Just wanted to say that the other football Threads can all get a bit too tribal and snarky for my liking, but this one is a great credit to people who love their teams and the game, but also realise that there is a wider world and context to events both on and off the field.
Here's hoping that Benik Afobe has good people around him as he looks likely to be out for the Season with his ACL injury, plus having to deal with the emotional aftermath of his daughter's death.
Thank you to everyone for your support over Hillsborough. On a Thread about Prince Andrew and Epstein, someone wrote that evidence and proof are two separate things: Duckenfield's acquittal, sadly, shows that to be all too true when it comes to the Establishment covering its own arse. We can only hope and pray that what we've been through will never happen to another club.
And finally, here's hoping we have reached a tipping point in this country regarding racist abuse of players. I have little faith in either Italy, Spain or some other countries in Eastern Europe as they are just so backward in their thinking, and their FA's just close ranks. Both FIFA and UEFA make all the right noises but then give out half-hearted punishments, so mixed messages doesn't even come close to describing what they're doing.
The money in the PL is still too terrifying to contemplate, and I wish there was more distribution of funds throughout the footballing pyramid. I also wish there was more fan representation on Boards and more options for fan ownership, that female professional footballers were paid more so they could go full time, that there were more BAME coaches, more disabled access at grounds etc etc.
I still love the game, though!