An Excuse To Riot?

For many years sports fans from all around the world have fought over the sport they love, from Argentineans to the British. Whether fans are from the same country or have travelled half way across the world to see their beloved team play, spats happen, which lead to brawls and then the inevitable riot occurs. After hearing about the recent riot in Vancouver, spurred on by the Canuks loss of the Stanley Cup final to the Boston Bruins, I started to consider sports and violence.

The Vancouver Canuks who were big favourites although only ever having won the title once, were expected to do well this season. Complete mayhem ensued after their 4-0 defeat, looting, fighting, car fires, acts that have only been seen once before in this city's history took over. Riot police were called in and tear gas was used, it has now been revealed that the cost of damages comes to around $5 million. A ridiculous sum of money that could have been spent in more effective ways now goes towards rectifying the chaos caused.

Sports teams in general, often have a following of a specific group of people that deem it necessary to show their solid support by clashing with the opposition. The main point being, is this really justified? Many people go to watch football matches, hockey games, with the intent to enjoy supporting their team from the sidelines. Frequent screams of overwhelming frustration or joy pass through the crowd, the use of foul language is excused as your ‘in the moment’ plus a sports game would simply not be the same without it. Others like to take it that much further however; "for the love of the game" becomes an excuse to get angry. Is this really an example to set to the future generation of sports fans? I think not.

Films like Football Factory and Green Street glorify antics of these groups of violent individuals. It’s not War, its sport, something that’s meant to be enjoyable to watch, a break from the mundane toils of day to day life. Maybe these men want to exhort their 'maleness’ and prove their dominance within their city/locale/league. Their team is the toughest, meanest, most worthy of the attention...more like a bad version of Rocky Balboa.

Danny Dyer presents a TV programme solely based on showing the catastrophic events that take place within football matches across the world. What is sometimes known as "the beautiful game" is anything but and Dyer's programme focuses on this aggressive behaviour, unlike Football Factory this shows how disappointing this is not impressive. Highly respected players of decades past such as Pelé, George Best, Bobby Charlton must think, where ever they may be, what has this world come to. When a game so simple ,now causes hate and anger it makes one think, is it worth it? There is already so much pain and suffering in this world, can any more be tolerated.

Again it needs to be reiterated, its sport, and sport by the definition should be recreational, a pleasant pastime to engage in. Not men using it as an excuse to compare whose the alpha male amongst the pack.

Of course there are some who take to it differently, as revealed in the now infamous photo of the 'Kissing couple’ from the riot on 16^th June, who sought solace instead of anger. They looked out of place, amongst a city at war over sports. Friendly rivalry is clearly a thing of the past.