Beasley faces racist fans....Irony lost on everyone

USA International DaMarcus Beasley scored the winning goal in last night's 1-0 victory over Montenegrin champions FK Zeta in a Champions League qualifying match. After the goal, Beasley (formerly of Manchester City, PSV, and Chicago Fire), was then subjected to racist taunting from the Montenegrin fans. Slurs and monkey noises were directed from the stands at the American midfielder.

UEFA authorities are stunned, despite the fact that it has also happened time on time again in Europe the last few years, a phenomenon blamed on a wave of immigrants to Europe. Before, most countries were very self-contained and ethnically homogenous. (ie: France was populated by French people, now France is populated with French, North Africans, Muslims, and Blacks from the Caribbean). This has led to a clash of national identities as Europe deals with race issues on a whole new level.

The irony in the Beasley situation is also lost on just about everyone. Beasley's Glasgow, Scotland-based club; Rangers FC, is notorious for its virulent anti-Catholic, anti-Irish supporters. Songs from Rangers fans include the heart-warming lyrics, "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood/Surrender or you'll die!" and "We are the Glasgow Rangers/We don't need your Davie Hay /Fuck the Pope and the IRA," and "We hate Roman Catholics/ we hate nuns too/we hate bishops and priests (They're shit!)/ but the Rangers we love you."

So while racism is a terrible thing and is definitely a stain on European football, I'm having a little hard time getting around the irony of the fact that Rangers whips up its ethnic sectarianism perhaps more than any other club in the world, then bemoans the fact that one of its players is subjected to racist attacks.