The Myth of British Hooliganism

dong20

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I always watch those brawls that break out at UK soccer matches in absolute amazement; I shouldn't though. Here in the US our private shame is the Philadelphia Eagles Mock Court. It's probably one of the best kept secrets in the NFL. :redface:

It used to be called the 'British Disease' :redface:

Actually outside the usual drunken loutish behaviour that accompanies many organised sporting events Domestic soccer violence - certainly that of the type and severity perpetrated in the 90s, is comparatively uncommon these days. Even in mainland Europe it's not as bad as it was, I suppose its a matter of perspective.

Police behaviour has proven to be a key factor, heavy and less than even handed tactics will tend to provoke a violent response, regardless of the scenario. That's not an excuse, merely a partial explanation.

It's most probably a class thing. Hooligans are working class and cannot easily afford trans-Atlantic tix, nor would they be much interested to attending American soccer games if they could, methinks.

Perhaps, in part but much British football hooliganism in those days (and probably today) was rent-a-mob - people in effect being paid to go cause trouble. Location wasn't really the issue but mainland Europe was a main stomping (literally) ground.

...plenty of the working class in the UK can definitely afford to pay for a flight to USA..

Especially if they can pay in $!

There's some background here. It's not a 'new' phenomenon.

Football Violence in Europe - Introduction
 

London_Calling

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Didn't the papers report back then that the decline of British football hooliganism in the late 80's/early 90's was connected to the popularity of house music & the copious amounts of E's people were taking? Suddenly everyone was loved up! :smile:
 

Osiris

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It's most probably a class thing. Hooligans are working class and cannot easily afford trans-Atlantic tix, nor would they be much interested to attending American soccer games if they could, methinks.

Exactly. Chavs usually don't have the cash to travel out of the country.

Most of my UK friends tell me it's the Chavs that start a lot of this stuff at the football games.
 

dong20

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Exactly. Chavs usually don't have the cash to travel out of the country.


Au contraire.

Chavs have comparatively high disposable income, they can easily afford to travel internationally. What they lack (for the most part) is the desire to do so. :smile:


Most of my UK friends tell me it's the Chavs that start a lot of this stuff at the football games.

Nah, they're mostly too young and really football hooligan wannabe's. Your average Chav would run a mile if confronted with actual soccer violence. What they do is taunt...then leg it at the end of the game.

Collecting ASBO's on the other hand.
 

Osiris

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Au contraire.

Chavs have comparatively high disposable income, they can easily afford to travel internationally. What they lack (for the most part) is the desire to do so. :smile:
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Nah, they're mostly too young and really football hooligan wannabe's. Your average Chav would run a mile if confronted with actual soccer violence. What they do is taunt...then leg it at the end of the game.

Collecting ASBO's on the other hand.

:rofl: This is why I love my friends in the UK. I have yet to meet a Brit that doesn't have an outstanding sense of humor. :rofl:
 

DocHolliday

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It's most probably a class thing. Hooligans are working class and cannot easily afford trans-Atlantic tix, nor would they be much interested to attending American soccer games if they could, methinks.



Hope you don't mind me sharing this letter to the editor from today's Las Vegas Review Journal:
To the editor:

The tourists from the United Kingdom are usually some of the most polite people we get in Las Vegas.​

At the Saturday night boxing match between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr., Americans stood up when they played "God Save the Queen" and put their hands over their hearts like they would when they play our national anthem. But when the American anthem was played, the majority of the people from the U.K. sat down and booed.​

Words can not describe my anger. I fought for our country and our flag. I am glad Mr. Mayweather gave Mr. Hatton a boxing lesson that he will never forget.​

I was a Ricky Hatton fan, but if this is what he represents, I will take a showboating Mayweather any day of the week.​

Go home, Mr. Hatton, and take your discourteous, loud-mouthed and unsophisticated fans with you.​

Ben Merliss
Cheers! ;)
 

HazelGod

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Yeah, the booing was a topic of discussion around the poker tables...all of the Brits who were playing assured everyone that the booing was for Mayweather, not for the USA or our flag.

Anyone who witnessed the pitiful display of sportsmanship during the weigh-in on Friday easily understood.
 

napoleon

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The crowd had been shouting, cheering and singing for the best part of 3 days and really made it an incredible atmosphere for the fight. I dont think the booing was in anyway malicious - its just that when youve been chanting and shouting for 72 hours straight its kind of hard to just shut up for 3 minutes. Mayweather had played the part of pantomime villain to the fullest and the Brit fans were just responding, Im quite sure it was meant as banter rather than disrespect to the Americans.
And to the earlier posters many of the top "Firms" of football hooligans are actually quite well to do and intelligent - not working class chavs. The myth that they are working class yobs has long been exposed. Those guys are well organised and Ive seen bankers (not slang), airline pilots and property developers getting stuck in on a saturday afternoon....they make good money, theyre hobby just happens to be kicking peoples heads in....