Can Soccer Fans Show They Are Now Grown Ups?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-31472090
It's always been a source of puzzlement to me that supporters of different sides in a contest cannot coexist and enjoy a drink watching the game.

[Gromit]

They can in England and Wales. Just the Scots not allowed.

[andy-hughes]

Football hooliganism is not really about football - that is simply a convenient peg on which to hang the behaviour.

It's more to do with tribalism, and a sense of 'belonging' for a disenfranchised section of young men who do not experience normal family bonds fostering self-respect and self-confidence, so they find it outside, in the gang structure of hooliganism.

It's no coincidence that organised football louts like to give themselves names - 'The Inter-City Firm', 'The Naughty Forty@ etc., it increases their sense of simultaneously bonding with each other, and excluding wider society.

So because football hooliganism is based on working-class tribalism, it is unlikely to follow its rugby counterpart into peaceful support as the norm right across all sectors of the supporting community.

[-Talbot-]

It's more to do with tribalism, and a sense of 'belonging' for a disenfranchised section of young men who do not experience normal family bonds fostering self-respect and self-confidence, so they find it outside, in the gang structure of hooliganism.


Young men?
Have you any idea what the average age of a football holligan is, andy?

Mid 30's

[andy-hughes]

Talbot - I refer to them as 'young men' in its widest capacity.

[ToraToraTora]

Ive been to a few games in England gromit, never been allowed to have a drink in my seat.

[Gromit]

Not in your seat. You can in the concourse. Your link/news item is about Scotland where alcohol is forbidden from the ground.

The difference between Football and Rugby is obvious.
Rugby is a load of snobs watching thugs fight each other.
Football is a load of thugs watching millionaires have a hissy fit.

[ToraToraTora]

I see gromit. So they are not even allowed a drink on the premisis in Scotland then.

[Arksided]

OP, its a passion thing... Myself being a Man United supporter my eldest Bro is a Liverpool Supporter we've watched many games together, many a time with heated breath but never goes beyond that... I don't understand why it has to escalate either... and we both enjoy a drink.

[ToraToraTora]

divebuddy, I have tickets for Ireland v England at lansdowne rd on March 1st, now that's a craic!

[joggerjayne]

I hope they start letting us have alcohol in the stands in England.

It's a pain having to sneak it into the seats in Pepsi cartons, and drink it through a straw.

[Arksided]

What ever do you mean JJ. surely that's illegal ;-)

[Gromit]

One of your friends JJ?

. Media URL: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FbZW8e1za44
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[ToraToraTora]

yes Divebuddy, that's why this fixture is a big thing for both sides, when Wales and Scotland Bottled it, England went and they got a standing ovation from the Irish crowd. Lost the game but hey we turned up as Jeff pullin famously said.

[Gromit]

Media URL: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FbZW8e1za44
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[joggerjayne]

I'm sure it's not illegal.

You can buy mini bottles of wine in the concourse around the ground. And you can buy fizzy drinks.

If you take the fizzy drink carton home and wash it, you can bring it to the next game to transfer your wine into.

Hypothetically, of course.

It will be just my luck that one of the stewards from our stadium is an ABer, lol.

[Arksided]

JJ, I've never heard of such trickery before... honest ;-)

Lets hope you're not busted.