Park, Park, wherever you may be

One of the many things that makes a football match such a special experience is the wonderful and wacky assortment of chants and songs that are belted out from the terraces (well, perhaps not at Arsenal's Library). Whilst the media loves to portray football spectators as being somewhat less than erudite, they in fact display a lot more creativity and intelligence than the average Australian cricket supporter, for example.

The best we hear from the Aussies is usually something along the lines of "Andre Nel's a w**ker" or "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!"

Consider by way of contrast one of the latest, greatest songs from Old Trafford - and without a doubt my current favourite. Sung in honour of the Korean winger, Park Ji-Sung, to the tune of "Lord of the Dance":

Park, Park, wherever you may be,
You eat dogs in your home country!
It could be worse, you could be a Scouse,
Eating rats in your council house!

Now I know people will go on about how offensive, racist and scousist this is, and how it promotes stereotypes and all of that. Typical of our ultra-sensitive society these days. Whichever way you look at it, the wag who thought this one up is a creative genius in my book. I wonder if Park Ji-Sung actually understands what's being said when his name is sung (no pun intended, honest)!

That said though, I've got to confess that I do harbour some reservations about songs like this. They're creative, amusing and I personally have no problem with them - but in a sport which is fighting hard against racism in the stands all over Europe, you can't help but question whether these songs really help.

Creative genius? Racist thugs? Some combination thereof? You be the judge...