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Further to last weeks post about Cardiff city F.C. and Sam Hamann I have once again been inspired to write a post following the showing of B.B.C.2’s documentary series ‘Hooligans’
Once again, for those who didn’t catch it last night I will give you a brief resume.
Yesterdays program was about football related violence abroad. It followed two infamous and renowned football hooligans, one from Lazio’s ‘Irreducible’ gang and the other from a group of Boca Juniors supporting thugs.
The program had graphic reports and pictures of extreme violence and disorder performed by these groups, orchestrated by these ringleaders.
Now for me, last nights program brought up more questions than it answered. Let me explain some of them.
First of all let me say that there is no argument that England has a terrible reputation when it comes to football hooliganism. But is this reputation altogether fair?
I would say yes. Any amount of extreme violence deserves to be exposed and scrutinised as English football has been since the 70’s. But why is it that the English have this kind of scorn put upon them, when it seems that the other football playing nations seem to be just as bad, if not worse?
The fights, riots and unrest shown last night were nothing that we haven’t witnessed before. But they were the level of violence that if it happened at any Premiership ground it would become the subject of serious national debate. Yet these incidents have happen within the last year or so and don’t seem to have created that kind of furore.
I think that this may be the key. If it happens over here then we hear about it first because of the nature of our press, and I guess that their priority is to report about things that happen here first. Fair enough.
We have all no doubt read recently about known English football hooligans being physically stopped from going to Japan. Now are these same strict guidelines being applied to the other nations? And if not, why not?
One theory is that we may be a victim of our own success in clamping down on hooliganism. Perhaps others feel that because we appear to be so serious in tackling this problem then it must be a serious problem. Which it is, but no more so than Italy, Argentina and even Holland. The question is what are they (the foreign governing bodies) doing about? We are doing are bit, are they?
Another theory might be that the level of hooliganism abroad goes too far up. In the case of the Lazio ‘Irreducible’ they are closer to a far right political group than they are to a group of football supporters. The power that they have over the club is amazing. They are regularly granted meetings with the team, and it is said that they have a serious effect on which players that the club buy’s.
In the case of the Boca supporters they even once demanded that Maradonna be made captain and that every teammate passed the ball to him more often.
Are the foreign Government’s scared of them? Are the F.A.s scared of them? The police certainly seem to be, as do the club. Are they turning a blind eye, hoping that it will just go away? and why are they not applying the same strict guidelines that we are?
It just seems to me, that as it is reported, English football ‘fans’ are the only ones that are ever to blame. Are we just not hearing about hooligans abroad? Or are we being made a national scapegoat?
I hope it is clear that I am not condoning English hooliganism in any way. All I am saying is why is it that we seem to be the scum of the world in terms of supporters when for once the English thugs aren’t fighting themselves?
It takes two to tango after all.
Once again, for those who didn’t catch it last night I will give you a brief resume.
Yesterdays program was about football related violence abroad. It followed two infamous and renowned football hooligans, one from Lazio’s ‘Irreducible’ gang and the other from a group of Boca Juniors supporting thugs.
The program had graphic reports and pictures of extreme violence and disorder performed by these groups, orchestrated by these ringleaders.
Now for me, last nights program brought up more questions than it answered. Let me explain some of them.
First of all let me say that there is no argument that England has a terrible reputation when it comes to football hooliganism. But is this reputation altogether fair?
I would say yes. Any amount of extreme violence deserves to be exposed and scrutinised as English football has been since the 70’s. But why is it that the English have this kind of scorn put upon them, when it seems that the other football playing nations seem to be just as bad, if not worse?
The fights, riots and unrest shown last night were nothing that we haven’t witnessed before. But they were the level of violence that if it happened at any Premiership ground it would become the subject of serious national debate. Yet these incidents have happen within the last year or so and don’t seem to have created that kind of furore.
I think that this may be the key. If it happens over here then we hear about it first because of the nature of our press, and I guess that their priority is to report about things that happen here first. Fair enough.
We have all no doubt read recently about known English football hooligans being physically stopped from going to Japan. Now are these same strict guidelines being applied to the other nations? And if not, why not?
One theory is that we may be a victim of our own success in clamping down on hooliganism. Perhaps others feel that because we appear to be so serious in tackling this problem then it must be a serious problem. Which it is, but no more so than Italy, Argentina and even Holland. The question is what are they (the foreign governing bodies) doing about? We are doing are bit, are they?
Another theory might be that the level of hooliganism abroad goes too far up. In the case of the Lazio ‘Irreducible’ they are closer to a far right political group than they are to a group of football supporters. The power that they have over the club is amazing. They are regularly granted meetings with the team, and it is said that they have a serious effect on which players that the club buy’s.
In the case of the Boca supporters they even once demanded that Maradonna be made captain and that every teammate passed the ball to him more often.
Are the foreign Government’s scared of them? Are the F.A.s scared of them? The police certainly seem to be, as do the club. Are they turning a blind eye, hoping that it will just go away? and why are they not applying the same strict guidelines that we are?
It just seems to me, that as it is reported, English football ‘fans’ are the only ones that are ever to blame. Are we just not hearing about hooligans abroad? Or are we being made a national scapegoat?
I hope it is clear that I am not condoning English hooliganism in any way. All I am saying is why is it that we seem to be the scum of the world in terms of supporters when for once the English thugs aren’t fighting themselves?
It takes two to tango after all.
hooliganism is so incredibly stupid. Football hooligans are little more than a bunch of spoilt brats running around insisting "my daddy is better than your daddy"
whatever nation they are from (and most nations have the same level of problem) these people are retards, and shouldn't be let out of their rooms, much less the country.
whatever nation they are from (and most nations have the same level of problem) these people are retards, and shouldn't be let out of their rooms, much less the country.
I caught the end of it yesterday (before 24) and it is true, the media does make out that football hooliganism only happens in the UK.
Maybe though, it's because many of our worst football hooligans also operate on a national level, following the England team, but other countries hooligans tend to stick to league teams, and don't follow the national team with hooliganism in the same way?
Mind you, it's funny that all was very peaceful here back in 1996 when we were on home soil. If we have such a bad problem, how come there were no reports of it for Euro 96? It only seems to be when 'we' are abroad, and I wouldn't be surprised to find several hooligans wearing England tops to not actually be English at all.
Maybe though, it's because many of our worst football hooligans also operate on a national level, following the England team, but other countries hooligans tend to stick to league teams, and don't follow the national team with hooliganism in the same way?
Mind you, it's funny that all was very peaceful here back in 1996 when we were on home soil. If we have such a bad problem, how come there were no reports of it for Euro 96? It only seems to be when 'we' are abroad, and I wouldn't be surprised to find several hooligans wearing England tops to not actually be English at all.
Further to last weeks post about Cardiff city F.C. and Sam Hamann I have once again been inspired to write a post following the showing of B.B.C.2’s documentary series ‘Hooligans’
Once again, for those who didn’t catch it last night I will give you a brief resume.
Yesterdays program was about football related violence abroad. It followed two infamous and renowned football hooligans, one from Lazio’s ‘Irreducible’ gang and the other from a group of Boca Juniors supporting thugs.
The program had graphic reports and pictures of extreme violence and disorder performed by these groups, orchestrated by these ringleaders.
Now for me, last nights program brought up more questions than it answered. Let me explain some of them.
First of all let me say that there is no argument that England has a terrible reputation when it comes to football hooliganism. But is this reputation altogether fair?
I would say yes. Any amount of extreme violence deserves to be exposed and scrutinised as English football has been since the 70’s. But why is it that the English have this kind of scorn put upon them, when it seems that the other football playing nations seem to be just as bad, if not worse?
The fights, riots and unrest shown last night were nothing that we haven’t witnessed before. But they were the level of violence that if it happened at any Premiership ground it would become the subject of serious national debate. Yet these incidents have happen within the last year or so and don’t seem to have created that kind of furore.
I think that this may be the key. If it happens over here then we hear about it first because of the nature of our press, and I guess that their priority is to report about things that happen here first. Fair enough.
We have all no doubt read recently about known English football hooligans being physically stopped from going to Japan. Now are these same strict guidelines being applied to the other nations? And if not, why not?
One theory is that we may be a victim of our own success in clamping down on hooliganism. Perhaps others feel that because we appear to be so serious in tackling this problem then it must be a serious problem. Which it is, but no more so than Italy, Argentina and even Holland. The question is what are they (the foreign governing bodies) doing about? We are doing are bit, are they?
Another theory might be that the level of hooliganism abroad goes too far up. In the case of the Lazio ‘Irreducible’ they are closer to a far right political group than they are to a group of football supporters. The power that they have over the club is amazing. They are regularly granted meetings with the team, and it is said that they have a serious effect on which players that the club buy’s.
In the case of the Boca supporters they even once demanded that Maradonna be made captain and that every teammate passed the ball to him more often.
Are the foreign Government’s scared of them? Are the F.A.s scared of them? The police certainly seem to be, as do the club. Are they turning a blind eye, hoping that it will just go away? and why are they not applying the same strict guidelines that we are?
It just seems to me, that as it is reported, English football ‘fans’ are the only ones that are ever to blame. Are we just not hearing about hooligans abroad? Or are we being made a national scapegoat?
I hope it is clear that I am not condoning English hooliganism in any way. All I am saying is why is it that we seem to be the scum of the world in terms of supporters when for once the English thugs aren’t fighting themselves?
It takes two to tango after all.
Once again, for those who didn’t catch it last night I will give you a brief resume.
Yesterdays program was about football related violence abroad. It followed two infamous and renowned football hooligans, one from Lazio’s ‘Irreducible’ gang and the other from a group of Boca Juniors supporting thugs.
The program had graphic reports and pictures of extreme violence and disorder performed by these groups, orchestrated by these ringleaders.
Now for me, last nights program brought up more questions than it answered. Let me explain some of them.
First of all let me say that there is no argument that England has a terrible reputation when it comes to football hooliganism. But is this reputation altogether fair?
I would say yes. Any amount of extreme violence deserves to be exposed and scrutinised as English football has been since the 70’s. But why is it that the English have this kind of scorn put upon them, when it seems that the other football playing nations seem to be just as bad, if not worse?
The fights, riots and unrest shown last night were nothing that we haven’t witnessed before. But they were the level of violence that if it happened at any Premiership ground it would become the subject of serious national debate. Yet these incidents have happen within the last year or so and don’t seem to have created that kind of furore.
I think that this may be the key. If it happens over here then we hear about it first because of the nature of our press, and I guess that their priority is to report about things that happen here first. Fair enough.
We have all no doubt read recently about known English football hooligans being physically stopped from going to Japan. Now are these same strict guidelines being applied to the other nations? And if not, why not?
One theory is that we may be a victim of our own success in clamping down on hooliganism. Perhaps others feel that because we appear to be so serious in tackling this problem then it must be a serious problem. Which it is, but no more so than Italy, Argentina and even Holland. The question is what are they (the foreign governing bodies) doing about? We are doing are bit, are they?
Another theory might be that the level of hooliganism abroad goes too far up. In the case of the Lazio ‘Irreducible’ they are closer to a far right political group than they are to a group of football supporters. The power that they have over the club is amazing. They are regularly granted meetings with the team, and it is said that they have a serious effect on which players that the club buy’s.
In the case of the Boca supporters they even once demanded that Maradonna be made captain and that every teammate passed the ball to him more often.
Are the foreign Government’s scared of them? Are the F.A.s scared of them? The police certainly seem to be, as do the club. Are they turning a blind eye, hoping that it will just go away? and why are they not applying the same strict guidelines that we are?
It just seems to me, that as it is reported, English football ‘fans’ are the only ones that are ever to blame. Are we just not hearing about hooligans abroad? Or are we being made a national scapegoat?
I hope it is clear that I am not condoning English hooliganism in any way. All I am saying is why is it that we seem to be the scum of the world in terms of supporters when for once the English thugs aren’t fighting themselves?
It takes two to tango after all.