Player abuse – will it ever change?

[97hills]

Very simple question – if you abuse our own players from the stands, could you ever be convinced to stop it?

From my point of view, abusing our own players seems completely counterproductive because we want to exploit our home advantage to the highest degree possible. Part of that must be that while the players are on the pitch, they have my unwavering support in the hope they play better, and in part, the opposing players play worse.

If every Hibs fan in the stadium gave unwavering support for the duration of the game, do you think we would play better?

[Since452]

I really can't get my head around slating our own players. Hurling abuse at them during the game isn't helpful to anyone. You can debate them, not rate them etc once the game is over but as long as they're wearing the green and white they should be getting support from the stands. I can recall a player being booed on as a sub, think it was Josh Campbell. Really poor.

[Donegal Hibby]

Players in our squad like your Campbell's and Rocky's will always be made scapegoats while others are shown more leeway .

They'll get abuse hurled at them during games because fans take a dislike to them when they are probably the ones that need a wee bit of support more from the fans .

That's just the way things are and I don't see them changing unfortunately ! .

[truehibernian]

The verbal abuse has been vile this last two seasons, and as for “supporters” posting crass messages on players social media accounts, that’s more a sign of how dull and uninteresting their lives are that they feel the need to abuse players online. I do think though, as incredibly difficult as it is not to reply, players shouldn’t get involved in online spats or dialogue with idiot fans. Do the talking on the pitch and prove them wrong, use it as motivation.

The players all read this forum too. I remember chatting to an ex player about it and he loved reading post game comments on here (good and bad). He used it as a motivation to play better next game - he also said that many of the posters comments were bang on the money too (not mine 😂).

[97hills]

Players in our squad like your Campbell's and Rocky's will always be made scapegoats while others are shown more leeway .

They'll get abuse hurled at them during games because fans take a dislike to them when they are probably the ones that need a wee bit of support more from the fans .

That's just the way things are and I don't see them changing unfortunately ! .

Yes I probably agree with you but I really hope it can change

The trouble is though, if the club makes a statement or a player talks about it an interview, that would probably make it worse. Even calling it out at a game probably won't work as it tends to create an argument

So, having a good discussion about it in places like this is probably really the only way to help it. Everyone on this board wants the team to play better....:flag::agree:

[97hills]

The verbal abuse has been vile this last two seasons, and as for “supporters” posting crass messages on players social media accounts, that’s more a sign of how dull and uninteresting their lives are that they feel the need to abuse players online. I do think though, as incredibly difficult as it is not to reply, players shouldn’t get involved in online spats or dialogue with idiot fans. Do the talking on the pitch and prove them wrong, use it as motivation.

The players all read this forum too. I remember chatting to an ex player about it and he loved reading post game comments on here (good and bad). He used it as a motivation to play better next game - he also said that many of the posters comments were bang on the money too (not mine 😂).

Yeh it's a fine line. I think abusing a player directly on twitter is almost as bad as at the game. But there does need to be a place where player performances can be discussed openly and I think criticism of players on this message board is sometimes shot down too often. But that probably links back to the original point, if every fan was 100% supportive during the game, then perhaps discussing poor performances on here could be taken a bit more seriously

[Heisenberg]

I can’t believe someone went out their way to message Youan in the first place nevermind posting it to the world as if it was something to be proud of that he’d had a response like that. I’d like to think it’s mostly daft wee laddies but in a lot of cases it probably isn’t.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Twitter ( X ) is a cesspool, F knows why any celeb, never mind fitba players, go on it.

As for abusing players inside the stadium. I've never done it, aside from possibly a half hearted boo at full time the other night after our utter capitulation to Aberdeen.

Watched Raheem Sterling come on for Chelsea the other week on MOTD and he literally got booed on. It got worse when he passed up a good chance. For all our fans can be 'difficult' I can rarely remember one player being picked on like that while he was still at the club to the extent we booed him when he got on the ball.

Having a go at the players on here is fair game though .... if you want the fans onside play better, or at least look like you are trying to.

[Smartie]

Twitter ( X ) is a cesspool, F knows why any celeb, never mind fitba players, go on it.

As for abusing players inside the stadium. I've never done it, aside from possibly a half hearted boo at full time the other night after our utter capitulation to Aberdeen.

Watched Raheem Sterling come on for Chelsea the other week on MOTD and he literally got booed on. It got worse when he passed up a good chance. For all our fans can be 'difficult' I can rarely remember one player being picked on like that while he was still at the club to the extent we booed him when he got on the ball.

Having a go at the players on here is fair game though .... if you want the fans onside play better, or at least look like you are trying to.

I'm happy enough to boo at ht and full time. I'll let out an exasperated grumble when a player makes a mess of something for the umpteenth time.

On here I'll try to be as constructive as possible but I think it's reasonable to be critical - you can't really debate improvement without pointing out fault or being critical in some way.

There's definitely a line that shouldn't be crossed though - in the ground, outright abuse is ridiculous and the only time I tend to get genuinely angry is at angry and unreasonable people.

Football's a tough business - players are performing under great scrutiny and will be judged constantly. That's not an environment everyone will survive in and it will take a particular type to rise to the top.

There has to be a bit of "if you can't stand the heat, get out the kitchen" though because none of this will ever change and that goes for negotiating the cesspool that is twitter as well as strutting your stuff at Easter Road. If we think Hibs are bad - we certainly have our moments but the idea that it's sweetness and light all the time everywhere else is nonsense.

[97hills]

I'm happy enough to boo at ht and full time. I'll let out an exasperated grumble when a player makes a mess of something for the umpteenth time.

On here I'll try to be as constructive as possible but I think it's reasonable to be critical - you can't really debate improvement without pointing out fault or being critical in some way.

There's definitely a line that shouldn't be crossed though - in the ground, outright abuse is ridiculous and the only time I tend to get genuinely angry is at angry and unreasonable people.

Football's a tough business - players are performing under great scrutiny and will be judged constantly. That's not an environment everyone will survive in and it will take a particular type to rise to the top.

There has to be a bit of "if you can't stand the heat, get out the kitchen" though because none of this will ever change and that goes for negotiating the cesspool that is twitter as well as strutting your stuff at Easter Road. If we think Hibs are bad - we certainly have our moments but the idea that it's sweetness and light all the time everywhere else is nonsense.

I'm sure almost everyone on this board has a friend that shouts abuse at players during the game. Perhaps it's time to call that out?

[JimBHibees]

Yeh it's a fine line. I think abusing a player directly on twitter is almost as bad as at the game. But there does need to be a place where player performances can be discussed openly and I think criticism of players on this message board is sometimes shot down too often. But that probably links back to the original point, if every fan was 100% supportive during the game, then perhaps discussing poor performances on here could be taken a bit more seriously

There are ways to constructively criticise however personal abuse is moronic and completely self defeating especially if you claim to support the club.

[Donegal Hibby]

Yes I probably agree with you but I really hope it can change

The trouble is though, if the club makes a statement or a player talks about it an interview, that would probably make it worse. Even calling it out at a game probably won't work as it tends to create an argument

So, having a good discussion about it in places like this is probably really the only way to help it. Everyone on this board wants the team to play better....:flag::agree:

That's two players now have asked in recent times why they are hated in Rocky and Youan at our club .

Also if you take in the treatment Jair got as well as the booing Mckirdy got coming on up at Aberdeen it does appear the problem is getting worse rather than better .

So it is a good thing to discuss it and bring it out in the open . I do wonder about what the folk doing this think it's achieving and if it's possible to get thru to them in someway that it's achieving absolutely nothing but only having a negative effect on the club.

Surely like the rest of us they only want to see Hibs do well and succeed too ? .

[97hills]

That's two players now have asked in recent times why they are hated in Rocky and Youan at our club .

Also if you take in the treatment Jair got as well as the booing Mckirdy got coming on up at Aberdeen it does appear the problem is getting worse rather than better .

So it is a good thing to discuss it and bring it out in the open . I do wonder about what the folk doing this think it's achieving and if it's possible to get thru to them in someway that it's achieving absolutely nothing but only having a negative effect on the club.

Surely like the rest of us they only want to see Hibs do well and succeed too ? .


For what it's worth, I don't think anyone is truly abusing our own players in the hope they play worse. I think it's just a habitual part of their game-day experience that they've never really thought about in much detail. Hopefully just mentioning it here will make just a few people think twice and therefore start to break the habit

[Groathillgrump]

I've been going to matches for 54 years and particular players have always been singled out for abuse.

The difference in the pre-internet period was that after the match ended their performance would be debated afterwards over a few pints in the pub or on the bus home and that was it until the next match.

Nowadays though we can all return home and continue to slate the players on social media and it can go on for days, weeks and months. All this is done behind the anonymity of a username.

I don't know what the answer is. We have definitely become a less tolerant society and the online hate is ridiculous. If I was a player in this era I definitely wouldn't be anywhere near social media.

[JimBHibees]

I've been going to matches for 54 years and particular players have always been singled out for abuse.

The difference in the pre-internet period was that after the match ended their performance would be debated afterwards over a few pints in the pub or on the bus home and that was it until the next match.

Nowadays though we can all return home and continue to slate the players on social media and it can go on for days, weeks and months. All this is done behind the anonymity of a username.

I don't know what the answer is. We have definitely become a less tolerant society and the online hate is ridiculous. If I was a player in this era I definitely wouldn't be anywhere near social media.

Certainly much more amplified and relentless in the age of social media with hateful chat completely unregulated

[Viva_Palmeiras]

It’s a cesspit stoked by someone’s platform and business that monetises this behaviour for personal gain.

no wonder some folks are shunning tech and buying “dumb phones”

[calamitus]

I got so sick of it during Heckingbottom's time that I didn't renew my season ticket. Kind of soured the experience every time we went. I say we, because Mrs C felt the same way and didn't renew either. Not spending £800 a year to listen to a few radges venting all their insecurities and frustrations in life every 2 weeks like it's some kind of screaming therapy session.

[97hills]

I got so sick of it during Heckingbottom's time that I didn't renew my season ticket. Kind of soured the experience every time we went. I say we, because Mrs C felt the same way and didn't renew either. Not spending £800 a year to listen to a few radges venting all their insecurities and frustrations in life every 2 weeks like it's some kind of screaming therapy session.

Every single season ticket holder I've known has considered moving seats because of this too!

[McD]

I can’t believe someone went out their way to message Youan in the first place nevermind posting it to the world as if it was something to be proud of that he’d had a response like that. I’d like to think it’s mostly daft wee laddies but in a lot of cases it probably isn’t.



If you mean the ‘shut your mouth’ situation, I don’t think they messaged him, they replied to someone who had replied to the Hibs line up post, who had asked where EY was (not mentioned in the squad). EY saw the post and replied, he wasn’t tagged or messaged directly.


Not that the comment made was necessary in any way, and certainly not constructive or supportive

[CockneyRebel]

Every single season ticket holder I've known has considered moving seats because of this too!

Quite a common complaint amongst ST holders unfortunately - especially the female ones.

[Heisenberg]

If you mean the ‘shut your mouth’ situation, I don’t think they messaged him, they replied to someone who had replied to the Hibs line up post, who had asked where EY was (not mentioned in the squad). EY saw the post and replied, he wasn’t tagged or messaged directly.


Not that the comment made was necessary in any way, and certainly not constructive or supportive

Nah this was a different one today, can’t find it now but someone messaged him directly giving him a bit of stick and Youan didn’t take kindly to it.

[pollution]

I got so sick of it during Heckingbottom's time that I didn't renew my season ticket. Kind of soured the experience every time we went. I say we, because Mrs C felt the same way and didn't renew either. Not spending £800 a year to listen to a few radges venting all their insecurities and frustrations in life every 2 weeks like it's some kind of screaming therapy session.


Talking about a screaming therapy session: we had that at a bank training week where a dozen of us sat in a large circle.

A can of Coca Cola was placed in the middle of said circle and we were told to scream, yell, swear and roar until we were told to stop.

Quite an eye opener I can tell you. Some of the young ladies burst into tears and one man collapsed in mental agony.

Really very cathartic to others.

It wasn't repeated the next year and the training staff left the company shortly after.


Just thought I'd share with you all.

[McD]

Nah this was a different one today, can’t find it now but someone messaged him directly giving him a bit of stick and Youan didn’t take kindly to it.



Ah, sorry mate. I totally agree with you then

[eastmainsmsh]

Social Media has a lot to answer for

[RIP]

It will if we change it

[NAE NOOKIE]

Every single season ticket holder I've known has considered moving seats because of this too!

I've had STs in the east, west, FF lower and FF upper and I have to say I've never had any issue, pretty well everybody we have sat next to has been sound. There was a lassie near us in the west who would let out a burst of swearing at the opposition sometimes which to be honest we found quite funny because she didn't look like she had that in her.

To be honest I have been told I tend to commentate on the game by more than one person around me, but they seemed to take it in good part.

Pass it !!!
Look up !!!
Boyle's free !!!
Somebody mark that bugger !!!
Shoot !!!
What the hell's he dain' shooting there? !!!
FFS Can ye no win a second baw? !!!

And on and on ..... I'm a nightmare :greengrin

[Dmas]

How many shouts from the stands are players actually picking up? If you have an incident like the time youan seemed to let the ball run out without sticking a leg out for example and you get a universal ‘Ffs youan’ then fair enough but you’ll never rid the game of that surely?

Social media one is a tough one shouldn’t be happening a direct line to a player and people sending abuse over a game of football is a nonsense, I do think throwing a deaf ear to it although not easy for the person being abused is the way to counter it, bringing a publicity to the fact it’s happening and getting a reply will only give the abusers more reason to continue if they weren’t getting the ‘badge’ to show there mates they’d soon get bored of it

[McD]

I've had STs in the east, west, FF lower and FF upper and I have to say I've never had any issue, pretty well everybody we have sat next to has been sound. There was a lassie near us in the west who would let out a burst of swearing at the opposition sometimes which to be honest we found quite funny because she didn't look like she had that in her.

To be honest I have been told I tend to commentate on the game by more than one person around me, but they seemed to take it in good part.

Pass it !!!
Look up !!!
Boyle's free !!!
Somebody mark that bugger !!!
Shoot !!!
What the hell's he dain' shooting there? !!!
FFS Can ye no win a second baw? !!!

And on and on ..... I'm a nightmare :greengrin


Hahaha me and my old man are exactly the same :greengrin

[scm70nyd1973]

I really can't get my head around slating our own players. Hurling abuse at them during the game isn't helpful to anyone. You can debate them, not rate them etc once the game is over but as long as they're wearing the green and white they should be getting support from the stands. I can recall a player being booed on as a sub, think it was Josh Campbell. Really poor.

In with you on this - don’t get me wrong I’ve discussed how dire one of our players has been or constantly is -with my mates during a game - but I’ve never (openly and loudly enough) abused any player - not even at “that “ cup final.

As far as I am concerned if I were to abuse a Hibs player I would be abusing myself as we are altogether - or should be - during a game.