QPR boss Neil Warnock wants a crackdown on fans that dish out verbal abuse.
Warnock’s club has been in the spotlight since allegations that Chelsea captain John Terry racially abused Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand during the recent west London derby. Terry strongly denies doing so.
And in midweek, Chelsea fans were heard chanting “Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are” during the Champions League tie away to Genk.
But Warnock says it’s not only racism that’s a serious issue, describing the tirades aimed at managers as “frightening”.
He wants prison sentences brought in as punishment, but the 62-year-old is pessimistic anything can actually be done to stop it.
“You can talk about [stopping it] but it’s very difficult,” he said. “I think they should be sent to prison for two years each, but that’s me flying a kite isn’t it?
“But it’s not just the racial abuse. The abuse managers get is just as bad. Stewards turn away – some even smile at the abuse managers get.
“Some of these young men, even men who probably wear suits all week; the hatred in their eyes at football is frightening. It’s alright saying you get rid of the excess when you’re watching football but it goes over the top now.”
Warnock added: “You just have to smile and laugh about it. You can’t react because that’s what they want. But nothing surprises me these days. It’s the nature of society. It’s all about confrontations.”
Rangers host top-of-the-table Manchester City at Loftus Road on Saturday –their third top-five opponents in the space of two weeks.
Victory over nine-man Chelsea was followed by a harsh lesson away to Tottenham last Sunday, but Warnock says his approach against another elite side will not change.
“We are going to go out and be positive like we are every home game,” he said.
“There’s no point letting City have the ball and defend. We want to win every game.
“My players aren’t daft. They know it’s a challenge and we’re going to have to be above par. But my team believe they can beat anyone on their day.”
This post was last modified on 08/11/2011