Download Sectarianism and Sport 3.2

Cultural Diversity
In & Through Sport
Lesson Nine:
Sectarianism and Sport
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible
for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session you should be able to:
• Describe the term sectarianism
• Identify how sectarianism is manifest using sporting examples
• Examine own attitudes towards sectarianism
• Explain the consequences of prejudice and discrimination
• Identify ways in which attitudes can be challenged
Group Activity
In groups, discuss what sectarianism is and how it is displayed within
society. Use real life examples to illustrate what you mean.
Sectarianism Definition
• A system of attitudes, actions, beliefs, and structures at personal,
communal and institution levels
• Always involves religion and typically involves a negative mixing of
religion, cultural traditions and politics.
• Arises as a distorted expression of positive, human needs especially
for belonging, identity, and free expression of difference.
Origins of Sectarianism
The origins of sectarianism can be traced back to the time of the
Christian Reformation and interpretations in Islam leading to:
• Protestant faith being formed after Martin Luther broke away from
the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century
• Division in Shia and Sunni over role of Ali as first Caliph
Sectarianism in Northern Ireland
• In Northern Ireland, sectarianism is not just confined to relationships
between Protestants and Catholics.
• It also refers to any form of discrimination or disadvantage suffered
by someone because of their religious or non-religious beliefs
How Does Sectarianism Manifest?
There are several ways in which sectarianism manifests within a society:
• Hardening boundaries between groups and individuals
• Overlooking others
• Belittling, dehumanising, or demonising others
• Justifying or collaborating in the domination of others
• Physically or verbally intimidating or attacking others
Non-sectarian Definition
• A position often adopted by organisations and individuals throughout
Northern Ireland
 i.e. avoiding talking about anything to do with politics or religion
in mixed company, usually in the workplace, sports club or in
schools/colleges
Anti-sectarianism Definition
• Addresses attitudes and practices that are beyond those covered by
anti-discrimination and equal opportunities legislation
• Designed to decrease sectarianism at individual, group and
institutional levels
• Seeks to challenge those personal and group attitudes, culturally and
socially formed, which result in sectarianism
Task: How are attitudes formed?
In groups, discuss how you think sectarian attitudes are formed. Think
about the sources that have influenced you in a good or bad way
How are attitudes formed?
According to research by the Community Relations Resource Centre
entitled, ‘Too Young to Notice? – The Cultural and Political Awareness of
3 – 6 year olds in NI’, three particular factors appeared to be influential
in increasing children’s awareness and attitudes. Can you guess what
they are?
• Family,
• Local community
• School
Click here for the report.
How are attitudes formed?
1. Preference for particular cultural events and symbols
•
By the age of three Roman Catholic and Protestant children were
found to show small but significant differences in attitudes for
particular people’s names, flags, towards Orange Order marches
and the police.
•
Ages 5-6 showed differences in terms of preferences for
particular combinations of colours and football shirts
Source: Connolly, P. (2002) Et al. Too Young to Notice? – The Cultural and Political Awareness of 3 – 6 year olds in NI. Community Relations Council: Belfast.
How are attitudes formed?
2. Awareness of particular cultural events and symbols
• 51% of all 3 year olds were able to demonstrate some awareness
of the cultural/political significance of at least one event or
symbol.
• 90% of 6 year olds demonstrated the greatest awareness of the
cultural/political significance of parades, flags and Irish dancing
Source: Connolly, P. (2002) Et al. Too Young to Notice? – The Cultural and Political Awareness of 3 – 6 year olds in NI. Community Relations Council: Belfast.
How are attitudes formed?
3. Tendency to identify with a particular community
• 3 and 4 year olds demonstrated some identification with either
community (5% and 7% respectively)
• 13% of 5 year olds
• 34% of 6 year olds
Source: Connolly, P. (2002) Et al. Too Young to Notice? – The Cultural and Political Awareness of 3 – 6 year olds in NI. Community Relations Council: Belfast.
How are attitudes formed?
4. Tendency to make sectarian statements
 Sectarian and/or prejudiced comments developed with age
among young children:
 Rare among 3 and 4 year olds (1% and 3%)
 7% of 5 year olds
 15% of 6 year olds
Group activity
• In groups discuss how the family, local community and school could
be influential in increasing children’s awareness and attitudes.
• Use your own experiences to highlight and illustrate what you mean.
• Also, identify examples of when and where sectarianism has occurred
in sport
Sectarianism in the Community
Watch the video and then discuss the what you have seen:
Click here.
Football in Northern Ireland
• Despite football’s English origins, it is a popular game amongst both
Roman Catholics and Protestants Working Class people on the Island
of Ireland
• However, Roman Catholic support for Irish League teams has declined
in recent years for a number of reasons.
• One of the main reasons for the decline in support has been, in part,
a result of the withdrawal from the Irish League of teams with a large
Roman Catholic following such as Belfast Celtic in 1949 and Derry City
in 1971
Irish League
There has been a lot of conflict in Northern Irish football.
• Northern Ireland football grounds have been described as “useful
sites of public displays of political affiliation”
• Internal divisions between groups involved in political violence in the
mid 1990s was reflected in the supporters of various clubs
Tackling the Issues
• The Irish Football Association (IFA) has attempted to address the
problem of sectarianism
• The IFA appointed a Community Relations Officer whose role was to
implement a football community relations strategy
• For a statement from the IFA regarding its campaign to “Stamp Out
Sectarianism in the Irish League”, click here
Case Study: Belfast Celtic
• Established in 1891, Belfast Celtic withdrew from the Irish League and
was dissolved in 1949 after years of sectarian crowd problems
• Their withdrawal culminated in a Boxing Day match against Linfield at
Windsor Park which ended in a pitch invasion and riot
• During the violence, Belfast Celtic's Protestant centre forward, Jimmy
Jones, suffered a broken leg
• For more information in Belfast Celtic, click here
Case Study: International Level
• Neil Lennon, a Roman Catholic from Lurgan, County Armagh had to
abandon his international career with Northern Ireland when he
joined Glasgow Celtic
• He received death threats and was advised by police to take them
seriously. Lennon's family were forced to move to a safe house.
• Much of the sectarianism was fuelled by internet hate sites, including
several on Facebook encouraging people to hang or shoot him.
• To hear Neil’s views on sectarianism in football, click here
Research into Sectarianism
• A survey commissioned by the Northern Assembly in 2001, entitled
“Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland”, highlighted that the
types of sports people participate in and the teams they support
usually reflect their community background and perceived political
and cultural allegiances. For example:
• Roman Catholics are more likely to participate in sports which
celebrate the Irish tradition (Gaelic Football, Hurling)
• Protestants are more likely to engage in sports which celebrate the
British tradition (Hockey, Cricket, Rugby etc)
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Research into Sectarianism
When asked to identify the ways in which sport has been effected by the
troubles, respondents to the “Sectarianism And Sport In Northern
Ireland” research responded as follows:
 46% of respondents stated spectator violence
 36% stated that the troubles had effected travel to venues
 25% of respondents believed soccer built bridges across the divide
 Sport perceived as reinforcing divisions included Gaelic Football
(27% of respondents), Hurling (15%) and Soccer (14%)
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Research into Sectarianism
The role of the schools sports curriculum in perpetuating community
conflict have been examined:
 It has been argued that the games curriculum in schools in
Northern Ireland is highly dependent upon whether the school is
Roman Catholic or Protestant.
 For example, Gaelic Games predominate in Roman Catholic schools
whilst Rugby, Cricket and Hockey are predominantly played in
Protestant schools.
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Research into Sectarianism
Sports in Schools:
• This results in very little cross community contact between schools in
regards to sport.
• When schools do participate in a common games such as Football,
Protestant and Roman Catholic children rarely play in the same team,
it is more common for them to play against each other which can lead
to conflict both on and off the pitch.
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Sports in Schools
• One researcher has argued that whilst there have been a number of
cross-community sports programmes in schools, many of these are
simply ‘one-off’ events and that there still exists considerable
resistance to any long term alteration of the school games curriculum
in order to meet the objectives of community relations
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Sports in Schools
It has also been suggested that sport in Northern Ireland falls into three
general categories:
Sports which arrived in Ireland as a result of British influence e.g.
Cricket, Hockey and Rugby. Predominantly played by Protestants
Sports which originated from the Irish Gaelic tradition, e.g. Hurling,
Gaelic Football, Handball. Predominantly played by Roman Catholics
Sports which originated in Britain but are played universally and are
no longer described as British sports e.g. Soccer, Athletics and Boxing
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
The formation of the GAA was viewed as an important opportunity to
nurture the sense of an Irish national identity
• Additionally was an important vehicle to halt the popularity of British
sports in Ireland
• The GAA is still perceived by the Unionist community as a sectarian
organisation despite lifting its ban on security force personnel from
membership and because of its past association with political issues
such as the hunger strikes
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
• The Protestant community in Northern Ireland feel alienated from the
GAA because of its nationalist aspirations and because of factors such
as the flying of the Irish Tricolour at matches
• Also, the naming of GAA grounds and clubs after Nationalist heroes
(e.g. Casement Park)
• Furthermore, it is in part due to the discovery of arms caches on GAA
property
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
• The GAA has itself also suffered as a result of sectarianism.
• Many members have been killed and injured by loyalist paramilitaries
• In the past number of years the GAA has moved to become an AntSectarian and Anti-Racist Organisation
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
• In 2001, the GAA scrapped Rule 21 which prevented members of the
British security forces from joining clubs.
• In April 2005 it temporarily suspended Rule 42, which up until 1971
forbade GAA members from playing Association Football and Rugby
and which prevented these games from being played at Croke Park
• Some of its members were bitterly opposed to this, with all the GAA
boards of the six counties in NI against the move and of Ulster’s nine
counties, only two (Cavan and Donegal) were in favour
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Rugby
• Rugby continues to function in an all-Ireland context despite being a
Protestant/Unionist dominated sport.
• It has been suggested that this is due to Rugby being mainly a sport
played in middle-class schools and that, in general, the middle-classes
feel less threatened by maintaining some cross-border contacts
• However, rugby does still continue to suffer a degree of sectarianism.
• Although they claim to be non-sectarian, the majority of rugby clubs
have their foundations in an education system divided along religious
lines
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Rugby
• Even though Ireland fields a rugby team consisting of players from
both North and South, tension still remains in relation to the flag
flown, anthem played and location of international matches
• There is also the additional question over allegations of bias in
regards to the selection of players and coaches in the Irish team
• The Irish National Anthem was played before matches but some
players felt excluded
• Currently the IRFU uses Phil Coulter’s ‘Ireland’s Call’ at international
matches
Source: Northern Ireland Assembly (2001) “ Sectarianism And Sport In Northern Ireland ”. Click here for full research paper.
Old Firm Derby
Scotland's two largest and most successful football clubs have a cultural
identity closely bound to politics on the island of Ireland
•Glasgow Celtic, the younger of the two, has a mainly Roman Catholic
following.
•Glasgow Rangers is older, and has attracted a large Scottish and later
Ulster Protestant following.
•To date, the two teams have played each other 399 times: Rangers have
won 159 matches, Celtic have won 144 matches and 96 matches have
ended in a draw
Old Firm
Watch then discuss the following video for a background to the Celtic
‘v’ Rangers Old Firm dearby.
Click here.
Challenging Personal Attitudes
Requires a willingness on your part to:
• Admit your prejudices and stereotyped views
• Identify where they came from and how they developed
• Become aware of these attitudes
• Have the courage to challenge these within yourself and others
• Work towards accommodating difference/diversity
Challenging Sectarianism
• In 1998 the Northern Ireland Sports Council launched a “Sport
without Prejudice” Campaign
• Raised awareness of the need to address sectarianism within sport.
• The campaign asked those who participate or support sport to refrain
from using foul or abusive language, using sectarian language, waving
flags or emblems which could be offensive and singing sectarian
rhymes or songs.
Challenging Sectarianism
There have been a number of campaigns to combat Sectarianism in
sport. They include:
Football for All
Kick it Out
UEFA 10 Point Plan
Appointing Community Relations Officers to ensure good practice
Challenging Sectarianism
Source: Click here.
Challenging Sectarianism
As part of its education programme the Football For All Project, which is
managed by the Irish FA Community Relations Department, aims to:
• Developing Good Relations training for all Irish FA staff and board
members.
• Football For All domestic seminars to encourage good practice using
football to tackle sectarianism and racism.
• Ongoing Good Relations awareness training for coaches and
volunteers.
• Delivery of Football For All anti-sectarian and anti-racism workshops.
Thought for the Day
• A controversial advertisement from the 1993:
Click here.