<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Soccer Hooligans"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/54.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Soccer Hooligans
As mentioned before I have adopted Manchester United as the English team of my choice, and as I watch the games on TV, I see no evidence of fights in stands, which is a great thing to have stomped out.

So I am wondering when did the sport start getting cleaned up and how did the premier league/British Govt. turn things around?

I did watch a few documentaries and it appears that hooliganism isn't completely dead, as seen in the World Cup that was held in Germany.

Looks like it was really huge during the 70's and 80's.


GG]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6089222.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6089222.page GMT Soccer Hooligans
Remember also that at the time hooliganism was rife there was wide scale unrest in the UK. From blackouts and half day working weeks, to striking, governments in and out of power to the coal strikes, poll tax an the supposed failure of Tory rule in the eighties and nineties.

Tribal sporting events, such as football matches, would lead to a rise in violence.

The real turning point was the creation of the Premier League and increase in live televised matches. Realizing that Sky wouldn't pay for a ruck taking place on the pitch AND realizing that their was actually money to be made, clubs started acting alongside the Home Office and other governmental organisations to stamp out Hooliganism.

All seater stadiums, removal of fencing bringing families in and stricter/better policing and stewardship led to a decrease in hooliganism. coupled to the fact that the old firms leaders were now family men with paying jobs and, well, it wasn't worth the hassle.

Italy, Turkey, Greece and some of the eastern European and Russian teams still have very tribal supporters. Lazio and their right wing Ultras are still feared.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6089673.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6089673.page GMT Re:Soccer Hooligans But yeah some of the problems associated with the "hard times" of the 80's and how hooliganism became an outlet for peoples frustrations were mentioned in the documentary I watched, but they never went into detail on what measures led to the decline of the phenomena.

In the U.S. we have a few cities known for being unwelcome to guests, such as Philadelphia, and Oakland, but it never reached to the levels of European sporting violence.

it's interesting though that we have occasional incidents of hooliganism "after" major championships where fans will riot and destroy sections of a city in "celebration".

GG]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6089895.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6089895.page GMT Soccer Hooligans
I find it strange that a lot of sporting celebration, in the US, leads to rioting and destruction of property. Weird.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090085.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090085.page GMT Re:Soccer Hooligans
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090203.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090203.page GMT Re:Soccer Hooligans
 generalgrog wrote:


In the U.S. we have a few cities known for being unwelcome to guests, such as Philadelphia, and Oakland, but it never reached to the levels of European sporting violence.


It still definitely goes on... recently another fan was killed at a Dodgers/Giants game.. it's odd to think that really the sport with the worst amounts of these sorts of incidents is one of the most peaceful on the field, Baseball.

There also seem to be more elements of hooliganism left in soccer as opposed to Rugby (outside of South Africa, I should point out), but is definitely better than apparently used to be.



Fun story: My cousin works for a large insurance type company and for several years lived in the SF bay area. Well, he decided that the easiest way to see a game was to see it in Oakland... All his co-workers warned him to NOT wear anything other than silver/black. So he arrives at the game wearing a black polo and jeans... A guy on the opposite side of the the section from him was sporting a 49ers jacket or sweatshirt or some such item... and didn't make it to kickoff. He may or may not have had physical action taken on him, but there was definitely some heated talking and threatening, etc. My cousin, who is by no means a small guy, decided it best to fly under the radar, and enjoy the game in relative peace (ie, not cheering loudly/at all for the 9ers)]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090429.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090429.page GMT Re:Soccer Hooligans
Also some College Football(American) stadiums can be very hostile, especially when you get a bunch of drunk frat boys trying to show off to their friends. I think this is one of the things that perpetuates it, the "mob" mentality + alcohol makes relatively normal people think they are invulnerable and feel like they can do anything.


Well it looks like when I go to England and stop by Manchester for a game, and am wearing my MAN-U jersey at Old Trafford, I won't have to worry about trouble.

I also found it interesting that the British (English?) govt actually had start banning the ringleaders from games and started confiscating passports. Awesome move, but its a shame it took so long to do anything. I would have hated to be an English soccer fan during the 70's or 80's.

GG]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090564.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090564.page GMT Re:Soccer Hooligans
 generalgrog wrote:
Well if you want to talk baseball hooliganism, it can't get much worse than Redsox vs Yankees....especially in Boston.

Also some College Football(American) stadiums can be very hostile, especially when you get a bunch of drunk frat boys trying to show off to their friends. I think this is one of the things that perpetuates it, the "mob" mentality + alcohol makes relatively normal people think they are invulnerable and feel like they can do anything.


Well it looks like when I go to England and stop by Manchester for a game, and am wearing my MAN-U jersey at Old Trafford, I won't have to worry about trouble.

I also found it interesting that the British (English?) govt actually had start banning the ringleaders from games and started confiscating passports. Awesome move, but its a shame it took so long to do anything. I would have hated to be an English soccer fan during the 70's or 80's.

GG



To be fair, while things may get hostile in certain areas for fans of the opposite team (bos/nyy), I have never seen anyone actually die from these encounters, except in the case of the Dodgers and Giants.... California ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090573.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090573.page GMT Re:Soccer Hooligans
 Ensis Ferrae wrote:


To be fair, while things may get hostile in certain areas for fans of the opposite team (bos/nyy), I have never seen anyone actually die from these encounters, except in the case of the Dodgers and Giants.... California


Isn't that more street gang related?

GG]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090578.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090578.page GMT Soccer Hooligans IIRC had a gang incident in which an off duty policeman tried to intervene and it cost him his life.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090584.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090584.page GMT Soccer Hooligans http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090605.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/554519/6090605.page GMT