www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/artic...100#comment-48881052

These are great to watch, more exciting than the games sometimes.

andrew wrote:
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/artic...100#comment-48881052

These are great to watch, more exciting than the games sometimes.


Why is it always football? You dont see golf fans punching each other, do you?

Football Fight ? I always think Flash Gordon soundtrack, Queen, Flash an American Football QB taking out Mings men with a 'short passing throw'

Makes me smile anyway

Yes indeed - Flash - a-aah - one of the great themes with that superb sting; not acclaimed at the time but now recognised as a classic! And dear Peter Wyngarde in the "Darth Vader" role.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:


Why is it always football?


Because it is, by far, the world's most popular sport - and played in every country on earth. All 209 of them, and the only sport to do so.

Its a simple game with the offside rule being the only (mildly) complicated aspect. It has a cross cultural appeal and ignites rivalries between continents, countries, cities, towns and villages.

Followed by the rich and poor, old and young, men and women - its popularity has grown phenomenally in recent years. The game is played by millions and watched by billions.

About 30B watched the 2006 World Cup, with 1B watching the final - worldwide. In 2014/Brazil, these figures will be surpassed and - though slower than most to embrace the game - the USA is now well on its way to becoming a major force in the sport.

'Soccer Moms' are everywhere in the US - as the simple game (only a ball required) can be played by girls and boys. Together, at an early age.

I think maybe 'why is it always Football' refered more to the why always Football and violence rather than why always talking about football

It's good for travel operators, sport brands, food vendors, distress flare sellers and it keeps the police busy.

Mr Reason wrote:
why always Football and violence


Put simpy.

Because the game is ubiquitous - and the reason for very large gatherings of opposing supporters.

No, it is odd. I don't go to soccer games but used to go to American Football and Baseball all the time in the USA - never any violence and a great family crowd, with very friendly people. The only violence you ever see in sports in America seems to be Ice Hockey, on the ice, not from fans. Equally inexplicable.

I'm no sociologist, but that hasn't stopped me having my own theory......and its a madcap mix of the following (I am a scholar of Football history, I follow it, I support a teAM, i have travelled away for many years, and I'm Northern, or at least, extreme east midland / northern)

- roots back to working mens clubs and work places
- roots back to pre-league, where games were few and far between, but between local towns or workplaces
- the league was bourne out of the need for regular games and more of them
- the only outcome of a league is 'a winner'
- it generates local pride
- it generates rivalry
- the English league has 4 pro leagues with national coverage (few foreign leagues go beyond 2 full time leagues)
- the league system generated a 'winner' mentality in a regional pride competition (in essence)
- the 'derby' game is high amongst fans must win games in a season
- the whole mishmash of historical and social conditioning of football success, and it being the national game has lead to an extension of the rivalry to the fans who take the rivalry to the street.......and in their minds, local pride and violence upheld in the street fighting, IN THEIR MINDS.............i'm not an apologist for them doing it

I honestly don't think other sports have the 'mishmash background' of a national exposure to have lead to the same conclusion.

Rugby, not a nation sport, played with less likely working class roots
Rugby Leage, has elememts of footballs rivalry, and it is fiece amongst fans, but isn't fanned by as much national coverage

Most other sports have very little national coverage and therefore no chance for the mish mash to apply

Home Office figures confirm that at football matches (Football League/England and Wales/Season 2012/2013), there were 2,456 arrests; in 2011/2012 - it was 2,363.

The 2,456 were from 39m attendees - 0.01%. One in 14,000.

During the 2012/2013 season, about 10,000 UK supporters attended 44 away matches in Europe; there were 20 arrests.


I suggest that here, at least, matters have vastly improved.

And the problem has migrated to other areas where it often reflects civil/political/economic unrest.

I bet Honey is part of the statics.

What has honey to do with the fact that football violence in the UK has virtually gone?

More serious problems exist in the UK now - 100,000 in jail.

Same number as drink drivers, caught annually.

And rising.....

She could of gone and done it overseas lol, your right football hooliganism is no where has bad, you could find trouble on the terraces just as easily starting a fight in the street if you look for it, coin throwing is the new trend.

andrew wrote:
I bet Honey is part of the statics.

I haven't been to a football match since 1978 and I dont think I thumped anyone.