Disappointed with fans

The Missouri State High School Activities Association sets forth citizenship guidelines for athletic participation in high school sports. All athletes are required to sign contracts stating they will uphold these guidelines.

After experiencing the recent girls soccer match between Perryville and Central, MSHSAA needs to require all fans to sign contracts stating they will abide by the same citizenship guidelines.

The Perryville players were exemplary in their behavior. However, a few Perryville fans demonstrated horrific behavior. Toward the end of the game, a few fans were berating the refs, a man yelled a racial slur at a Central soccer player and yet another oaf taunted an injured Central player when she came off the field by yelling that she did not deserve to be on the field playing soccer.

When I left the game, the following questions entered my mind: Why were the fans even allowed behind the soccer benches? (FIFA rules stipulate that players are on one side and fans on the other.) Where was the Perryville administrator in attendance when all this was going on? Do parents really think belittling a referee will change his calls? What are the adults trying to accomplish making racial slurs and taunting an injured player? Would you be proud to be called a racist or a bully by your own child?

Fans, please realize what your actions imply. When you berated the refs, you are teaching children they can question authority in a threatening manner and that they are above authority figures. When you yelled the racial slur, you taught your child intolerance and hatred. When you taunted the injured player, you taught your child to be void of compassion and caring.

A few individuals can ruin the reputation of a community. I hope in the future the few Perryville fans who misbehaved will act more like their players. Otherwise, the people of Perryville will be viewed as racists and bullies.

DANA L. DEISHER

Cape Girardeau

(Perryville athletic director Jeff Steffens said Friday he has issued an apology to the Central school district and athletic director Darrick Smith about the incident. He also said a Perryville administrator was at the game but did not witness the incident and was not made aware of it during the event. Steffens said the school still is looking into the matter and will have a meeting with its parents this week to discuss it. He said the school has taken steps by moving the team benches to the opposite side of the field. )