Violence erupts in France during Euro 2016

[fulham]

I have two Brothers who went to the game, Apparently Local French Ultra's attacked both sets of supporters after the game.

Word spread quickly that things had kicked off, and fans of both ENG, and Russia who were looking for a fight had a excuse(in a FB Hooligans mind) to engage the other set of fans

[CaptainCrunch]

time to ban soccer in Europe until their fans learn to behave themselves.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

time to ban soccer in Europe until their fans learn to behave themselves.

I wonder if they were thinking the same thing about hockey in Canada watching the Canuck fans burn their city down.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I wonder if they were thinking the same thing about hockey in Canada watching the Canuck fans burn their city down.

How are these comparable?

Weren't people murdered in this event?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

time to ban soccer in Europe until their fans learn to behave themselves.

Same stuff happens in South America and Africa, it's just not reported unless there is a decapitation or impalement.

Ultras actually started in Brazil in the 1930s.

[CliffFletcher]

Do these turds realize that police resources needed to keep them apart are police resources diverted away from making sure terrorists don't blow people up? Actually, it just occurred to me that there's an everybody wins eventuality here.

[KTrain]

I still chuckle at the thought of this sport being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. The violence was even worse back then.

[SportsJunky]

What is an ultra?

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

What is an ultra?

An extremist.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by nik-

This really isn't on the English fans at all. Russian Ultras came in huge numbers to pick a fight. The OM Ultras have also been waiting for this to start fights too.

Really? You suggesting they're blameless?

Gary Lineker ‏@GaryLineker You can talk about police provocation, or other fans causing trouble, but it only seems to happen where the English go.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Same stuff happens in South America and Africa, it's just not reported unless there is a decapitation or impalement.

Ultras actually started in Brazil in the 1930s.

Good point.

World Wide Ban on Soccer.

[shermanator]

Ultras are to soccer supporters as the Vancouver rioters are to hockey fans. They just use the game as an excuse to cause trouble.

Thankfully ultra culture is largely absent in Canada. The day it arrives in Calgary is the day I stop being a supporter.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

What is an ultra?

It's basically a very organized club of team fanatics. The intent is that organized nature and displays intimidate the other fans and team, and the belief is that they can influence the outcome of games. In some cities/countries, they go as far as to mass purchase tickets or even buy sections of stadiums to have permanent reservations for their members. They become powerful enough to lead boycotts to influence team management decisions as well.

In many cases, they become multi-million dollar businesses selling their own merchandise and memberships. In some countries, the ultras take up political causes and the sport actually takes 2nd stage to the political causes.

Wiki has a write up on them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultras

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Ultras are to soccer supporters as the Vancouver rioters are to hockey fans. They just use the game as an excuse to cause trouble.

Thankfully ultra culture is largely absent in Canada. The day it arrives in Calgary is the day I stop being a supporter.

The funny thing is, hockey is actually growing in popularity in some European markets because attending a live hockey game is seen as something a family can do safely, while attending soccer games is too violent due to fanatics in the stands. I know in Croatia, Medvescak has benefited from this quite a bit to the point that they have one of the highest attendances in Europe despite not being a traditional hockey market.

[CliffFletcher]

Yeah, I think we take it for granted in Canada that professional sports is something you can take a family to. It has a very different demographic and appeal in other parts of the world.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The funny thing is, hockey is actually growing in popularity in some European markets because attending a live hockey game is seen as something a family can do safely, while attending soccer games is too violent due to fanatics in the stands. I know is Croatia, Medvescak has benefited from this quite a bit to the point that they have one of the highest attendances in Europe despite not being a traditional hockey market.

That makes sense to me. Thankfully attending live soccer is very safe here, I can attest that supporters in Calgary are mostly just nerds who like soccer and drinking. The downside is that in Calgary there's not a shred of the atmosphere that you would get at a European game, it's mostly youth teams and soccer moms with 20 supporters singing and drumming.

Originally Posted by Locke

I've got a suggestion: Go to the game. Enjoy it. Have a beer or ten. Party. Go home.

And look at that, no one gets hurt!

This.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by shermanator

That makes sense to me. Thankfully attending live soccer is very safe here, I can attest that supporters in Calgary are mostly just nerds who like soccer and drinking. The downside is that in Calgary there's not a shred of the atmosphere that you would get at a European game, it's mostly youth teams and soccer moms with 20 supporters singing and drumming.



This.

Have you seen how violent and over the top soccer moms can be?

Plus damn.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The funny thing is, hockey is actually growing in popularity in some European markets because attending a live hockey game is seen as something a family can do safely, while attending soccer games is too violent due to fanatics in the stands. I know in Croatia, Medvescak has benefited from this quite a bit to the point that they have one of the highest attendances in Europe despite not being a traditional hockey market.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yeah, I think we take it for granted in Canada that professional sports is something you can take a family to. It has a very different demographic and appeal in other parts of the world.

I'm still convinced that had the Flames and Oilers met in the second round in 2006, there would have been blood on either the Red Mile or Copycat Kilometre. The attitude in both cities that year was... eerie.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's funny how much worry there was about Brazil 2014 being violent, yet in all of 4 days this tournament is already way worse. I also wonder what hooligans do in their offseasons to prepare themselves for these big events. Obviously one of the top preparation tactics is taking your shirt off. Being shirtless appears to be a hooligan pre-requisite

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

French security between the two was as effective as the Maginot Line, it seems.

The thing that got me about going to an Arsenal game last month was the riot cops deployed ten blocks in every direction from the stadium after the game.

Soccer fans take their stupidity seriously, it seems.

Who were they playing? Maybe that was a symptom of the rivalry or something like that. I went to a game at White Hart Lane earlier this season and the police presence didn't seem over the top at all, and it was completely safe.