Football and violence - Football or fireball?

 

The recently concluded Euro 2008 was widely covered by the international media, but there was another news item that attracted less coverage and readers. Spain's Euro 2008 football victory party went sour when a fan died and almost 100 were injured during wild festivities in Madrid.

The victim, a 40-year-old man, was found lying in a pool of blood by street cleaners in the center of the capital. Initial นักฟุตบอลที่โดนกักตัว suggested he probably suffered a head injury.

After the national team had broken an enchantment of 44 years, the Spaniards took to the streets in wild festivities that lasted well into the following day. Wrapped in Spanish flags, fans drop fireworks and bullied car horns.

Police tried to prevent fans from jumping into the Cibeles fountain, the traditional way to celebrate a football victory, and carried out relay charges to break isolated riots in the capital. More than 50 supporters were arrested for vandalism and public unrest. Fortunately, there was only one reported death.

The football game has been closely linked to hundreds of deaths. Many times it was the result of hooliganism or football riots, and many times it came out of accidents or storms or fights among the fans.

Football and violence have been moving closely for many years. In 1314, King Edward II of England banned football to prevent football-related violence. Most of the football-playing nations have witnessed football-related deaths from time to time.

In 1968, over 70 people died when the crowds took part in a football match in Argentina, stamped after some young people threw burning papers at each other. In 1971, a fight broke out in a fight in Brazil, in which four were killed and 1,500 wounded.

In 1964, more than 300 football fans died in another football accident, and another 500 were injured in Peru in a riot during an Olympic qualifier between Argentina and Peru.

In June 2006, Germany beat Poland in a World Cup final match, a result that meant Germany qualified for the second round of the final. The match was marred by violent clashes between German and Polish fans. Police detained more than 300 people in Dortmund after clashes. German fans threw chairs, bottles and fireworks at police. Different groups of German and Polish fans fought with each other in separate clashes. In February 2007 in Saxony, all German lower league matches were canceled after about 800 fans attacked 300 police officers after a match.

In Turkey, before Galatasaray's semi-final UEFA Cup match with Leeds United A.F.C. in 2000, many fans were stabbed to death after street fights between Turkish and British hooligans.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, there were limited cases of violence with over 200 preventive arrests. During this time, police believe each rioter averaged or threw 17 gallons of beer.

In a more serious situation, the police had to protect Libyan fans in Egypt from missiles thrown at them by Egyptian fans in the level above them during a match between Egypt and Morocco.

In another football accident, 125 people died and hundreds were injured when football fans stampeded at a match in Ghana in 2001. In Johannesburg, South Africa, on January 14, 1991, forty people died as fans bowed to a jammed exit to escape rival fight fans at a match southwest of Johannesburg.

On April 15, 1989, in England, ninety-five people and at least 200 wounded in Britain's worst sporting disaster were killed after a crowd-crushing crush crushed fans against barriers at the English F.A. Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium.

In thousands of other cases, hundreds of fans were stabbed in various places around the world. Many matches were canceled and many clubs paid large fines. Public property faced destruction in countless events. All of these events leave the game with a spotted image. Now most of the football-playing nations are taking extra security measures for various tournaments. Along with the governments, a lot also depends on the fans. Only they can help curb such violence. A broader and more liberal view among fans is needed to make the sport a sporty affair!