Interesting thread this.

I used to have a real problem with the idea of taboo words. Words that can't be spoken by anyone because of the history they carry. Words like and . Words that you can't even use to quote someone else, can't even be utter in some sort of context. I always thought that any word can be normalised. Be made acceptable if used often enough by people who were not using the word to demean.

But it doesn't work. You could normalise 'faggot' all you want, but it still wouldn't make it any less offensive if some screamed it at a gay couple in the street. All the normalisation does is offer some form of defence to the morons would would scream abuse at people in the street for being different to them. It desensitises others: "he only called him a faggot, what's the big deal".
Hardacre was a silly boy. He said something he knows he should have. Used language that isn't acceptable. Language liable to cause offence and alienation to others. The RFL can't act like this sort of language is acceptable. A ban was inevitable and the correct decision. Whether you are homophobic or not, you can't go around hurling homophobic language at people willy nilly.

I'm a white heterosexual male.

It's clear some people from Leeds didn't understand it on Thursday evening.

In the second half when some Leeds fans migrated to the Western Terrace the languedge they used after Huddersfield got in front was far worse than Zak Hardaker and the group that were threatening to smash the Huddersfield spectators because we had the temerity to go in front were lunatics !!!

The stewards in the first half pulled two of us stood at the end of a barrier for putting a foot on the yellow line yet they allowed the foulest of languedge and the same people to stand in what we were told was 'a no go area' and listened to the vilest of insults without action.

I have come to Leeds for nearly fifty years most of the time when we had a poor team and got hammered with no problems but because we were beating a 'reserve' team through no fault of our own the abuse started.

Perhaps the problems are wider than just Zak but to hear the same insults used towards us all who are around 60 years of age and the attitudes of the Stewards who ignored them maybe casts light about why Zak thought it was alright at the time as did 'some' Leeds fans and their Stewards !!

Such languedge is just unacceptable!!

Have you reported it to the club?

You weren't with that silly old man who wears the bejewelled middle eastern type hat were you. He made a right prat of himself stood there waving two lots of fingers in the air at the Southstand and mouthing F off when Udders scored. A man of his age should really know better. I'm not surprised parents won't let their kids go to huddersfield games and their crowds are so low.