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Aneirin -> RE: Football Hooligans (5/27/2009 6:46:46 PM)
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To me, football is the last vestige of tribalism allowed in Britain, perhaps football and it's associated problems is permitted because it provides a contained outlet for the minority who use football as a reason to bash the hell out of another team, the team and it's supporters being another tribe. But yes, as to other sports, why do we not see the same problems with other sports, say rugby, tennis , basketball or cricket. Not to say there hasn't been problems with these sports, there has been instances, but they are few, far between and not of the same magnitude as what happens with football.
Take a normal person, perhaps even law abiding and helpful to others, fine by normal standards, but come football day, it is instant primitive, add alcohol and the police have themselves a real problem. Just to listen and watch football supporters on match day, they become something else, they go to a match, as though it is a war, comments against the rival team, just what is it that turns a normal human, into an instant animal, a primitive, something from our past.
Given the problems associated with football, both at home and abroad, personally, I would be happy if matches were banned, as the rest of us do not need to be associated with a minority who marr our nationality abroad. If people cannot behave themselves in a civilised society, remove the catalyst, football is not the be all and end all of life, it is just a game, if it is the cause of antisocial behaviour, like alcohol and binge drinking, regulate it.
Interestingly though, some years back, the world cup tour through Europe, the countries lined up with strategies to deal with the English soccer hooligans, most failed to contain the trouble, except Holland, where the team were in Amsterdam. There the fans were no problem, the streets were largely quiet. How could this be, well in Amsterdam, there are coffee shops that sell more than coffee.
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