
The Poles were, naturally, a tad upset that the Ruskies decided to have a Russia day march through Krakow, the day the two teams were playing each other.
Tad short sighted on UEFA's part.
Bit like having England play Germany, in Berlin on VE-day
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:20,
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Tad short sighted on UEFA's part.
Bit like having England play Germany, in Berlin on VE-day

Yes, it was Russia Day; yes, the Russians were in Poland
But neither of these things caused yesterday's troubles.
It was the fact that small groups, (within both sets of fans), love nothing better than a punch up - and they knew exactly where and when to get one.
I'm not dismissing the bad blood that exists between the two countries, but I think it's being used as an excuse for idiots that simply like to thump other idiots.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:38,
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But neither of these things caused yesterday's troubles.
It was the fact that small groups, (within both sets of fans), love nothing better than a punch up - and they knew exactly where and when to get one.
I'm not dismissing the bad blood that exists between the two countries, but I think it's being used as an excuse for idiots that simply like to thump other idiots.

and that's the exact same argument people should use when they talk about football hooligans.
Football doesn't make them thugs. they are just thugs
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:42,
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Football doesn't make them thugs. they are just thugs

Most of us don't start those either.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:43,
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I'd prefer it if the teams played with the severed head of an enemy tribe
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:03,
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because they see people in football shirts beating each other up.
That shit happens every friday night.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:21,
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That shit happens every friday night.

it's a popular one which attracts fans from all walks of life across the wide spectrum of society.
It's the same as blaming video games for the violent actions of the stupid, or mentally-unhinged.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:25,
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It's the same as blaming video games for the violent actions of the stupid, or mentally-unhinged.

Missed my train this morning cos I was playing CoD til 4 in the morning.
Bastard video games.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:27,
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Bastard video games.

Or rugby, or snooker, or the olympics.
Maybe darts.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:38,
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Maybe darts.

fault for not being harsher on the punishments given to troublemakers.
Ultimately, I think that people often enjoy sport by feeling that they belong to a crowd, rather than for the sport itself, and herd mentality can be dangerous if not controlled.
Football has been allowed to get the reputation of being a thuggish sport, and so it is now going to attract those types.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:03,
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Ultimately, I think that people often enjoy sport by feeling that they belong to a crowd, rather than for the sport itself, and herd mentality can be dangerous if not controlled.
Football has been allowed to get the reputation of being a thuggish sport, and so it is now going to attract those types.

"Herd mentality" covers the relentless churn of consumerist fashions ("OMG must buy teh new hawt thing 'cos everyone else is!!!111one") nicely; but "there's an arbitrary difference between us and them, let's bash the shit out of each other" distinctly reminds me of that scene from the start of 2001 where the apeman tribes... bash the shit out of each other over an arbitrary difference between them.
Your sentiment's spot on, anyhow.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:16,
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Your sentiment's spot on, anyhow.

it's the organisers of said sport, i.e. it's governing body.
That I agree with.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:25,
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That I agree with.

In what other sport do you see highly paid professional players remonstrating aggressively with a match official, cheating to gain competitive advantage or taunting opposing fans? Often without any penalty.
Football has an underlying culture of aggression which transfers easily to an impressionable (and usually boozed-up) audience.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:09,
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Football has an underlying culture of aggression which transfers easily to an impressionable (and usually boozed-up) audience.

what was your point again?
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:43,
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I'd wager than the WEREN'Ts outweigh the WEREs
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 13:35,
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is like blaming freedom of speech for peaceful protests turning into violent clashes
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 13:42,
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If hoolganism wasnt attributable to football, do you think they would be prepared to do this?
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 14:31,
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it's, again, attributed to the stupid actions of the minority.
This isn't that complicated.
Again, blaming football for the violence of those who participate or spectate is like blaming
violent video games for the failings of those who play them for not realising that it's not real - or blaming rap music for an increase in gang violence.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 14:39,
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This isn't that complicated.
Again, blaming football for the violence of those who participate or spectate is like blaming
violent video games for the failings of those who play them for not realising that it's not real - or blaming rap music for an increase in gang violence.

What is it about football that attracts this sort of supporter?
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 14:48,
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probably the fact that two people can play at least some form of football; whether it be pass-and-shoot, heads-and-volleys, two-touch, etc... whereas most other sports rely on a full team structure...
another aspect, at least at my school, is that football is used as a way to placate unruly students in a case of "just give them football and shut them up", without tackling (lol) and underlying issue.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 15:21,
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another aspect, at least at my school, is that football is used as a way to placate unruly students in a case of "just give them football and shut them up", without tackling (lol) and underlying issue.


I watch football, porn, violent movies etc and play violent video games and can watch football without wanting to attack others.
so one can't blame a sport for the actions choose to take.
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 17:20,
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so one can't blame a sport for the actions choose to take.


aren't 3/4 length jeans a little, well... y'know, queer?!
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:28,
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...that people who enjoy watching 22 athletic men running round a field in shorts are somehow, well, different?
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 11:50,
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They're not after the shorts, or the athleticism. It's the group bathing afterwards that's the attraction...
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:45,
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 14:45,
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Awesome five-a-side shoes :)
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Wed 13 Jun 2012, 12:11,
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