February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
While there has always been the ugly side of the game, it is also very much a part of life. No corner of the world is immune from violence and racism. Many may not admit that at some point in our lives we have been guilty of such ugly behavior. While sports and soccer try to foster a positive experience on and off the field, it’s next to impossible to achieve that. Especially when certain teams play each other. The hatred is so deeply rooted among the fans, conflict becomes a way of life for many. So-called supporters can even turn on their own players. There is no need for examples; it’s rampant across the globe.
There have been outstanding strides made by the soccer world in curtailing violence at matches. A vast amount of time, energy and money have been spent to stop the ruination of the game. But there are pathetic groups of people who go to games looking to create trouble. They usually succeed, whether by making racial taunts, firing a missile or rioting. The list goes on.
It’s a battle in itself to stop the hatred and to keep humans from becoming animals at soccer events. People who commit crimes and who are full of hatred damage the image of soccer. The philosophy of the game insists on the best possible behavior. The ugliness does not, as many claim, start in the game of soccer itself — that’s a convenient excuse. Yes, the players can be responsible for their actions and at times they upset the atmosphere. At times they can also stir the crowd to disruptiveness. But at the end of the day it is the spectators who are responsible for giving the game a good name. It does help, of course, for players to be role models. As for the culprits in the crowds, they need specific treatment, such as camera surveillance.
Is there a solution? Probably not. However, FIFA do take measures with punishing clubs and countries. The soccer governing bodies are desperately concerned about the future of the game. As long as the governors continue to focus on keeping the domestic game civilized, the soccer image will improve. Sporting events like the World Cup or even a simple pick-up games around the corner bring people together. The event can overcome that violent streak or the color of a skin. Overall, the love for the game should always be the very reason why one plays or supports.
People who bring hatred, racism and violence to games will likely never go away in our lifetime. The ideal world of peace isn’t happening on a world scale, so why should it happen in soccer. Banning bad-egg clubs and countries from traveling to international tournaments works, then monitoring their efforts at home to curtail the violence, is the next step. The soccer world must not wait for a major tragedy to happen to take such measures. Now is the time to lay down the law and ban the perpetrators. Results are immediate, as the troubled team simply does not participate. We can’t expect FIFA and Co. to completely rid of such troubled times in the game, but spectators should know that stopping the violence is the top priority for 2005.
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM
It’s a heavy-duty subject to be chatting about at this time of year, as we prepare to celebrate New Year’s Eve. We should be praising the success of the Eircom League coming down to its last game to decide the title. The summer league in its second year has proven to be a masterstroke by the Football Association of Ireland. The Irish national team is moving up the ladder in FIFA Rankings. Under the guidance of Brian Kerr the men are 12th, up two places, after impressing against Brazil, France, Czech Republic, and Holland. Kerr’s team is also in a great position to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. The new manager must be having a happy holiday as Damien Duff, Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison all scored over the weekend for their clubs.
It’s so easy to ignore or forget about the ugliness in today’s game when we look at our favorite teams. Celtic supporters may feel that 2004 has not been a good year. The most recent buy, Juninho, is not working out. It’s not comforting to hear the news that ex-Wales and now Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes is interested in John Hartson. Martin O’Neill’s Celtic is getting older and finding it harder to compete in Europe, hence their exit from the Champions League and missing out on Uefa Cup qualification. Regardless, Celtic are still in prime position to win the Scottish Premier League. It’s going to be the most important SPL title that O’Neill must win since his arrival in Glasgow. The disappointing year for the Bhoys has set up one of their most interesting seasons to come for quite some time. We will see what O’Neill is truly made off in 2005.
When we look at what is in store for us in Champions League in the New Year, the hatchet is truly buried. The true beauty of the game blossoms on these marvelous occasions, so mark your calendar for Feb. 22, Real Madrid vs. Juventus and Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal. The next day is even better, when Barcelona plays Chelsea, a game not to be missed, and Manchester United plays AC Milan. The Champions League continues to serve up the games to watch and it seems to just get better each year. Let’s hope Duff continues scoring in a game that continues to be more beautiful and less ugly.