39 Football Fans In Heysel Stadium example essay topic

May 29, 1985. More than 60,000 Liverpool and Juventus fans paved their way into the ageing Heysel stadium in northwest Brussels. Nothing forebode the disaster which was to follow. However, it is worth mentioning that Liverpool fans had been spending their day drinking before the European Cup final. At around 7 pm local time about an hour before the kickoff the trouble started.

Fans had been singing, waving flags and letting off fireworks but the atmosphere was charged turning more violent when a thin line of police was unable to prevent a contingent of Liverpool supporters from stampeding towards rival fans. A wall separating Liverpool followers from Juventus supporters collapsed under the pressure and many were crushed or trampled when Juventus fans, in a state of panic, tried to escape. Fifteen years later at midday bells in the city's municipal building pealed 39 times in memory of the 39 Italian soccer fans who lost their lives, that day, fifteen years ago when the terrace wall collapsed. That was the first time that the city of Liverpool commemorated the victims of the Heysel Stadium in recognition of the disaster in Belgium. On Wednesday, June 14, 2000 in Belgium at the King Baudouin stadium, which used to be called Heysel before its 1995 renovation 90 minutes ahead of the Euro 2000 game between Italy and Belgium the Italian players laid flowers at a plaque to pay tribute to the 39 victims of the Heysel tragedy. Despite the fact that 16 years have elapsed the Heysel episode remains one of the bleakest day for all soccer because. ".. the fan sporting passion was swept away by madness and an uncontrolled explosion of violence".

No event, whatsoever, portrays the social phenomenon of soccer hooliganism more dramatically than the unfair death of these 39 football fans in Heysel stadium, which was the result of thoughtlessness and fanaticism. The famous specter of the 39 dead Juventus fans continuous to haunt any debate about the causes and the cure of football violence. Violence in football stadiums has been around as long as football exists and has been a feature, which goes hand in hand with the game no matter if World or Europe Championships or any national or regional level. All countries have been faced with this problem without exception but the homeland and chronological development brings England in the forefront. Soccer hooliganism is now an integral part of the social fabric of England. Fortunately, 16 years after the Heysel incident, there have been no multiple death incidences, however, soccer hooligans cause single deaths every now and then and as a result violence in football matches is still a feature of the games.

English soccer hooliganism is still "in business". But before we proceed in this essay we must first define the terms so as to have a set idea of what football hooliganism. Is. The term hooligan came to be used around 1920, referring to the Houlihan's, a particularly violent Irish family living in London's East end. (Brims on 81) The term received worldwide recognition since the 1960's according to Sir Norman Chester Center for Football Research.

(Williams 1) Used today, hooliganism refers to any type of violence coming from football supporters in or around the stadium. In particular, it entails outright attacks on people, an action that more often than not leads to the destruction of property, injury, serious injury, or death. In addition, hooligans are capable wreaking havoc in and out of the stadium by engaging in stealing, looting or even by committing acts of vandalism such as the breaking of windows of neighboring to the stadium shops. This violence can often constitute brawls between the so-called "firms" or gangs of hooligans, not to mention verbal abuse and attacks against other players or even the referee. In a nutshell, hooliganism is any and all violence pertaining to football. As football is the most popular sport in England, it becomes much more than a game, carrying considerable repercussions not only at local level at a national level as well.

Unfortunately, hooliganism is a disease upon football, which in the very end extends upon society. Many times this flashes in the news around the world and not only does it draw from football but it also permeates the British community, which is criticized worldwide. If one dared ask what could be done to safeguard the sport apparently everybody would think that it is a literal question put forward at a speech. The aim of this paper, nevertheless, is to explore the possibilities of devising a set of measures that will lead to the alleviation or even the elimination of this outrageous phenomenon. To that end, the reasons that lead fans to resort to such acts of violence must be explored and the consequences not superficially but thoroughly studied. This may lead, therefore, to the measures that should or could be taken as well as the difficulties that they entail.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF HOOLIGANISM The effects of 'hooliganism are substantial and influence the Britons in all walks of life. However, they are mostly visible and felt in the financial field where they have an impact on individual citizens, the football club themselves as well as the government. In addition, there a number of social consequences which have devastating repercussions in the every day way of life of British people. First and foremost, it must be highlighted that the damages effected during such outbursts of violence are immense.

A very illuminating example is what took place on 12th February 1974 at the football match between Leeds United and the Lyons football club for the European Championship. In that football match which took place in Paris some Leeds hooligans match which took place in Paris some Leeds hooligans apart from physically attacking French fans they ripped up seating and other stadium fixtures which they used against the French Police. The venue after the match resembled more a battlefield than a football stadium. As if that were not enough it is believed that most serious confrontations and consequently damages are done between rival fans at territories adjacent to the football stadium. As a result of this attacks there are major destructions in shops and buildings owned by private citizens as well as in public property.

These damages have to be restored sooner or later. Needless to say, that citizens have to pay for the damages effected on the individual properties while the state has to provide the financial means to restore the damages effected on public property. In order to raise the necessary capital the government is called upon to increase taxation. To take things a step further clubs suffer twofold financial losses. Firstly, more often than not, they are asked to pay heavy and sometimes unbearable fines for the illegal activities performed by their fans.

Secondly, attendances at football matches are poor. This is due to two reasons. The quality of the entertainment that is being offered declines all the time. Actually, football enthusiasts do not want to attend football matches to watch rival fans engaging in fights. Many people argue that football tends to be boring today lacking some of the excitement and characters of the past. On top of the above peaceful citizens are reluctant to go to football stadiums for fear of suffering injuries either from flying objects or from being victims of various acts of violence which might lead even to death.

According to the following survey the tendency of declining attendances is evident. Apart from a number of small exceptions in the downward slope of the graph it can be observed that there is a steady decline from the 1940's onwards. In fact much fewer people seem unwilling to pay to watch professional football. It seems that there is a fall in attractiveness to paying customers. This has to be taken seriously into consideration since football is part and parcel of British culture. In addition to that, it must be stressed that the government has to spend large amounts of money on the police force required to be present at football matches to safeguard the smooth running of the football game as well as to ensure that acts of vandalism will not be performed in the surrounding area.

It is estimated that most Premier League matches require between 75 to 250 police officers to control crowds and limit hooligan activity. The cost for maintaining such a high number of police officers is assumed partly by the football clubs themselves who are responsible for paying approximately for the one third of all officers who are present inside the grounds and the rest of the costs comes from the local police budget. It is indicative that during the year 1991-1992 the cost of policing football matches totaled 7.9 million pounds. Added to this cost there is the one assumed by many major clubs which have a police force escorting visiting fans to and from their transport and then out of town. So it is evident from the above that the financial burdens caused by football hooligans are many.

Apparently, there is an immediate call for measures which will remedy the situation. The consequences experienced by society at large are even greater. To start with, acts of violence wreak havoc to society and disrupt the lives of law abiding citizens. Apart from damages inside the ground there are damages outside it as already mentioned above. For example trains that have been in use for years to transport soccer fans from one place to another to attend away games were subject to hooligan activity.

In addition as already mentioned once cameras started being used in the football field in the 70's and 80's for the identification of hooligans to become easier, acts of vandalism were transferred to pubs and side streets of British city centers. Hooligans also resorted to attacking airports, bus stops, night clubs and they did so aiming at clashing rival fans. So it is evident that the lives of lawful inhabitants were disordered. But this was not limited to British grounds only but it was exported abroad as well. According to Williams et. all, English hooligans in Spain were described as the ones to have destroyed cafes and bars causing injury to local people by getting involved in fights with Spanish young people, rioting, stealing, looting and committing other criminal acts. So it can be seen that these activities were exported to other European nations causing social unrest there too.

In turn this led to another social problem for the Britons whose reputation suffered abroad. As Taylor states in his book England was described as a nation of soccer hooligans by the foreign press. In a sense, Europe was " easy pickings" for the hard core English hooligans who reigned supreme against fans who did not fight back and police who were not used to such outbursts of violence especially in sports events which are considered to be peaceful and promote healthy rivalry among both the players and fans. As a result people abroad formed an image for English soccer fans which were encouraged by the media " as a loutish beer drinking mob of football hooligans", and " it was as if the British had become a nation of hooligans football louts".

The English were more than willing to perpetuate the image that is reflected of them. This situation unfortunately, not only angers lawful citizens but they also feel ashamed. As a matter of fact, this feelings are only unfair for a nation that has contributed substantially to this sport. From all the above it is evident that the financial and social problems are numerous and they constitute an unbearable burden for the ordinary British nationals. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN It is clear from the above that having suffered almost 30 years on and off of bad behavior inside and outside the football court causing disruption to the routine activities of citizens and turning quiet towns into armed camps amounts to disaster.

It was long before football organizations decided that they were not ready to condone to another generation of violence so they decided to take a set of measures that proved quite effective. Yet many more need to be taken in order for football to acquire the long lost glamour that it deserves in the British society. One of the measures taken that proved effective was the use of closed circuit television cameras which can scan the crowd during the course of the game to spot the ones with the unruly behavior. This equipment have special videos incorporated that can make printed enlargements and thus file charges against individuals on the spot. In addition, a large police force has been mobilized inside and outside the stadium so as to acts as a deterrent or intervene in case that violent behavior erupts.

Due to the fact that the peer groups of young working classmen are pervaded by an emphasis on drinking certain measures have been taken towards that direction too. Closing the bars in the vicinity of ground was one of the measures that have brought about results. Nevertheless, it must be highlighted that usually fans tend to buy alcohol from outside and as a result enter the football stadiums already drunk. Another effective measure that was taken is an all seated policy according to which major football clubs provide all seated accommodation.

This creates an orderly atmosphere altogether apart from the fact that fans are deprived of the opportunity to function as a mob. To take things a step further, there are a plurality of measures that can be taken to restore law and order. Primarily, most strict legal measures must be taken and severe penalties must be imposed on fans who engage in criminal activity so as to be rehabilitated. This harsh punishment may also act as a deterrent for the future offenders. If they are penalized more harshly then offenders will think twice before committing similar acts.

Furthermore, individual rioters should pay for damages inflicted either on private or on public property. Another effective measure would be for them to be blacklisted and be prohibited from attending any life football match for a certain number of years. It goes without saying that for those who attack and taunt supporters of fans of other countries or who cause damages to property abroad passports should be revoked for a substantial number of years as well as a ban from sporting events should be imposed. In some extreme cases passports should be removed for life for fear of damaging the reputation of the whole nation abroad. In this way the violence that has tarnished the image of England abroad may be eliminated. As far as alcohol drinking is concerned not only should the bars in the vicinity of ground close but also ban alcohol consumption and purchase on match days altogether.

Furthermore, since it is known that alcohol sparks unruly behavior, loosens inhibition and unleashes combative attitudes it should be rendered unlawful to enter or try to enter a football event while drunk. Fans should not only be ejected but also arrested. As far as the media are concerned tabloid editors and owners should be discouraged from publishing articles that incite violent reactions. They should be cautioned to refrain from the kind of journalism which inflames the hooligans. To take matters a step further, match ticket allocations should be strictly controlled and players themselves should stop provoking violence but their lack of fair play and adherence to the rules of the game on the field. But above all it is my firm conviction that what should be done is education for the younger generation of football fans so as to respect the sport, themselves and other cultures to ensure that acts of violence are not exported abroad.