So if a player runs the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the opposition fans and the fans react like a bunch of savages it's the player that has the problem?!
I've been a season ticket holder most of my life and have abused the players as much as the next person (and in response expect to have to deal with the same in return) but I've never seen anything that made me want to physically hurt anyone.
I just worry that we're taking all responsibility away from the fans to be decent human beings and think it's a dangerous road to go down.
I like this post and I agree with your sentiment but the reality is different.
We know for a fact that inciting the crowd provokes violent reaction. We've seen it time and time again (examples: Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Mourinho, Rooney all attacked by some sort of missile for inciting the crowd - as mentioned before there was trouble outside the City ground after this game) so whilst I'd love to put my faith in the crowd, it's not going to happen.
The accountable person here is the player who can always be identified and punished unlike members of the crowd at times. They know incitement provokes violence from history and they know they aren't allowed to do it, so doing it is a hugely bannable offence IMO.
Footy fans have been hurling abuse for decades, it hasn't come along recently contrary to stories of "how it used to be in my day". Players have always had to deal with it. Never once has it been an issue of being allowed to give it back. You shouldn't and can't as far as I'm concerned. It's more dangerous than any high tackle (see West Ham Millwall recently - imagine inciting that crowd like Adebayor did!) and should be as punishable at least.
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