Football chants add additional flavours, but when it comes to video game publishing companies, they usually have a sensitive approach. Still, fans have discovered a derogatory anti-Liverpool chant on FIFA 11.
A user on X wrote, “I’m playing FIFA 11, and they fully have “Sign on” chant in the game?”
The sign on chant is considered derogatory due to its economic history. It first appeared in the UK in the 1980s, during a sharp financial crisis, especially in Liverpool.
The city was severely hit by a loss in industry and a spike in unemployment, forcing thousands of people to “sign on” for unemployment benefits.
Liverpool’s contemporary history was being defined during this time, as the city’s factories and ports, which had long been the backbone of the city’s economy, collapsed due to governmental policies and changes in the world economy.
The chant borrows from Liverpool FC’s famous anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” but twists the words to mock what rival fans perceive as the city’s economic struggles.
Against this backdrop, rival fans, particularly from clubs in more economically stable regions, began mocking Liverpool for its economic struggles.
It quickly became a go-to insult used by fans of clubs like Manchester United and others, especially during the peak of the North West’s football rivalries. More than football chanting, the chant has been described as tragedy chanting, which moves beyond mere football banter.
The derogatory chant has been subject to scrutiny from footballing bodies such as the Premier League and the FA.
These bodies, along with constant urging from fans, have taken a stronger stance against abusive and offensive chants, and ‘Sign On’ has been highlighted as one that falls into this category.
Some clubs have even issued official statements condemning the use of the chant by their fans. It highlights how football, like society, evolves over time.
In an era where the sport is no longer isolated from broader social issues, a greater level of sensitivity is expected from its fans and stakeholders.
Football is not just 22 players kicking a ball; it’s also the history and expression of emotions; as Bielsa once said, ‘Football is a cultural expression; it is a form of identification’, and there needs to be more sensitivity in our expressions.
