Can Asians be true English Premier League fans from afar? Ex-Liverpool, Man City keeper addresses elitism and racism as he sees passion at Hong Kong Sevens
- David James ‘buzzing’ after first taste of Sevens at Hong Kong Stadium, recalls support when he played football at same venue and realised: ‘OK, I get it’
- Support of fans in Asia should not be questioned, James says, adding: ‘Now it is a global game, it is consumed remotely by most people’
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has slammed hostile and racist abuse of Asian supporters of English Premier League clubs, saying they are capable of showing “the same kind of passion” as those based locally.
A number of fans from the region last month told BBC Asian Network they were repeatedly targeted because of their heritage, with one saying she was up against an online “firing squad of racist abuse” in the shape of social media trolls.
Other supporters overseas are subjected to spiteful comments about a supposedly flimsy connection with their clubs. Ange Postecoglou, the Australian manager of Tottenham Hotspur, publicly fought those fans’ corners, calling derogatory comments about foreign fans “harsh and disrespectful”.
“If you are stupid enough to be racist, then that is your problem,” James told the Post “From a purely football perspective, if you are having a go at fans in Asia, and questioning their support for a team in England, that criticism is completely misplaced.
“Thirty years ago, most fans went to the stadiums, but now it is a global game, it is consumed remotely by most people, and Asia has a tremendous number of fans who support teams with the same kind of passion as supporters in England.