More controversy in East London. Back of the Net'sJohn Foster reports...
Outrage has greeted reports that a couple in East London have had their three adoptive children taken from them by the local council on the grounds that their support for West Ham United meant that they were âÂÂnot fit to be foster parents.âÂÂ
Newham Council say they were forced to act after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public who allegedly overheard the couple singing âÂÂIâÂÂm Forever Blowing Bubblesâ in front of the children.
In a statement, a council spokesman said that the children, who are thought to be from a Levski Sofia-supporting background, were removed from the parentsâ care due to concerns about the âÂÂoutdated mindsetâ associated with West Ham.
âÂÂEnglish society and English football have made great strides since the 1980s,â the spokesman said, âÂÂbut if we gave our approval to people associated with West Ham knowing full well what goes on at Upton Park, then we would be failing in our duty of care to these vulnerable children.âÂÂ
But the decision has been met with an outcry, with various figures condemning the councilâÂÂs position.
Some other West Ham fans, ages ago
âÂÂThey made us feel like criminals,â said the foster carer, who does not want to be named. âÂÂBeing a West Ham supporter doesnâÂÂt make you a bigot. We were planning to raise the kids in their own traditions too. WeâÂÂd bought them Carlton Cole shirts, but they also had posters of Georgi Asparuhov and the rest of the great 1964/65 Levski side. We were even teaching them all the Levski club songs. Not the racist ones,â she quickly added.
But figures inside Newham Council have told FourFourTwo that the decision has nothing to do with the antisemitic chanting by a minority of West Ham fans against Tottenham last weekend.
âÂÂNobody thinks that being a West Ham fan means youâÂÂre a racist,â said a senior council member. âÂÂBut the type of football you see at Upton Park â IâÂÂm talking high balls to Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan kicking anything that moves, James âÂÂElbowsâ Collins â surely any right-thinking person can see that raising a child in this sort of environment is damaging to their development as football fans, and as human beings.âÂÂ
It was suggested yesterday that Newham follow the example of Staffordshire County Council, which has arranged for a great number of large, aggressive children to be fostered from a young age by Stoke City, at a purpose-built, heavily-guarded area known as The Compound.
Editor's note: this is satire and not a serious accusation - all quotes are fictionalised. But you knew that, because you're not stupid.
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