++ [ originally posted by Padovano ] ++
Mac, don't even make this argument. Today, things are better in England, but all hell might break loose tomorrow. How many thousands of fans have died on the terraces at the hands of English hooligans? How many murdered across Europe by travelling English fans? It took too many body bags for the British government to finally put a stop to it. However, I'm not convinced that the stop we enjoy now is permanent. I certainly hope I am wrong.
++ [ originally posted by IncuboRossonero ] ++
Yes and No Mac. when Italians fight it on the average consists of bottle throwing and other small objects just to be a "pain in the arse". THings like Sunday night is not the norm. In England the norm for football fights is knife fights and stick fights. It is really apple and oranges. I have seen hooligans in action .. it is a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME. Like street fights versus fighting in the trenches. You are right it is better organized in England however it was much more pressing in England. In England a scene like Sunday would have left people dead...no one died on Sunday. Therein lies the difference. Yes, something must be done. England has a good system in place. However, England was dealing with madmen and Italy is still (for the time being) only dealing with "trouble makers".
Ok... This may be a little disjointed as im replying to both of you.
You say how many people have died at the hands of english hooligans...
In england very few
In Europe... not alot ...check your facts.
The worst things involving english fans over the years have been...
Ireland - england.... This was political and actually a celtic thing, this wasnt about english hooligans at all.
Heysal... If you actually watch the footage and speak to people that were there... This was as much juve's fault as it was liverpools... and the tragedy happened due to the inadequate stadium
Charleroi... Actually started by cardif soul crew members.... they are not english
We as a nation have a problem in the fact if someone gives us any crap we will bring it back ten fold... its always been the same and that is why we have had trouble in europe etc
As for at home... Our record is not particurly bad...
Many of the problems in english football was actually started by the most feared group in europe at the time.... Again not english... the rangers icf... who spread suffering where ever they went... led by there hatred for the english they started attending games in england and creating havoc.
Look it up.
In england you had chelsea headhunters and west ham and millwall fans who had a bad reputation... but generally jus met up to beat the shit out of each other and never harmed anyone else.
I hear alot of talking on this subject... but how many of you actually attended games in england at those times??
I remember in the eighties when hooliganism was at its peak...
I was a regular at stamford bridge from the day i was born till i was 15/16...
I remember getting dressed at my grandparents to go to the game...
I remember every match, however old i was... my grandfather coming in to the room and kneeling in front of me, to tie my laces(even when i was 16)...
As he did my laces he would tell me to be careful and if i saw trouble to jus leave the ground... as he finnished his sermon, he would say , but jus in case... only if really needed.. and slip an eastend cut throat into my boot
Standing in the terrace... I saw the odd fight etc, but not once did i have to leave the ground or even the slightest need to contemplate reaching to my boot.
I have seen far worse things in italy (which to be fair has been one of the worst places for crowd trouble over the last 10 years) or the even worse occurences in the 2 games i saw whilst in argentina.
The english may have a bad reputation when abroad and too a certain extent rightly so... But there have never been the problems people like to make out when on home soil.
The point i was making earlier and i think also mac was making was that the english police know how to deal with these matters...
Even with our reputation we have the best record for crowd control in europe over the last 10 years within our own stadiums.
Why ... because our police know how to organise a game... Italy should take note and learn something.
Where were the most problem free major tournaments since the war??
Fact: both in England... wc66 and euro 96