to the @Lionesses in the Women's Euro Final this evening. — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 27, 2025 Meanwhile, BBC Sport and ITV have secured the broadcasting rights for the Women's World Cup 2027, meaning the tournament will remain free-to-air for UK viewers. England's path to the final has been marked by late drama. They sealed their spot with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy, following a penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals after nearly crashing out in extra time. The Lionesses will be looking for redemption against Spain, who edged them 1-0 in the 2023 Women's World Cup final. England boss Sarina Wiegman said the team is 'going to do everything we can to win it' and she would prefer to avoid a 'nerve-wracking' match.
