The 'Firm' and the 'Ultras' are some of names applied to a section of a clubs supporters who are called hooligans by the general media. As I see it there are two types of hooliganism. There is the organized type, which involves the aforementioned groups. Then there is the type that erupts after alcohol has been consumed and any particular group of fans could go on the rampage for a number of reasons.

The organized hooliganism involves a small set of supporters who will try to cause as much mayhem as possible at a soccer game. Sometimes they will arrange to meet the opposing 'Firm' for a pitched battle. If you watch games on TV or ever go to a game you will witness them roaring abuse at the opposition fans, throwing missiles at them and tearing up the seats of the stadium. Movies such as Green Street starring Elijah Wood and the 'Firm', not to be confused with the John Grisham film, showed the workings of organized hooliganism.

There have being some horrendous tragedies due to hooliganism. The Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, claimed the lives of 39 people as Liverpool hooligans ran riot. Most of the dead were Juventus fans. As a result of this, English clubs were banned from playing in Europe for five years and Liverpool for six years. This season a police man was knifed to death at a match in Italy. It caused the Italian F.A. to cancel all fixtures for a period. In Germany there is a league of hooligans. The official 'Ultras' of each club run a league of how they do in battles against each other.

The other side of hooliganism, although this is also influenced by the organized elements, is the events where fans can run riot in a town. In Nice, during the World Cup of 1998, English fans ripped the center of the town apart in a drunken riot. Other nations are known for this as-well, the Dutch bare an animosity towards the Germans but no incidents of violence were recorded at the last World Cup in Germany.

In conclusion it must be said that hooliganism is not the problem it was twenty years ago but it's ugly head can arise now and then. The incidents in Italy this year only go to prove that. Some clubs have a history of hating each other. Boca Juniors and River Plate in Argentina, Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, Liverpool and Manchester United in England, Juventus and the rest of Italy etc., are all volatile fixtures. Where the fans hate each other you can never stamp out the ugly specter of hooliganism.

Learn more about this author, Paul O Meara.
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