Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Gary Mabbutt said recently that he never swore once during his 19-year career that ended in 1998.

It’s ironic, for nowhere is swearing more prevalent than in soccer. Over the years foul language has cemented itself as part of football culture.

The unforgettable Brian Clough, in keeping with his eccentric ways, once decided to erect signs around Nottingham Forest’s City Ground reading, “Gentlemen. No swearing please! Brian.”

Old Big ‘Ead threatened to resign (in jest, of course) if the fans didn’t adhere to his requests, but they merely responded with a cheeky sign of their own… “Brian. No leaving please! The Gentlemen.”

That was 20 years ago when hooliganism was a big problem in the game.

However, nowadays language at football grounds is often still foul and abusive — both on and off the pitch. Bearing in mind stadiums have become a lot more family friendly, what kind of an example must this be setting and shouldn’t the FA be doing more to stop it?

My Reuters colleague Mike Collett told me last year about his experience at a Millwall game, where three generations of the same family were repeatedly using offensive language.

As ticket prices have soared, fans are increasingly arguing for their right to voice their opinion. But should they watch the language they use?

PHOTO: Manchester united and england striker Wayne Rooney has often been caught on camera swearing during matches. Of course, he is not alone. October 25, 2008. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Not since Biffa Bacon hit the pages of Viz have so many swear words come out of Newcastle as interim manager Jo Kinnear made an immediate impact in his first week in charge.*

The 61-year-old Kinnear has been out of the game for four years and it was almost as if he had spent the entire time building up to bursting point with his dislike of the Press.

If the transcripts which have appeared on English newspaper websites are accurate, Kinnear used “36 f-words and four c-words” in a news conference rant. Here’s a flavour:

Addressing a journalist who suggested that he should not have given the club’s under-performing players the day off on his first day in charge, Kinnear began thus: “Absolutely ——- out of order… You can —- off and go to another ground . It is none of your ——- business. What the — are you going to do? You ain’t got the balls to be a ——- manager. ——- day off. Do I want your opinion? Do I have to listen to you?

“What are you? My personal secretary? —- off.” (more…)