Spurs must pay price of fans abusing Sol Campbell

Sol Campbell was subjected to sickening abuse from Tottenham fans at Fratton Park last Sunday.

It is totally unacceptable and yet sadly the only way is to punish Spurs by hitting them with a big fine.

That may seem unfair but it is the only way that clubs will sit up, take notice and, most importantly, do something about it.

Untilthat happens, clubs just let theirfans get on with it. Yes, it is a small minority and that is perhaps why it would be unfair to ban Spurs fans from an away game.

But Spurs not doing anything is lamentable. They should be using plain-clothed stewards, making arrests, banning fans and not standing for sick, homophobic chants.

And fining them would soon see them take a different attitude even if it is the fans rather than the club who should ultimately be punished.

Stupid chants and innuendos were something I had to live with during my career ever since I decided to put highlights in my hair a couple of days before a Merseyside derby. I cringe when Ithinkaboutthe80shaircut now!

You have to be strong and when the Everton fans would sing then I would wave.

Amazingly, people still say things to me now at football grounds or in the street or whatever and yet when you confront them then they soon back down like every typical bully.

But it's time football did something. Harry Redknapp made a great point about Sol in that a lot of those Spurs fans had their kids with them, so what chance have we got with them thinking it's OK to sing that as their dads are doing it.