Football hooliganism

Football hooliganism is hooliganism by football club supporters.

It often takes place immediately before or after football matches, and also at pre-arranged fights away from matches and stadiums. It first appeared in the late 1800s, when gangs of supporters would intimidate neighbourhoods, as well as attack referees and opposing supporters and players. Football hooliganism started attracting widespread media attention in the late 1950s due to its re-emergence in Latin America.

A football firm, hooligan firm or simply a firm, is a gang formed with the intent to engage in fights with members of firms from other clubs. Organised hooligan firm fights mostly take place far away from the stadiums, to make it as hard as possible for police and other authorities to interrupt. Some football firms, especially in southern and eastern Europe, have been linked with extreme right political groups, but other firms have been associated with leftist or anti-racist views. It should be noted that the firms' political views are not representative of all supporters of the teams. Football hooliganism has been featured in films such as I.D., The Firm and Green Street, (the latter featuring fictional firms based on West Ham's' Inter City Firm (ICF) and Millwall's The Treatment). There are also many books about hooliganism, such as The Football Factory (also a film) and Among the Thugs. Some contend that such media representations glamorise violence and the hooligan lifestyle.

In 1960s Britain, and to some extent in subsequent decades and also in other countries, the skinhead and suedehead styles were popular among football hooligans. Eventually, the police started cracking down on people wearing typical skinhead clothing styles, so some hooligans changed their image. In the late 1970s, many British hooligans started wearing expensive European designer clothing, to avoid attracting the attention of authorities,. The subculture revolving around this clothing style became known as casual. Clothing lines popular with British football casuals have included: Pringle, Fred Perry, Le Coq Sportif, Aquascutum, Burberry, Lacoste, Timberland, Henri Lloyd, Lonsdale and Ralph Lauren. A BBC report in 2002 suggested that the most popular label among casuals was Stone Island.

South America

Argentina

In 1968, over 70 people died when crowds attending a football match in Buenos Aires stampeded after youths threw burning paper on to the terraces. A 2002 investigation into football hooliganism in Argentina stated that football violence had become a national crisis, with about 40 people murdered at football matches in the preceding ten years. In the 2002 season, there had been five deaths and dozens of knife and shotgun casualties. At one point the season was suspended and there was widespread social disorder in the country. The first death in 2002 was at a match between fierce rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors. The match was abandoned and one fan was shot dead. Boca, one of the largest clubs in Argentina, may have the largest hooligan element in the country, with their self-styled leader, Rafael Di Zeo, claiming in 2002 that they had over 2,000 members. Every major and minor football club in Argentina have Barra brava groups, some of whom are violent. The Boca group, known as La Doce (player number 12) have a long history of violence. In 2002, Diego Maradona, was alleged to remain friends with the group's leaders, in spite of their reputation.

In February 2002, one fan was killed and 12 people injured, including six police officers when fans of Racing Club de Avellaneda and Club Atlético Independiente clashed. An Indpendiente fan was shot dead and another fan was shot in the back and hospitalised when about 400 rival fans fought outside Racing Clubs Estadio Juan Domingo Perón in Avellaneda before the match. Between 70 and 80 people were arrested as a result. The match started late when Independiente fans threw a smoke bomb at Racing Club goalkeeper, Gustavo Campagnuolo. That same weekend, 30 people were arrested and 10 police officers inured when fighting broke out at a match between Estudiantes de La Plata and Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in La Plata.

The Argentine government announced emergency security measures in March 2002 because the violence continued, with three people dead and hundreds injured in two weeks. The government announced stiffer penalties for offenders, including longer jail sentences for possession of firearms or fireworks at stadiums. A survey in the national newspaper Clarin showed 62 percent or poll respondents wanting the football league season to be suspended following a weekend of violence at matches. At one match between River Plate and Nueva Chicago, over 12 people were hospitalised with rubber bullet injuries received when the police tried to break up fighting between rival fans. It was announced that 152 people had died since the 1930s up to that point due to football-related violence in Argentina .

In 2005, a footballer, Carlos Ezcurra, was shot and seriously wounded by a police officer, when rival fans were rioted during the Primera B match between local Mendoza rivals San Martin and Gody Cruz. At half-time, fans had thrown rocks onto the pitch, and just before the end of the match, fans from both clubs invaded the pitch and started fighting. The players who had stayed on the pitch, including Ezcurra, tried to calm the fans, and he was shot when police tried to stop the fans by firing rubber bullets..

Brazil

Football hooliganism in Brazil appears to be relatively low key when compared to some other countries.

On 4 March, 1971 a fight broke out at a match in Salvador, killing four and injuring 1,500.

In December 2000, fighting between rival fans of Vasco da Gama and São Caetano during the final of the 2000 Copa João Havelange led to a fence collapsing and over 60 injuries at the Estádio São Januário in Rio de Janeiro. Hundreds of fans in the upper terrace had pushed forward trying to escape from fighting between rival fans. Fans lower down were pushed into a perimeter fence which under the weight, collapsed, and fans spilled onto the pitch. Over 50 people were taken to hospital. Fans had panicked when fighting broke out with people falling on top of each other. Many were treated on the pitch, with helicopters taking those more seriously injured to local hospitals. The match was abandoned ninety minutes later by the governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Anthony Garotinho, despite calls by the police, who had wanted to bring in military police to encircle the pitch so as to ensure fans did not interrupt the match, and football authorities to continue.

Fans of local rivals Ponte Preta and Guarani clashed and rioted at a match in Campinas between the two clubs in 2002. Violence had been expected and just before kick-off fans started fighting. Police tried to intervene but were pelted by stones. As the fighting continued inside the stadium, a railing collapsed and numerous fans fell over 13ft (four metres) into a pit between the stands and the pitch. Over 30 people were injured.

Colombia

In November 1982, 24 people died and 250 were hurt when drunken fans provoked a stampede at a football match in Cali, Colombia.

Peru

On 24 May 1964, more than 300 football fans died and another 500 were injured in Lima, Peru in a riot during an Olympic qualifying match between Argentina and Peru.

Central America

El Salvador and Honduras

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El Salvador and Honduras had a brief, six day, conflict in 1969 dubbed Football War, due to three matches between the two countries that inflamed an already tense political situation The three matches were an emimination series to decide which country would qualify for the 1970 World Cup finals. Fights broke out during the first match in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. The situation worsened though at the second match in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Fans from Honduras were attacked during and after tha match, and the Honduran flag and national anthem were insulted. This incident was the catalyst that provoked the hostilities and which gave the war it's name. Tensions grew worse between the two countries. Actions against Salvadoran residents in Honduras became increasingly violent. An unknown number of Salvadorans were killed or injured, and tens of thousands began fleeing the country. The media in both countries contributed to a growing climate of near-hysteria, and on 27 June, 1969, Honduras broke diplomatic relations with El Salvador. Followed on the morning of 14 July 1969 by the outbreak of the brief war.

Mexico

Football hooliganism in Mexico appears to be low key. Minor reports do appear, such as the small scale fighting between fans of Monterry and Morelia at a Primera División match in Monterrey in 2003 .

In June 1998 though one man died and several people were injured when Mexican football fans rioted after the Mexico national football team lost to Germany in the World Cup, a result which eliminated Mexico from the World Cup. After the match fans looted and rioted, before hundreds of riot police were brough to restore order. Fans then clashed with the police, with many fans injured and scores arrested. One man died when he was thought to have been hit by a firecracker. Mexican fans also rioted in the USA after the match, in Huntington Park, an area in Los Angeles, where 97% of the population are Hispanic. Forty people were arrested.

Europe

Croatia

Football hooligans associated with the former Yugoslav state of Croatia have rioted over inter-ethic resentments that were reignited by the breakup of the Yugoslav federation in the 1990s. The two most notorious hooligan firms are Torcida (Hajduk Split) and Bad Blue Boys (Dinamo Zagreb). Torcida is the oldest organised football fan club in the world.. In the match between Italy and Croatia, some Croatian hooligans choreographed their positions in the stands in order to form the shape of a Swastika.

Denmark

Hooliganism in Denmark appears to be low level, with some problems of football related violence but on a smaller scale than countries such as England. In Denmark, the roligan (a pun on hooligan, from rolig meaning peaceful) fan culture, non-violent, peaceful and fun loving, has grown and diminished hooligan activity.

A study has been made of football in the country by H Eichberg with a section analzying the differences in Denmark between roligans and hooligans in Denmark

England

Football hooliganism in England is believed to have started at the end of the nineteenth century, when people often described as "roughs" caused minor disturbances. By the 1960s, hooliganism had become a more serious problem. This led the government to respond with the 1968 Public Order Act, which, amongst other provisions, allowed the courts to ban offenders from football grounds. The term English Disease is sometimes used to describe football hooliganism..

In the 1960s, when fighting at football was by then commonplace in the England, British police would be on the lookout for fans wearing skinhead fashions or cheap work wear. In response, many hardcore hooligans started to wear more expensive gentlemen's clothing brands. This led to the development of the casual subculture. Brands popular with casuals have included: Burberry, Ben Sherman, Polo Ralph Lauren, Stone Island, Aquascutum and Paul & Shark. Now the wearing of such clothing at football matches is more likely to attract police attention. Niki sweat-shirts and Fred Perry polo-shirts took off in the early 1980s.

May 29th, 1985, in the Belgium capital of Brussels; the Heysel Stadium disaster resulted in 39 Juventus supporters being crushed to death when a fence separating them from Liverpool fans collapsed, leading to a violent confrontation.

The spotlight was quickly turned on football hooliganism, with English clubs banned from European competitions until 1990 (with Liverpool banned an extra year). It was not until the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 fans died, that the Margaret Thatcher government acted, bringing in the Football Spectators Act (1989) in the wake of the Taylor Report. However, as the Hillsborough Justice Campaign notes, "the British Judicial system has consistently found that violence or hooliganism played no part whatsoever in the disaster".

English and German fans have had a longstanding rivalry, and began to fight each other in the late 1980s. This subsequently brought English and German fans' reputations to an all time low in the late 1990s. Other occasional clashes have occurred with a few other teams since the mid 1980s. France 98 was marred by violence as English fans clashed with the North African locals of Marseille, which led to up to 100 fans being arrested.

In the 2000s, English football hooligans often wear either clothing styles that are stereotypically associated with the thuggish chav subculture, such as those from the labels Prada, Lacoste, Le Shark and Burberry. This has encouraged Prada and Burberry two companies to withdraw certain garments over fears that their brands are becoming linked with hooliganism. English hooligans have become more advanced in the way they plan their fights, often using Internet message boards, mobile phones and text messages. These hooligans often post messages on other hooligan sites to tempt rival gangs into meeting up for fights. Sometimes people at the fights post live commentaries on the Internet.

Football violence in stadiums declined domestically since the introduction of the Football Spectators Act, and in the 2000s much of the trouble has instead occurred away from grounds and at major international tournaments. At Euro 2000, the England team was threatened with expulsion from the tournament, due to the poor behaviour of the fans. Following good behaviour in Korea-Japan 2002 and Portugal 2004, the English reputation has improved. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, there were limited incidences of violence, with over 200 preventative arrests in Stuttgart (with only three people being charged with criminal offences). However, 400 others were taken into preventative custody. During that day, Police believe that on average each rioter consumed or threw 17 litres of alcohol.

Despite hooliganism declining domestically, death threats by English hooligans have become more common in the 2000s. Rio Ferdinand was the target of death threats from Leeds United fans, as was Peter Ridsdale. Swedish referee Anders Frisk quit his position after receiving death threats from Chelsea F.C. fans. Reading players Ibrahima Sonko and Stephen Hunt also received death threats from Chelsea fans in 2006.

It has been documented that most English hooligans are in their late teens or early twenties, although it is not uncommon for older hooligans to take part (usually as leaders). They usually come from working class backgrounds, mainly employed in manual or lower clerical occupations, or (to a lesser extent) are working in the grey market or are unemployed.

France

In March 2006 it was stated that football hooliganism in France, which appears to be at least partly rooted in social conflicts and a rise in racism, had risen dramatically over the past year, and that much of it was being blamed on the fans of Paris St. Germain (PSG) who will also often fight each other over racial divides.. PSG are known to have a minority of far right racist fans, with black players receiving racist chants and insults and gangs of white fans fighting black and Arab fans during and after matches.. The hooligan problem at PSG had worsened in the 1990s as the club itself was competing well in European competitions, reaching the UEFA Champions League 1994-95 semi-final and winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1995-96, and being runners-up in the same competition the following year. Against this backdrop the PSG hooligans fought with hooligans from Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Scotland.

In early 2006 it was stated that at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, their fans divide along racial lines in two different sections of stands — the Kop of Boulogne (KOB) behind one goal and the Tribune d’Auteuil behind the other. Boulogne is nearly entirely Caucasian and Auteuil is multiracial. And fans often fight each other, with in the 2005-05 season, two all-white hooligan groups — the Independents and the Casual Firm — having fought with increasing ferocity with the multiethnic group, called Tigris Mystic.

One report stated that interviews with gang members and repeated visits to the stadium for PSG matches found that racist hooligans operate openly and with almost total impunity. That stadium hosted some matches during the 1998 World Cup, which France won with a team dominated by players from former colonies in Africa.

In October 2000, PSG stated that they were prepared to close a stand used by visiting fans after a Olympique de Marseille fan was seriously injured after being hit by a seat thrown from another stand in the Parc des Princes. It was also stated that although relatively few fans travel to away matches in France, when compared to some other countries, the often bitter rivalry between PSG and Marseille sometimes turned violent.

On 24 May, 2001, fifty people were injured when fighting broke out at a match between PSG and Turkish club, Galatasaray at the Parc des Princes stadium. UEFA launched an immediate investigation with the possibility of serious penalties on the club. PSG were initially given a record $571,000 fine, but it was reduced on appeal to $114,000 after the French club insisted that it had taken precautions to prevent a possible outbreak of fan violence during the match. Galatasaray, initially fined $114,000 by UEFA, eventually had its penalty reduced to $28,500.

In May 2001, six PSG fans, identified as members of an official Supporters Club, were arrested and charged with assault, carrying weapons, throwing missiles on the pitch and racism. The six were alleged to have deliberately entered a part of the Parc des Princes stadium where French fans of Turkish origin were standing, in order to attack them. The six were banned from all football stadiums for the duration of their trial. Footage from surveillance cameras at Parc des Princes stadium had helped investigators to identify the fans involved in the violence.

Initial reports after the match reported that there had been 55 injuries, of which, 55 were French. The impression from that being that it was the Galatasary fans who had been the main cause of, and had started the fighting. However, Turkish press reports, would imply that there was a disaster waiting to happen in the Parc des Princes Stadium and if one side had not started it the other would have done. And that photographic evidence would prove that the figure of 55 French and one Turkish injury were absurd. Pictures clearly showing that both sets of fans were fighting, and Galatasary fans were being beaten, by PSG fans, with sticks. The sticks being taken from flags and banners waved by fans. However, reports from before the match stated that Galatasary fans had been prevented from taking any flags or banners into the stadium on sticks, all of which were removed before they entered. Yet PSG fans were allowed to take flags and banners on sticks into the stadium, the report also stated. The Turkish press accused the security, media and PSG club of attempting to cover this up.

On 24 November 2006 a PSG fan was shot dead by police and another seriously injured during fighting between PSG fans and the police, after a PSG lost 4-2 to Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Parc des Prince in a UEFA Cup match. 100 PSG fans chased a French fan of Hapoel of Jewish origin, shouting racist and anti-semitic slogans. A black plain clothes police officer who tried to protect the French fan of Hapoel, was also attacked. He then fired tear gas, before he drew his gun and, amid scenes of chaos, one fan was shot dead and another seriosuly injured. The Hapoel fan and his family were given increased protection by the local authorities in the Paris suburb of Sarcelles in case of reprisal attacks. Reports stated that the PSG fans had chanted "filthy Jew" at the Hapoel fan and "filthy black" at the police officer, and that they also gave Nazi salutes and made monkey noises. The French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy held a crisis meeting with the president of the French Football League, Frederic Thiriez to discuss the incident and the wider issue of racism and violence in French football. The director-general of the French police, Michel Gaudin, insisted that measures they had recently taken against football hooliganism had already begun to have an effect, with racist incidents involving football fans dropping to six that season from nineteen over the same period in the previous season. Gaudin also stated that approximately 300 known hooligans could face being banned from football matches. The French newspaper, Le Parisien called the attack on the Hapoel fan a cocktail of racism, anti-semitism and human beastliness.

The fan who was shot, was linked with the Boulogne Boys, a group of fans who modelled themselves on British hooligans in the 1980s. The groups name coming from the Kop of Boulogne (KOB), one of the two main Home fan stand at the Parc des Prince. The KOB themselves held a silent memorial march attended by 300 and accused the police office of murdering the fan. They cited bias in the French press who had only given a "one-sided" account of the incident.

French President Jacques Chirac condemned violence that led up to the shooting, stating that he was horrified by the reports of racism and anti-Semitism. And French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin called for new, tougher measures to deal with football hooligans. Prosecutors opened an inquiry into the incident, to determine whether the officer involved should face criminal charges.

Before a home match against Sochaux on 4 January, 2006, two Arab youths were punched and kicked by white fans outside the entrance to the KOB. It was alleged that the stewards, all white, stood chatting and did not intervene. During the match racist insults were aimed at black players. One PSG player of Indian origin, Vikash Dhorasoo, who is also a French international, was told by one fan to "“go sell peanuts in the metro".

On 7 March, 2006, three PSG supporters were convicted for unfurling a racist banner at a match in February 2005, that was being held as part of an anti-racism campaign. The fans were banned from the stadium for three years, and fined between US$90 and $1,200.

Prior to the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany, concerns were raised that the competition would become a magnet for far-right groups and racist thugs. One report cited how the "seething ethnic hatred and beer-fueled ethnic brawls at Parc des Princes are a chilling reminder of how the “beautiful game” still manages to draw out the ugliest in human nature".

In February 2007 Lille OSC fans were involved in disturbances with Manchester United fans at their UEFA Champions League match in Lille. Both clubs were fined by UEFA..

Germany

Football hooliganism in Germany has at times been linked to Neo-Nazism, and leading up to the 1998 World Cup Finals, German football hooligans were reputed to have one of the worst reputations in Europe, with fans of the German national team, as with England, often being linked to extreme Far right groups.

1998 World Cup

In June 1998 after a World Cup match in Lens, France, between Germany and Yugoslavia, a French policeman, Daniel Nivel, received massive head injuries when he was repeatedly kicked and hit with a weapon, during violent clashes with German fans. In July 1998 a German fan was arrested in Hamburg and charged with attempted murder and causing serious injury. The policeman remained in a coma for six weeks, and four further German fans were arrested and charged with the assault. Following the incident in Lens, German football hooligans were warned to stay away from Germany's next match in the tournament against Mexico in Montpellier. German police contacted many of the known 2,000+ German hooligans to warn them they would be arrested if they travelled to France. Police were concerned that Neo-nazi groups would try to cause troube in Montpellier. In November 1999, four Germans were convicted for their part in the beating of the French policeman, who had suffered brain damage from the assault. The main defendant, Andre Zawacki, was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to ten years in jail. The other three defendants were convicted of grievous bodily harm and given jail sentences of between six months and three-and-a-half years. In May 2001, Markus Warnecke, the German fan who was accused of leading the attack, was found guilty of deliberate violence leading to the policeman's injuries at a French court and jailed for five years. Warnecke was also banned from France for ten years and from all sports facilities for five years.

In March 2005 German fans fought with police and rival fans before, during and after a friendly match between Germany and Slovenia in Celje, Slovenia. The German Football Association (DFB) apologised for the behaviour, behaviour had been widely condemned in Germany, of the German fans who had damaged cars and shops, shouted racist slogans and fought with both the police and rival fans. German officials had warned the local authorities that 200 - 250 known hooligans were in Celje for the match. 52 people were arrested, 40 Germans and 12 Slovenians.

Following a low key 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava, Slovakia, German hooligans fought with the local police. Six people were injured and two taken into custody. The DFB again apologised for the fans who had again chanted racist slogans. The match had been watched by a sparse crowd of 9,000 in a stadium which holds over 30,000. The DFB had sold 650 tickets to German fans. The hooligans however had travelled independently to Slovakia where they then bought their tickets

In June, Germany beat Poland in a World Cup Finals match in Dortmund, a result which meant Germany qualified for the second round in the finals. The match was marred by violent clashes though between Germand and Polish fans. The police detained over 300 people in Dortmund after clashes broke out prior to the match. German fans threw chairs, bottles and fireworks at the police as they tried to move fans out of the city centre. Smaller groups of German and Polish fans fought with each other in separate clashes. Of the 300 arrested, 120 were known hooligans and 60 were Polish fans, some of whom were carrying weapons and some known hooligans.

In October 2006, Theo Zwanziger, President of the DFB and Bundesliga President Werner Hackmann held a crisi meeting after scores of arrests and 23 injured policeman at lower-division matches over the previous weekend in Germany. A special task force was established to deal with violence and racism in German football stadiums. The meeting has been called following violence at a number of matches. The worst incident took place at a Third division (North) match between the Hertha BSC Berlin B-team and Dynamo Dresden where 23 policemen were injured after Dynamo Dresden fans tried to invade the pitch, and police had missiles, including gas cartirdges and pastic seats, thrown at them. The police responded with batons and pepper spray. At a Second Division match between FC Augsburg and 1860 Munich, 21 people were arrested and police used pepper spray to disperse fans. In addition, 70 amateur and youth matches in Siegen-Wittgenstein were called off when referees refused to take to the pitch, fearing for their safety.

In February, 2007 all lower league matches, from the 5th Division downward, in the eastern state of Saxony were cancelled when about 800 fans attacked 300 police after a match between Lokomotiv Leipzig and Erzgebirge Aue II. Thirty nine police officers were injured.

Greece

In February 1981, 24 people died when fighting broke out among fans rushing to leave a stadium in Piraeus, Greece.

Italy

Hooliganism in Italy started in the 1970s, and increased in the 1980s and 1990s. It grew in the early 2000s, becoming a serious problem for Italian football. Italian ultras have very well organized groups that fight against other football supporters and the Italian Police and Carabinieri, using also knives and baseball bats at many matches of Serie A and lower championships.

Football hooliganism in Italy often has parochial and political connotations. Many team supporters consider other team supporters as enemies, and some clubs associated with hooliganism are Atalanta B.C., Brescia Calcio, Hellas Verona F.C., A.S. Livorno Calcio, AS Roma, S.S. Lazio, S.S.C. Napoli, Salernitana Calcio 1919, S.S. Cavese 1919, Taranto Sport, Calcio Catania, U.S. Città di Palermo, F.C. Messina, as well as several clubs in lower championship series. Now the major clubs, such as A.C. Milan, Internazionale and Juventus F.C. are less related with hooliganism.

The most common actions by Italian hooligans have included pitch invasions and the throwing of objects onto the field or against opponents. These weapons include stones, heavy marbles, staves, Molotov cocktails, flares, fireworks, firecrackers, paper firebombs, stadium seats, taps stolen from the stadium toilets, flagpoles, pipes, knives, baseball bats, nightsticks, and traffic signs. These riots have forced referees to suspend many matches. Italian hooligans usually hold flags and sing football chants that encourage violence and riots, and some songs are racist against black players and include ethnic slurs.

In 1999, four supporters of Salernitana Calcio 1919 died on a train in a fire caused by fireworks, In 2001, a scooter was thrown down in San Siro Stadium, Milan. On February 2, 2007, rioting resulted in all Italian football fixtures being suspended, after a police officer was killed during a match between Calcio Catania and U.S. Città di Palermo (see 2007 Catania football violence). At first it was alleged that the officer was killed by a homemade bomb, but it was later reported that damage to his liver was caused by blunt force trauma. An additional 120 people, including police and Carabinieri, were wounded.

In February 2001, AS Romas fans, angered by the closure of gates into the ground, fought with police just before their UEFA Cup match against Liverpool. Police responded by firing tear gas. Five Liverpool fans were stabbed. In December 2001, police had to use tear gas after fighting broke out at a Champions League match between AS Roma and Liverpool. Four Liverpool fans were stabbed.

In March 2006 three fans of English club Middlesbrough were stabbed before the club's UEFA Cup clash against AS Roma in Rome. The attack was blamed on Roma ultras.

In January 2007, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) threatened to halt all league football in the country after a weekend of violence. An official of amateur club Sammartinese died when he was caught up in a fight between players and fans in Luzzi at a match between Sammartinese and Cancellese. In Florence, a Livorno fan needed 20 stitches in his head after being attacked by Fiorentina fans. About 100 Atalanta fans who tried to attack coaches carrying Catania fans, fought with plice. And a Serie D game between Genzano and Normanna was suspended early in the second half after a linesman was hit by a drum thrown from the stands.

In February 2007 the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) suspended all football matches indefinitely following the killing of a policeman at the Serie A Sicilian derby match between Catania and Palermo. The match had to be suspended after an hour when tear gas that had been used by police to break up fighting outside the ground drifted onto the pitch. The fighting was alleged to have started when Palermo fans could not get into the ground until the second half. After the match fans fought with the police outside the ground, with about 100 people treated for injuries. The policeman, Officer Filippo Raciti, died when he was struck in the face by a small explosive as the police were trying to deal with the fighting outside the ground.

On 4 April, 2007 AS Roma and Manchester United fans were involved in clashes during UEFA Champions League match. Roma and Manchester United fans were separated in one area of the ground by a plastic barrier, with riot police positioned only on the English fans side. After each goal both sets of fans surged toward the barrier, with at one stage the riot police repeatedly striking Manchester United fans with batons and shields. No Roma fans were similarly striked by the riot police as they had no presence on the Roma fans side of the barrier. One Manchester United fan was stabbed on his way to the match, and eleven fans taken to hospital. Two Roma fans also received hospital treatment. Despite UEFA promising to investigate the incident, and the British Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker, calling for answers to whether the Italian police were justified, the head of Rome police, Achille Serra, claimed that the police action was justified and that there would be no inquiry, unless he was shown evidence of alleged police brutality. And this, despite live TV pictures during the match, showing riot police apparently indiscriminately hitting and beating Manchester United fans whilst taking no action against Roma fans.

Netherlands

It is a common conception that football hooliganism in the Netherlands only began in earnest after the unfortunate incidents between Feyenoord and English club Tottenham Hotspur in the 1974 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, where large scale rioting took place. Since then several Netherlands clubs have been associated with hooliganism, such as Ajax Amsterdam, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, FC Utrecht, F. C. Den Bosch, Ado Den Haag and FC Groningen. The biggest rivalry is between Ajax and Feyenoord. The most violent encounter has been the Battle of Beverwijk (March 23, 1997), in which several people were seriously injured, and Carlo Picornie was killed. On April 15, 2004, Ajax hooligans attacked under-21 Feyenoord players, during a match against the Ajax under-21 team. A riot also broke out in 2006 between Dutch and French fans.

Another riot in the Netherlands happened on 16 December 2000. Pierre Bouleij was killed by police, and a match between VVV and FC Den Bosch was cancelled. After this, three days of unrest occurred in the Graafse Wijk (a neighbourhood in Den Bosch), and over 300 soccer hooligans fought against the police. On 16 June 1990, English fans were arrested for brawling in Amsterdam before a friendly match. On 26 April 1999, 80 fans were arrested when Feyenoord Rotterdam fans rioted after a cup match with FC Breda. The 2002-03 season was marked by continued fighting between Ajax-Utrecht, Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam fans..

Norway

Hooliganism is a rather new phenomenon in Norway, and only occasionally takes place. Teams such as Vålerenga I.F., Lillestrøm S.K., Hamarkameratene, Tønsberg, Rosenborg B.K., S.K. Brann, Viking F.K. and Fredrikstad F.K. are said to have some form of hooligan firms or casuals. In Oslo, there are sometimes incidents of hooliganism related to inter-city matches (Vålerenga, FC Lyn Oslo, Stabæk I.F. and Lillestrøm S.K.) and matches between Rosenborg B.K. and Brann. There have been incidents of racism, such as when the American black player, Robbie Russell, was spit at by angry Brann fans, while playing for Sogndal in a Norwegian Premier League match.

Poland

Poland was the first Eastern Europe country to see a rise in football hooliganism. On March 30, 2003, it was reported that Polish police arrested 120 people because rival football supporters fought during a match between Slask Wroclaw and Arka Gdynia. During the riot, hooligans pelted police officers with stones, and fought a running battle with knives and axes. One victim was found lying seriously injured at the scene, and later died in hospital. In UEFA Cup 1998-99 Italian footballer Dino Baggio, from Parma F.C. was hit with a knife in head by Wisla Krakow supporters.

Arranged football hooligan fights in Poland are known as Ustawka (pol. arrangement)[citation needed]. They became common in Poland in the late 1990s.[citation needed].

Portugal

Chairs discarded across the edge of the pitch following a Portuguese match between Belenenses and Sporting CP.

Football riots were very common in Portugal during the 1990s and early 2000s but they have decreased since then. However, there have still been some violent incidents, mainly involving supporters of FC Porto, Sporting CP, SL Benfica and Vitória de Guimarães. In Portugal, football violence is more common in the lower divisions..

Russia

Football hooliganism has become prevalent in Russia since the beginning of the 2000s. The usual victims of Russian hooligans are supporters of Japanese, Polish and Ukrainian teams. Russian hooligans often have an underlying racist resentment towards Russia's perceived political rivals. In July 1982, up to 340 people were crushed to death when football fans rioted at a Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, after a last-minute goal in a UEFA Cup tie between Moscow Spartak and Dutch side Haarlem. The government newspaper Izvestia reported the death toll at 66 or 67.

Scotland

Almost every Scottish football club from the first division up has a hooligan firm. However, the Scotland national team's travelling supporters, the Tartan Army, are world-renowned for their friendliness and general aversion to violence. Scottish casuals are generally not from deprived backgrounds, and their hooliganism reached its peak in the 1980s. Pre-arranged fights between firms on match days take place away from the football grounds.

The 2000s have seen a revival of casual culture in Scottish football, with many groups recruiting via the Internet. However, these efforts seem doomed to failure because most Scottish football fans are against this behaviour, and authorities have taken several measures to reduce football hooliganism.

Celtic and Rangers are the two biggest teams in Glasgow, and the Old Firm rivalry is one of the most heated football rivalries in the world. The hooliganism associated with this rivalry tends to be spontaneous, and fueled by alcohol consumption, instead of pre-planned by organized hooligan firms (although both teams do have firms). The Old Firm rivalry is largely motivated by religious sectarianism, and is related to the conflict between Loyalists and Republicans in Northern Ireland. Rangers' Inter City Firm also has a rivalry with the Aberdeen Soccer Casuals, and another Rangers hooligan firm is Her Majesty's Service.

Other Scottish teams with large hooligan followings include Airdrie United, Aberdeen, Partick Thistle, Hearts, Hibernian, and Motherwell. Scottish hooligan firms include Hibernian's Capital City Service and St Mirren's Love St Division. Airdrie's Section B and Motherwell's Saturday Service enjoy a fierce rivalry, and there has been hooliganism after games on many occasions.

Serbia

Football hooligans associated with the former Yugoslav states rioted over the inter-ethnic resentments that were re-ignited by the breakup of the Yugoslav federation in the 1990s. The most prominent groups of hooligans are associated with Belgrade and Serbia's two main clubs, Red Star Belgrade and FK Partizan. They are known as the Delije (Warriors) and Grobari (Undertakers), respectively. These two terms also refer to the supporters of the two clubs. FK Rad is a less-successful Belgrade club, whose associated hooligans, known locally as "United Force", have notoriously been involved in many violent incidents.

Spain

Football hooliganism in Spain is sometimes linked to racism, and some black players have been victims of ethnic slurs. Samuel Eto'o, a Barcelona F.C. player from Cameroon, has denounced the problem. The strong rivalry beetween Real Madrid and Barcelona F.C. has led to hooliganism, such as Luís Figo (who transferred from Barcelona to Real Madrid) being hit by a pig's head. Politics also has a strong influence on hooliganism with some firms being linked to extremist ideologies.

In 1998, a supporter of Real Sociedad was killed by an Atlético de Madrid fan who was linked to a neo-nazi group, just before a match between these two teams. In 2003, a supporter of Deportivo La Coruna was killed in riots by Deportivo hooligans, when he tried to protect a supporter of the opposing team, SD Compostela. Since then, authorities have made attempts to get hooliganism more under control.

In 2007, there were acts of hooliganism before a match between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid with several cars destroyed and policemen injured by flares and bottles which where thrown at them.

Sweden

Hooliganism in Sweden became a growing problem in the 1980s, but pitch invasions and violence in direct at football grounds decreased in the late 1990s, when hooligan firms moved the problem away from the grounds and the regular supporters.

Hooliganism is said to have made begun in Sweden in 1970 when fans of IFK Göteborg invaded the pitch, destroyed the goalposts and fought the police at the end of a match that relegated Göteborg from the Allsvenskan.

Two clubs which have an organized hooligan firm are AIK - Firman boys and Göteborg - Wisemen.

In July 2002, a fan was killed after a pre-arranged fight between fans of AIK and Göteborg. In November 2002 twelve members of the Wiseman firm stood trial for inflicting life threatening injuries on a Hammarby fan in 2001.

Switzerland

Football hooliganism is relatively new in Switzerland. One incident, dubbed the 2006 Basel Hooligan Incident, 13 May 2006, occurred on the last day of the 2005-06 season, when FC Zürich defeated FC Basel at St. Jakob Park to win the Swiss championship with a last-minute goal. After the final whistle, angry Basel hooligans stormed the field and attacked Zürich players. The Zürich team were forced to celebrate in the upper deck of the stands while the fighting continued. There was similar chaos in the streets that night..

Turkey

According to the Turkish Daily News, hooligan groups are well organised, have their own "leaders", and often consist of organised street fighters. These groups have a "racon" (code of conduct), which states that the intention must be to injure rather than kill and that a stab must be made below the waist. Other hooligans have fired firearms into the air to celebrate their team’s victory, which has been known to accidentally kill innocent people watching the celebrations on their balconies.

Trouble has arisen during matches between Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. However, the Turkish Football Federation has tightened security to try and contain the hooliganism. During the 2005 Turkish cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, 8,000 police, stewards and officials were employed to prevent violence.

In 2006, the Turkish Football Federation introduced new measures to combat the threat of hooliganism and have made new regulations that allow the Professional Football Disciplinary Board to fine clubs up to YTL 250,000 for their fans behavior. Repeat offenders could be fined up to YTL 500,000. Despite reports from the Turkish Football Federation, the Turkish police believe that football hooliganism is not a major threat and are "isolated incidents".

Before Galatasaray’s semi-final UEFA Cup match with Leeds United AFC in 2000, two Leeds fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were stabbed to death in Istanbul following street fights between Turkish and British hooligans. UEFA allowed the game to proceed and Galatasaray won 2-0.

Leeds complained because home fans jeered while a message of condolence was read for the victims. Galatasaray's players refused to wear black arm bands. The Leeds chairman at the time, Peter Ridsdale, accused Galatasaray of "showing a lack of respect". He also revealed that his teams' players had received death threats before the match.

Ali Umit Demi was arrested and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the stabbing, but the sentence was reduced to 5 years on the basis of heavy provocation, while five others were given lesser sentences of under four months. The families of those accused of attacking with knives are reported to have defended their actions and approved of their children punishing the "rude British people".

Galatasaray fans were banned from traveling to the return match to try and avoid further clashes between fans, although there were reports of attacks by Leeds fans on Turkish television crews and the police. However the Assistant Chief Constable in charge of policing the game believed that the number of arrests was "no worse than a normal high category game".

Hakan Şükür was hit with projectiles from Leeds United supporters and the Galatasaray team bus was stoned after driving through an underpass. The game saw Emre Belözoğlu and Harry Kewell sent off and Galatasaray sealed their way to the final with a 2-2 score.

Violence also occurred between Arsenal fans and Galatasaray fans before the Final in Copenhagen in which a Galatasary fan, an Arsenal fan and a Dane were said to have been stabbed. Galatasaray later won the match after a penalty shoot-out.

Wales

Cardiff Citys hooligan firm are known as the Soul Crew. In January 2002, Cardiff fans attacked Leeds United fans and players at Ninian Park. Leeds fans and players were hit by missiles during the match, and hundreds of Cardiff fans invaved the pitch. In May 2002, Cardiff City were fined £40,000 by the Welsh FA for the events that day. Later in 2002, when Cardiff lost to Stoke City F.C. fans again rioted outside Ninian Park. And there were more clashed at a match against Welsh rivals, Swansea City F.C. later that year. In October 2004 a BBC report stated that Cardiff had more fans banned than any other Football League club, with 160 banning orders against its fans, more than double any other Welsh club.

Asia

Bangladesh

Football hooliganism in Bangladesh does not appear to be a major problem. However, in August 2001, 100 people were injured when thousands of football fans rampaged at a B-League match between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Rahmatganj Sporting Club in the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka. When the referee disallowed a penalty, Mohammedan fans invaded the pitch, throwing stones at the police, who had to fire tear gas at the fans to try and restore order. Outside the stadium dozens of cars and buses were damaged and set on fire.

China

Football hooliganism in China is often linked to accusations of corrupt refereeing, with Chinese football being plagued by allegations of match fixing in the early 2000s.

After a match in 2000 between Shaanxi Guoli and Chengdu Wuniu in Xi'an, Shaanxi province China football fans clashed with police who had to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Police car windows were smashed as the police tried to stop the fans attacking the match referee, who they were angry at for a decision made during the match. Eight people were arrested but later released.

In March 2002 fans fought with police again as hundreds of football fans rioted at a match in Xi'an, this time between Shaanxi Guoli and Qingdao Yizhong. At the final whistle, and in response to a late penalty to the visiting team, Shaanxi Guoli fans threw missiles at the players and the police before setting fire to the stadium seats. The fans accused the referee of being corrupt and fixing the match. The fans were finally dispersed by riot police with batons and high pressure water hoses. Outside the stadium fighting broke out again, a police van and four police cars were overturned. Two years before this incident following crowd troube at a match also in Xi'an, the government had demanded more action to stamp out football hooliganism.

Football hooliganism continued to rise in China partly due to allegations of corrupt referees. In June 2002, thousands of football fans rampaged for two hours in the streets of Fuzhou in Fujian province, overturning police cars, damaging a bus and tearing street signs down. Order was only restored when one hundred heavily armed paramilitary policemen were called in. The rampage had started when fans were unable to watch the World Cup match between China and Brazil at an outside broadcast.

On 4 July 2004 fans rioted in Beijing when China lost the final of the AFC Asian Cup to Japan, 3-1, at the Workers Stadium. After the match hundreds of Chinese fans threw bottles, confronted riot police, burned Japanese flags and vandalised a Japanese Embassy official's car. The Japanese fans had to be protected by the police, and bussed to safety afer they had been given a hostile reception by Chinese fans. The rioting was attributed to ill-feeling toward Japan for atrocities committed before and during the Second World War when Japan invaded China. And that the traditional rivalry between the two countries means that tension between fans is never far from the surface.

North and South Korea

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There was a brief riot between Iranian and North Korean fans at an international match in 2005. It appears that a North Korean player got into an argument with the Syrian referee, and then things got out of hand. Reports also claimed that a brief out-break of violence hit a South Korean match at about the same date, but this has never been officially acknowledged.

Middle East

Israel and Palestine

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In the 2000s, the Middle East crisis spilled over into sporadic riots between Israeli and Palestinian or Egyptian football fans. There are also riots at matches between Beitar Jerusalem who are associated with the Jewish population and Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC, who are associated more with the Arab population, highlighting the conflict between these two groups.

Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Four died when troops opened fire at a derby match between AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa in November 1998.

In April 2001, 14 people died following a stampede at a derby match between TP Mazembe and FC Saint Eloi Lupopo. When fans invaved the pitch after Mazembe had equalised, and rival fans started throwing missiles at each other, the police fired tear gas, and fans rushed to escape the effects of the tear gas. In the resulting stampede, 14 people died. Fans of the two clubs are alleged to have a history of hatred and violence to each other.

Ghana

Up to 125 people died and hundreds were injured when football fans stampeded at a match in Accra in 2001. Accra Hearts were leading 2-1 against Asante Kotoko — with five minutes left in the match — when some fans began throwing bottles and chairs onto the pitch. Police then fired tear gas into the crowd, creating panic. Fans rushed to escape the gas, and in the enusing crush, up to 125 people were killed.

Ivory Coast

Fighting among fans at a match claimed one life on 6 May 2001 and injured 39 people.

Libya

Eight fans died and 39 were injured as troops opened fire to stop both pro and anti Gadaffi sentiments being expressed in a Tripoli stadium during a match between Al Ahli and Al Ittihad in December 1996.

Mali

After a World Cup qualifying match between Mali and Togo on 27 March 2005, which Togo won 2-1, Mali fans rioted and went on a spree of destruction and violence. The trouble started when Togo scored the winning goal. Police fired tear gas at Mali fans who had invavded the pitch. The match was abandoned and the result awarded to Togo. The result set off a wave of violence in the capital of Mali, Bamako. Thousands of Mali fans in Bamako began chanting threats toward the Mali players, cars were set on fire, stores looted, property and monuments destroyed and a building housing the local Olympics committee burnt down.

Mauritius

In May 1999, seven people died when rioting football fans threw petrol bombs into a casino, following a match in Port Louis between the Mauritian League champions, Scouts Club, and Fire Brigade SC. After the match which Fire Brigade SC won, hundreds of Scouts fans went on a rampage, attacking police vehicles and torching sugar can fields.

Mozambique

The government of Mozambique had to apologise for the violent behaviour of Mozambique fans, before, during and after a match between Mozambique team, Clube Ferroviário de Maputo and Zimbabwe team, Dynamos on 10 May 1998. Ferroviário fans attacked the Dynamo players and the referee, stoned vehicles and fought running battles with riot police outside the stadium. Fifteen people, including four Red Cross workers, needed hospital treatment.

South Africa

In Johannesburg, South Africa, on 14 January 1991 forty people died when fans surged toward a jammed exit to escape rival brawling fans at a match south west of Johannesburg.

Zimbabwe

In July 2000 twelve people died following a stampede, when they were crushed, at an World Cup qualifying match between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Harare. Police fired tear gas when the crowd started throwing missiles onto the pitch, after South Africa had taken a two goal lead. After Delron Buckley scored South Africas second goal bottles began to fly onto the pitch. The police then fired tear gas into the 60,000 crowd, who began running to the exits to escape the effects of the tear gas. The match had to be abandoned as players from both sides felt the effects of the tear gas and had to receive medical treatment. The police were condemned for firing tear gas, calling it a total over-reaction. In July 2002, two fans were shot when police opened fire on rioting fans at a match in Bulawayo. Seven police officers were injured and five vehilces badly damaged.

See also

• 2007 Catania football violence
• 2006 Basel Hooligan Incident
• Casuals
• Collective Effervescence
• Hooliganism
• List of hooligan firms
• Major football rivalries
• Millwall brick
• Sectarianism
• Skinhead
• Ultras
• Yobbo
• Hooligans: Storm Over Europe

Bibliography

• Franklin Foer. How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization. Harper, 2005.

External links

• Hooli-News Hooligan-related news and information from around the world.
• Chinese riot after Japan victory
• Chinese football fans riot over penalty
• Article about football hooliganism in Israel
• Nation on Alert over Soccer Riots
• Information about stadium disasters
• Article about football hooliganism in India
• Stop Violence, Don't Stop Football Examination of violence in Italian football