Hooliganism - Sporting Violence Out of Control
Hooliganism Has Become A Major Problem In Worldwide Sport
Dec 1, 2008
Heysel
Hooliganism has seen thousands of people killed and even more injured in the shadow of our ‘beautiful game’. The violence isn’t just resigned to one country however.
On the 29th May 1985 in the Heysel Stadium, Brussels. 39 Juventus fans where crushed to death during the European Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool.
After Liverpool fans broke through a police wall, thinking they would be met by ‘Ultras’ (a Juventus hooligan firm) they ran into predominantly Italian families who then tried to run away and in doing so, forcing the collapse of a wall crushing those beneath it. It is known as the Heysel disaster and will never be forgotten.
This is one example of the many tragic events over the past sixty years caused by hooliganism in football.
Global Hooliganism
The ‘war’ against hooliganism has always been a hot debate as to whether it was successful or not, but the fact is, it is still present in today’s footballing culture. It is also an ever-present all over the world. There are no less than 40 known countries in which hooliganism is rife.
USA has seen its fair share of sports related violence in recent years. In July 2008 police estimated that over 100 people where involved in a clash between West Ham United and Columbus Crew fans during a pre season friendly in Ohio.
On the same weekend, many members of the Empire Supports Club (ESC) who are the supporters club for Red Bull NY, where permanently ejected and banned. They clashed with NJSEA security force over what the ESC believed to be unfair and repeated mistreatment.
Despite these seeming like isolated incidents, there are cases of hooliganism all over the world. There have even been quite a few films based on it. Outlining the casual nature with which it is now thought of.
To outline the distance in which hooliganism stretches, in Ghana, 2001, fans stampeded after police caused panic by firing tear gas in to the crowd after some trouble began with five minutes remaining of the match. The alarm caused by the police caused the fans to charge out of the stadium, crushing 125 people and injuring many more.
The Worst of Hooliganism
But in the case of Poland, hooliganism is more than just a fortnightly ‘hobby’; it’s a way of life. Two teams in one area dominate the headlines for their violence. They are Cracovia Krakow and Wisla Krakow. Their brutal and sometimes hedonistic approach shows how deep their hatred lies.
It is obvious that there is more to it than just football. It has become apparent that there are underlying reasons for the pure detestation they have for people outside their ‘firm’. This is down to the ‘skinhead’ culture that exists in Poland hooliganism and has been around for over 20 years.
With a variety of weapons, including knives, baseball bats, hammers and axes used on a regular occasion it is no surprise that there have been many casualties in clashes between the rival firms. Some of which can involve hundreds of fans fighting at once in the middle of the street.
Although hooliganism has been battled in all corners of the globe. It is still a big part of world football and sport in general. And it will remain a constant battle for police in order to avoid another Heysel disaster.
