The Rational RefRacism is just one form of vile abuse
Supporters' chants that use personal information against match officials are just as bad and also need to be stamped out
What is the worst kind of verbal abuse a person can throw at someone? Clue, it's not racial abuse.
This is not to diminish the seriousness of racial abuse, which continues to be a blight on the beautiful game, with the latest powderkeg at the Under 21 European Championships qualifying round between Serbia against England.
In last weekend's Sunderland-Newcastle derby, police were highly sensitive to racial abuse. This was due to the fallout with Serbia coinciding with the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign receiving blanket coverage.
A Northumbria police spokesman said: "There was one report of racist language having been used by a supporter in one area of the stadium. Inquiries are ongoing."
But a host of Sunderland fans sang how they wished Newcastle United's Steven Taylor was dead. Why should one individual racist chant be taken more seriously than the shared action of a chorus of abusive supporters screaming someone should die? Both are shameful.
As abhorrent as racial abuse is, it is no worse than other kinds of abuse such as those based on sex, physical appearance, social standing or any number of superficial discriminating features.