What is it about football fans?

What is it about football fans?

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Discussion

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,635 posts

212 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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Obviously it's not as bad as it used to be, but even so, why is there violence with football fans that just doesn't seem to happen in any other sport?

Why is it that all other sports I've been to manage to have fans mixed up, yet football needs to segregate them? Other sports don't have any issue with people taking drink onto the stands with them, but football generally bans it?

There surely has to be some sort of psychological explanation, but does anyone know what?

PS - Mods, please don't move this to the football section, as it's supposed to be a general sports thread.

Bacardi

2,235 posts

275 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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Because an awful lot of them are knuckle dragging Neanderthals with undeveloped brains and low IQs, which in turn leads to thug like violent tendencies?

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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to be honest, i havent seen any real trouble in years, normally its teenagers feeling cocky and mouthing off before running away if it starts to kick off. I've been to watch Bristol City at lots of away games and not had a problem but Cardiff, Swindon and Swansea are places I simply wouldnt go. Morons looking for trouble will always find other morons looking for trouble. Every club has its moron contingent but they are far fewer in numbers than a decade or two ago.

A lot of the violence is a result of the emotional investment people place in the clubs, its not right but it happens, combine that with perceived injustices in the game and yes, it happens. You have to be a football fan to really appreciate it, most fans are incredibly knowledgeable and know a lot about the other clubs in their league, can tell you all the different permetations of results that day, if we lose Lincoln go top of the league and Huddersfield go second etc etc and will happily chat before and after games. Indeed segregation only serves to enhance the issue, take away the segregation and all the fronting to opposition fans in the ground would disappear immediately, what happens outside is few and far between now and the days of prearranged fighting is long gone. AS the game becomes more child/female friendly, supporters just dont want it any more.

And it does happen at other sports, its just not considered newsworthy.

Fittster

20,120 posts

212 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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Other sports don't have anywhere near the same level of popularity as football. If you have crowds of 60,000+ you are going to get a few nutters.


kritter86

170 posts

134 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
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I can't think of any other sports where they have made films about the violence between fans ie football factory etc.

The players don't help either, as a rugby player you emulate what the pros do or at least try to which means respecting the ref and having an element of sportsmanship. When the whistle blows it's game over until the return leg, get showered and enjoy a beer with your oppo's.

Bradgate

2,819 posts

146 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
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Football violence is now rare in England, unlike in many other countries. I am a Derby fan, and we have our fare share of rivalries, but I haven’t seen any real trouble in years. Chanting, goading, posturing and provocation – yes. Actual violence, no.

Why does it still happen? A minority of people in our society are morons. Add alcohol, and their few brain cells become incapable of inhibiting their instinctive behaviour. They then begin to urinate, fight and copulate in public places. Most football clubs, unfortunately, have a small number of supporters in this category.

The clubs and police do what they can to prevent these cretins causing trouble, usually successfully, but while these idiots still attach themselves to clubs, the problem has not yet been eradicated.

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,635 posts

212 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Bradgate said:
Football violence is now rare in England, unlike in many other countries. I am a Derby fan, and we have our fare share of rivalries, but I haven’t seen any real trouble in years. Chanting, goading, posturing and provocation – yes. Actual violence, no.

Why does it still happen? A minority of people in our society are morons. Add alcohol, and their few brain cells become incapable of inhibiting their instinctive behaviour. They then begin to urinate, fight and copulate in public places. Most football clubs, unfortunately, have a small number of supporters in this category.

The clubs and police do what they can to prevent these cretins causing trouble, usually successfully, but while these idiots still attach themselves to clubs, the problem has not yet been eradicated.
It has clearly dropped off massively in recent years, but I'm still not clear on why it is/was such a football specific issue.

I wonder if maybe the low scoring nature and extended duration of football has something to do with it?

I can't think of any other sport where the so little scoring takes place... if your team falls behind in the opening minutes in rugby, cricket, hockey, basketball out whatever, there's every probability that the scoreline will continue to evolve throughout the rest the game. With football, however, there's every probability that you'll have to sit there for the next 80+ minutes watching your team lose 1-0. Does that maybe provide the sort of resentment necessary to trigger violence?