02-22-2010, 07:41 PM
The hooligan problem was a big problem in the eighties and early nineties, I should know because I was one!
But once Sky TV bought the rights to football and the first division became the premier league then the mega cash really started to flow and we suddenly had all seater stadiums, more stewards, more security cameras and more police. Hooligan activity in or near the actually football stadiums is almost completely unheard of now, but you sometimes get trouble before or after games but its no where near as bad as it used to be.
There are still firms though and they do clash, some of the firms in the Netherlands and italy and Eastern Europe are like mafia style cults, scary ass shit.
I wouldn't take my daughter to a live game though, the language and vitriol between the two sets of fans and the sheer hatred towards the game officials makes every live football crowd experience an R-rated one.
When I say footballs fans are very passionate about their clubs I think some people don't understand how passionate, when you hear an American or whoever say "I support my team just as passionately" well excuse me but no you fucking don't. Would you run headfirst into a brawl where you are likely to get the living shit kicked out of you just because of the pride you have for your team.
Most supporters support their local team from a early age and stick with them through thick and thin regardless of how bad their teams fortunes are. The very idea of changing a teams name or strip or nickname or traditions is absolutely unthinkable and the idea of changing the team you support?, fucking treason.
I am an Atheist but not a 100% one, simply because I am a Newcastle United supporter and that is a religion in itself.
But once Sky TV bought the rights to football and the first division became the premier league then the mega cash really started to flow and we suddenly had all seater stadiums, more stewards, more security cameras and more police. Hooligan activity in or near the actually football stadiums is almost completely unheard of now, but you sometimes get trouble before or after games but its no where near as bad as it used to be.
There are still firms though and they do clash, some of the firms in the Netherlands and italy and Eastern Europe are like mafia style cults, scary ass shit.
I wouldn't take my daughter to a live game though, the language and vitriol between the two sets of fans and the sheer hatred towards the game officials makes every live football crowd experience an R-rated one.
When I say footballs fans are very passionate about their clubs I think some people don't understand how passionate, when you hear an American or whoever say "I support my team just as passionately" well excuse me but no you fucking don't. Would you run headfirst into a brawl where you are likely to get the living shit kicked out of you just because of the pride you have for your team.
Most supporters support their local team from a early age and stick with them through thick and thin regardless of how bad their teams fortunes are. The very idea of changing a teams name or strip or nickname or traditions is absolutely unthinkable and the idea of changing the team you support?, fucking treason.
I am an Atheist but not a 100% one, simply because I am a Newcastle United supporter and that is a religion in itself.
We need to punish the French, ignore the Germans and forgive the Russians - Condoleezza Rice.