What is hooliganism?
Read together in the classroom:
"Hooliganism" is the term used broadly to describe disorderly, aggressive and often violent behaviour comitted by spectators/fans at sporting events. In the UK, hooliganism is almost exclusively regards football. Violent behaviour has been common amongst football supporters since the birth of the sport, but it is only really since the 1960s that it began to be perceived as a serious problem. In the 1980s, however, hooliganism became a regular part of English football supporting, following a series of major disturbances at home and abroad, which resulted in numerous deaths. Vigorous efforts by governments and the police since then have done much to reduce the scale of hooliganism. However, it still persists, but in new forms. Today, in contrast to the more or less random stages of violence of the past, gangs of rival fans will frequently arrange to meet at specific locations, using mobile phones or the Internet, before and after matches to fight. Furthermore, while England has the worst international reputation for hooliganism, a number of other countries have similar and growing problems. Today, the worst hooliganism problems tend to happen in relation to international matches and events. In all these countries, some gangs of hooligans share other characteristics, interests and beliefs that leads them towards violent conduct, including far-right political opinions and racist organisations. Others, however, are apolitical, and are simply made from men who enjoy fighting. BBC - |