American Fans v. Fans Around the World

[albionmoonlight]

A week or so ago, the United States played a soccer match in Mexico during which the Mexican crowd chanted "Osama, Osama."

Recently, during a Scottish soccer match, the fans of a primarily protestant team booed and jeered during a moment of silence for the Pope's death.

And I remember hearing something about soccer crowds in Europe making monkey noises at black players on opposing teams.

Now, I acknowledge that American sports fans can be obnoxious. And get enough beer into any one fan, and I would not want to be responsible for what comes out of his mouth.

But this phenomenon of entire crowds, en mass, basing cheers and jeers on terrorist attacks, racism, and religious intolerance--that strikes me as beyond the pale. Certainly beyond what American sports crowds do.

So (first question) am I wrong in my observations?

And, if I am not wrong, why is it that non-American crowds will venture into cheers and jeers that American crowds would consider off-limits?

[KWhit]

Why is it that non-American crowds will venture into cheers and jeers that American crowds would consider off-limits?
They hate freedom?

[KWhit]

Dola -

Sorry.

:)

[rkmsuf]

Because soccer is boring and there is nothing better to do?

[flere-imsaho]

But this phenomenon of entire crowds, en mass, basing cheers and jeers on terrorist attacks, racism, and religious intolerance--that strikes me as beyond the pale. Certainly beyond what American sports crowds do.

Tell me, have you ever listened to talk radio?

[albionmoonlight]

Tell me, have you ever listened to talk radio?
Yes, though I tend to avoid it due to the seeming 1:1 commercial/content ratio.

Perhaps it has something to do with crowd psychology? If the 100 or so people spouting off to the Jim Romes of the world on any given day do represent the thoughts and feelings of the 70,000 in attendance at the stadium, then why does the crowd, as a group, still avoid those thoughts and feelings when devising group cheers?

Are we too busy being led in renditions of the Chicken Dance Brought To You By Popeye's Chicken to let our inner racist out?

[KWhit]

I think that it's just not tolerated in the US (which is a good thing). If someone is ever overtly racist on talk radio, their call is dropped. If a huge section of fans were chanting racists remarks at a game, they would be asked to leave.

If the whole stadium were to starting chanting racial epithets, I wouldn't be surprised if the game were stopped and the home team required to forfeit.

[flere-imsaho]

dola -

The reasons you won't (generally) hear American sports crowds doing this are:

1. It costs too much for large numbers of yobs to attend games on a regular basis.

2. All stadia (except for some bleachers in MLB) are ticketed seating, so even if large numbers of yobs got the money to attend the games, there's no guarantee they'd be sitting together (and thus be able to get up to stupid stuff).

Speaking to the specific examples:

Mexico - Let's see, a whole bunch of Mexicans get the chance, on their own turf, to get out their anger at their big neighbor to the North? I can't say I'm surprised, to be honest. The match is just a convenient venue.

Europe - In Italy & Spain, especially, racist problems are huge. Fact is, neo-nazi groups can afford to go to games on a regular basis, and since most of the tickets are general admission, it's easy for them to congregate in particular parts of the stadium. In fact, I remember watching some games in Italy where the game is much less interesting than the ongoing fight between the two sides' supporters and the police.

It should be noted that this kind of behavior has lessened a lot in England after the top league went to all assigned seating, and jacked the prices up. The last Premiership game I went to (last Autumn) was a pleasant affair, with many families in attendance.

Scotland - Scotland's top league has two teams which dominate the league, both from Glasgow. Historically Celtic are the team supported by Catholics, and Rangers are the team supported by Protestants. Sectarian violence, in general, is alive and well in Glasgow, as it is in neighboring Northern Island, and these two clubs serve as focal points for this violence. That the Scottish government and the Scottish FA haven't done anything about it, doesn't really surprise me. Thus it doesn't really surprise me that this happened.

Anyway, trust me: if a major U.S. sports league had general admission seating and cheaper tickets, you'd get similar problems.

[KeyserSoze]

For me it´s not the question.

For northamericans sports are entertaiment. For europeans and sotuhamericans are part of life. We cry when the team losses. We get angered. We suffer.

Atletico de Madrid had huge crowds to see the games in the second division. Bad teams, a secondary competition. They didn´t go to get entertained, they
went to support his team.

Look at the Yankees-Red Sox. They do it. "Who´s your daddy".... But you did it when you have your team into your skin.

The fans of Boca (the most famous team in Argentina) says that "Boca es vida"

Also the racist question in Spain and Italy are nosense. They do it to molest the rival. I can hate Ronaldinho :D but Ronaldo is god. In Italy they have Adriano, Weah (in the past)...
If I try to mock Ronaldinho is not for the colour of his skin, is for the colour of his shirt.

[Klinglerware]

Also the racist question in Spain and Italy are nosense. They do it to molest the rival.

If it is nonsense, why should it happen at all?

[Coder]

Racism and violence are the downside of an enthusiastic audience. In Sweden, racism is definately not tolerated in the stands. Most of our soccer-teams have several players with immigrant backgrounds, so I guess that most supporters would have a hard time doing any kind of "racist" attacks from the stands simply because they would be jeering at their own players as well.

At the same time, and this is not really what this thread is about I guess, there's a definite difference in "enthusiasm" between European sports events and American.

I've been to one NFL-game, one NBA-game and two MLB games, as well as two college football games (go Dawgs!), and none of those could bring up the kind of atmosphere I get in a Swedish Hockey league game or football game (soccer).. Crowd singing, never a silent moment.. 12000 people in a soccer stadium made the whole place shake more than 60000 people can in the Georgia Dome. Sure, Fulton County Stadium had the organ and the "Take me out to the Ballpark", but it was "directed" by the scoreboard..

Lockouted NHL:ers are have described their first games in the Elite League with a mixture of fear and joy as they were overwhelmed with the noiselevel during Elite League games.

European sports audiences give the home team a huge advantage.. but the racism and violence are rotten apples which need to go. From what I understand though, this behaviour is disappearing from most stadiums in Europe, and is "only" a real problem in Italy.

[WSUCougar]

Certainly beyond what American sports crowds do. Not so fast. Americans have their moments like this. College crowds can be particularly brutal. I can't recall the details but I know there was a recent example of a visiting player getting taunted with Holocaust-related barbs. I've also heard reports of taunting based on injuries or disabilities of family members.

[Desnudo]

If it is nonsense, why should it happen at all?

I think Spain and Italy's FAs have been lax about enforcing anti-racist policy. When your national team coach (Spain) is making racist comments about players and getting away with it, it's tough to hold fans to a different standard.

[Raiders Army]

Those fucking Broncos fans threw snowballs (and batteries) at the Raiders one year.

[ISiddiqui]

American fans aren't that blameless as said before. They'll erupt at times as well, such as the ice ball throwing game at Giants Stadium a few years back. Though, saying that, it is different.

One difference is that soccer teams have much more passion behind them. When you have promotion/relegation, you will definetly have a team in your backyard somewhere, even if you don't live in the most populated area and that team becomes a part of that community. Added to that is the fact that Europeans don't (or didn't) move as much as Americans do. They tend to stay around the same area, as opposed to Americans, who'll go cross country for a job at the drop of a hat.

Finally, soccer's history is very much a working man's game. So you get the problems associated with that such as hooliganism (admit it, when most of the fans are middle class or upper class, you don't get nearly as much violence - the working classes are much more nationalistic or sectarian because they more easily believe the propaganda). With our high ticket prices and assigned seating, most sports fans that go to games are middle class.

[Maple Leafs]

American fans in Detroit booed the Canadian national anthem a few days after US soldiers had killed four Canadians in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan -- one of the most tasteless displays in recent memory.

Canadians have also booed the US anthem, especially in Quebec. (Of course, they boo the Canadian anthem in Quebec too.)

So yes, it happens in North America as well.

[albionmoonlight]

Good responses. It seems to have more to do with the corporate nature of American sports and American life than anything else.

[Ksyrup]

Recently, during a Scottish soccer match, the fans of a primarily protestant team booed and jeered during a moment of silence for the Pope's death.
Considering this happened on Sunday (according to the SI article I read), I found it especially interesting when I read this:

"Hearts [the team] had appealed to fans on Friday to respect the minute's silence for the pope, who died April 2."


They knew 2 full days ahead what was going to happen! It wasn't like it was an isolated incident that got blown out of proportion in the heat of the moment, and with tens of thousands of people there (the whole crowd mentality thing), this was par for the course and expected.

[cthomer5000]

Not so fast. Americans have their moments like this. College crowds can be particularly brutal. I can't recall the details but I know there was a recent example of a visiting player getting taunted with Holocaust-related barbs. I've also heard reports of taunting based on injuries or disabilities of family members.
But are we talking about a huge section of crowd chanting these taunts?

[KeyserSoze]

If it is nonsense, why should it happen at all?

Because they annoy. A racist must hate all the "other" race. This year lots of Barcelona supporters makes the "uh uh uh" chant to Roberto Carlos. Are they annoying? yes. Are they racist? For me no. Why? Because they cheer their Ronaldinho o Etoó.

[flere-imsaho]

Sorry Keyser, that's still racism. Selective racism, but racism nonetheless.

[Klinglerware]

Because they annoy. A racist must hate all the "other" race. This year lots of Barcelona supporters makes the "uh uh uh" chant to Roberto Carlos. Are they annoying? yes. Are they racist? For me no. Why? Because they cheer their Ronaldinho o Etoó.

I'm not sure this line of reasoning makes me comfortable. Would Barcelona fans make note of Roberto Carlos' race if he were not darked skinned? Probably not--if a black/white/ or whatever person is attacked in a way that would not have happened if he were not that race, then the attack is racially motivated.

As for the second part of your argument (the supporters can't be racist if the root for the home clubs' own black players): even if you don't make racist taunts to your own black players, that would mean that it would be okay for you to taunt the 99%+ of the other black players in the game.

[ColtCrazy]

I tend to agree that it's equally bad in both spots, but in defense, we hear about these events and it boosts our perceived image of European sports. Do the Europeans have thugs? Of course, more than there fair share. But I have been to a couple dozen soccer matches in England...no incidents. I was at the Euro2000 semis of France vs. Portugal. No incidents. Yet I have been to Three Rivers and saw some Steelers fans take the hat off a lady Colts fan and piss on it. You have idiots everywhere...yet we tend to be more critical of international incidents because of our own national pride. It's the "I can't believe that happened...We'd never do that" mentality.

[Klinglerware]

Interestingly enough, I've thought of this issue before when comparing European and American values. While Europeans in many ways are probably more socially progressive than Americans, I do notice that many European states are still a little bit behind America when it comes to dealing with racism and racial attitudes.

I think this is due to America having to deal with a multi-ethnic society almost from its inception, while Europe's populations didn't really start to diversify racially until the late 20th century. Also, homogenous ethnic identity is a bit more of an expectation in Europe than in the US.

Europeans like to mock Americans for being "race obsessed", but again, that's because we had to deal with these issues much earlier in our history. Many Europeans seem to have their heads in the sand when it comes to issues of race in their own countries, as racial violence seems to be more of a problem in Europe than in the US...

[Honolulu_Blue]

I tend to agree that it's equally bad in both spots, but in defense, we hear about these events and it boosts our perceived image of European sports. Do the Europeans have thugs? Of course, more than there fair share. But I have been to a couple dozen soccer matches in England...no incidents. I was at the Euro2000 semis of France vs. Portugal. No incidents. Yet I have been to Three Rivers and saw some Steelers fans take the hat off a lady Colts fan and piss on it. You have idiots everywhere...yet we tend to be more critical of international incidents because of our own national pride. It's the "I can't believe that happened...We'd never do that" mentality.
I went an Arsenal/Man Utd. match at Old Trafford back in 2003. They had to herd the small section of Arsenal fans (who were confined to one section of the stadium and surrounded by cops for the entirety of the match) in and out of the stadium. At the end of the game the group of fans was herded out and surrounded by mounted police. The fans were screaming back and forth at one another from around the cops. But for those mounted police... a bloodbath would have ensued.

You may have the occassional brawl between two drunk idiots in the US, but you never have that level tension between fans and don't have to go through all of those precautions. It's ridiculous.

Then again I saw England/Portugal play in Euro 2004 in Lisbon. Other than one annoying ass England fan, pretty much all were well behaved. Liquored up? Yes. Loud? Very. But not outrageously obnoxious or violent. Just good, loud, boisterous support for their boys.

[MrBug708]

Recently, during a Scottish soccer match, the fans of a primarily protestant team booed and jeered during a moment of silence for the Pope's death.



Well so did Giant fans, but that is fairly expected :D

[ColtCrazy]

I went an Arsenal/Man Utd. match at Old Trafford back in 2003. They had to herd the small section of Arsenal fans (who were confined to one section of the stadium and surrounded by cops for the entirety of the match) in and out of the stadium. At the end of the game the group of fans was herded out and surrounded by mounted police. The fans were screaming back and forth at one another from around the cops. But for those mounted police... a bloodbath would have ensued.

You may have the occassional brawl between two drunk idiots in the US, but you never have that level tension between fans and don't have to go through all of those precautions. It's ridiculous.

Then again I saw England/Portugal play in Euro 2004 in Lisbon. Other than one annoying ass England fan, pretty much all were well behaved. Liquored up? Yes. Loud? Very. But not outrageously obnoxious or violent. Just good, loud, boisterous support for their boys.


Does this mean they are more passionate about their sports in Europe? I would say yes, in some part. I think there are more local connections to teams in Europe (just think of how many professional teams are in England, a country the fraction of size of the US) I think that local pride makes them more passionate. I think the closest thing to that is college football/basketball over here.

[Desnudo]

Topical:

Italy Threatens Stadium Closures (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYjk0aWtjBF9TAzk1ODYzNTkwBHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-italy-violence&prov=ap&type=lgns)

ROME (AP) -- The government threatened to close some soccer stadiums Monday after 85 police officers were injured in a wave of fan violence across Italy.

Weekend games in Rome, Palermo, Udine, Cava dei Tirreni and Perugia turned violent, with visiting fans battling police at some railway stations as they were led away from stadiums.

``Another Sunday like this'' would lead to the stadiums affected being shut down, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said.

ADVERTISEMENT


Play resumed last weekend after a break to mourn the death of Pope John Paul II. Pisanu said the ``most barbaric violence'' contrasted with the civility of the huge crowd attending the pope's funeral.

Italy's police union advocated the suspension of games at stadiums with a history of violence.

Seventeen fans were arrested and 259 later identified and charged over Sunday's violence.

About 200 Livorno fans hurled objects at police and vandalized the San Pietro station on the outskirts of Rome after their team's league game against Lazio at Stadio Olimpico.

The Tuscan fans had chanted communist slogans and waved red flags during the game while groups of Lazio fans reciprocated with fascist and neo-Nazi slogans.

``It's right that fans understand that serious actions will be taken,'' Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said. ``We can't accept living in a country where taking children to the stadiums can be dangerous.''

Elsewhere, several Messina fans were arrested, accused of hurling objects at police inside the stadium during the game with Sicilian rival Palermo.

Police arrested five people in Udine, saying they damaged the bus taking them to the station after the Udinese-Roma game.

About 40 police officers were injured at Cava dei Tirreni in southern Italy when fans rioted following a fourth-division game.


Communists versus Facists? I'd say they're both heroes.

[TargetPractice6]

What about ASU fans chanting "PLO, PLO. Where's your dad?" at Steve Kerr after his father was killed?

[Galaxy]

American fans in Detroit booed the Canadian national anthem a few days after US soldiers had killed four Canadians in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan -- one of the most tasteless displays in recent memory.

Canadians have also booed the US anthem, especially in Quebec. (Of course, they boo the Canadian anthem in Quebec too.)

So yes, it happens in North America as well.

I remember that, but I think that was into response to Montreal booing the US anthem. It was tasteless by both sides.

[Cringer]

oh.

I thought maybe this was a thread about The Killers' lead singer saying American audiences suck because they are spoiled, while English crowds are much better.

But it isn't.

*Slowly backs out*

[ISiddiqui]

Topical:

Italy Threatens Stadium Closures (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYjk0aWtjBF9TAzk1ODYzNTkwBHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-italy-violence&prov=ap&type=lgns)

ROME (AP) -- The government threatened to close some soccer stadiums Monday after 85 police officers were injured in a wave of fan violence across Italy.

Weekend games in Rome, Palermo, Udine, Cava dei Tirreni and Perugia turned violent, with visiting fans battling police at some railway stations as they were led away from stadiums.

``Another Sunday like this'' would lead to the stadiums affected being shut down, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said.

ADVERTISEMENT


Play resumed last weekend after a break to mourn the death of Pope John Paul II. Pisanu said the ``most barbaric violence'' contrasted with the civility of the huge crowd attending the pope's funeral.

Italy's police union advocated the suspension of games at stadiums with a history of violence.

Seventeen fans were arrested and 259 later identified and charged over Sunday's violence.

About 200 Livorno fans hurled objects at police and vandalized the San Pietro station on the outskirts of Rome after their team's league game against Lazio at Stadio Olimpico.

The Tuscan fans had chanted communist slogans and waved red flags during the game while groups of Lazio fans reciprocated with fascist and neo-Nazi slogans.

``It's right that fans understand that serious actions will be taken,'' Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said. ``We can't accept living in a country where taking children to the stadiums can be dangerous.''

Elsewhere, several Messina fans were arrested, accused of hurling objects at police inside the stadium during the game with Sicilian rival Palermo.

Police arrested five people in Udine, saying they damaged the bus taking them to the station after the Udinese-Roma game.

About 40 police officers were injured at Cava dei Tirreni in southern Italy when fans rioted following a fourth-division game.


Communists versus Facists? I'd say they're both heroes.
Yep, unlike the US, many teams stand for a particular ideology either because their owners or fans did. So some games aren't just a game, they are also a political rally with both sides in attendance.

[Greyroofoo]

Anybody remember when Cleveland Brown fans pelted the field with beer bottles are a particularly bad call?

[BigJohn&TheLions]

The greatest man to ever lead us said "You're either with us or against us..."

I'm guessing that the opposing fans are against us.

[Desnudo]

Yep, unlike the US, many teams stand for a particular ideology either because their owners or fans did. So some games aren't just a game, they are also a political rally with both sides in attendance.

Communist v. Facist is so 1930. I can't believe they still have that going on.

[TLK]

Anybody remember when Cleveland Brown fans pelted the field with beer bottles are a particularly bad call?
Bottlegate...

That was one of the more bizarre things I have witnessed in sports. Jeff Triplette botched a call against the Browns, and the Browns fans reacted by throwing plastic beer bottles on the field. Triplette called the game, only to find out he didn't have the power to do so. Both teams were called back on the field to play the final seconds of the game, however most of the players had already changed. The final play (or two?) was played with players in half of their uniforms. The game was in 2001 against the Jags....

[Northwood_DK]

I will guess a lot have to do with history. A closer look will show that a lot of the clubs in Europe have religion and politic tied closely in to the history of the club.

In Europe you have teams who really hate each other. Not just because of the game but a lot of other reasons. Rangers / Celtics is religion and Barcelona/Madrid have the whole ETA thing going between them. A star player changing club from Barcelona to Real Madrid will receive several dead treads and needed police protection when he travelled back to play his old club again. His happened to Figo a few years back and the game was even stopped when the police could not stop the crowd from throwing stuff at him when he tried to take a corner.

In US it’s more business. When a star player change team some people will be upset but everyone will understand that its just business.

That’s just not the case over here. The scariest club in Europe right now must be SS Lazio. This article (hxxp://slate.msn.com/id/115070/#ContinueArticle) will give a good background of the history of the club, and a quick picture search on google on the words “Lazio” and “nazi” will give a clear picture of the problem.

[moriarty]

Not so fast. Americans have their moments like this. College crowds can be particularly brutal. I can't recall the details but I know there was a recent example of a visiting player getting taunted with Holocaust-related barbs. I've also heard reports of taunting based on injuries or disabilities of family members.

I recall an article or something where fans were chanting stuff about JJ Redick's younger sister. I know the Duke fans can get out of control at times as well.

[Wolfpack]

Duke students can be pretty tasteless. I've read anecdotes where they threw condoms on the floor because a Maryland player (Herman Veal, I want to say) was being accused of rape at the time they played.

They've also chanted "Please, don't rob us" after State player Lorenzo Charles was accused of robbing a pizza delivery guy and "Please, don't kill us" after a fight at a party involving State wrestlers ended up with the original instigator dead.

Needless to say, I'm not very fond of the Cameron Crazies.

[judicial clerk]

Those fucking Broncos fans threw snowballs (and batteries) at the Raiders one year.


Lincoln Kennedy got hit in the back of the head with a snowball.

I think another reason that you don't see as much racist chants at US sports venues is that the U.S. is a mongrel nation with citizens from a wide variety of races, nationalities, and religions. European and south american countries have less diversity and so may feel more free to use a racial epithet. A guy at a Raiders game might want to use a racial epithet towards the Broncos, but he might not do it if the guy sitting next to him is a member of that race. That situation might not occur as much in other countries

[Honolulu_Blue]

Duke students can be pretty tasteless. I've read anecdotes where they threw condoms on the floor because a Maryland player (Herman Veal, I want to say) was being accused of rape at the time they played.

They've also chanted "Please, don't rob us" after State player Lorenzo Charles was accused of robbing a pizza delivery guy and "Please, don't kill us" after a fight at a party involving State wrestlers ended up with the original instigator dead.

Needless to say, I'm not very fond of the Cameron Crazies.
*begin sarcasm*

Tsk. Tsk. You're just jealous of the Crazies' amazing school spirit and the cleverness of their witty chants.

*end sarcasm*

[WSUCougar]

Actually, the Maryland fans have been labeled in the media as the worst (perhaps instigated by the Dukies).

[Northwood_DK]

But all you are talking about is a bunch of college kids drinking too much beer. Yes they are way over the line and their racist comments/behaviours have nothing to do in sports (or other places).

That’s not what we are seeing in Europe.


Here we are talking about well organised groups going to the games only to fight with the other team’s supporters or police. That combined with their clear connections to fascist groups makes them very scary.

The problem is biggest in Italy (Rome) but also <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com /><st1:country-region w:st=Italy</st1:country-region> (<st1:City w:st=" /><st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK, France</st1:country-region> and other countries have seen this trend

[Desnudo]

Lincoln Kennedy got hit in the back of the head with a snowball.

I think another reason that you don't see as much racist chants at US sports venues is that the U.S. is a mongrel nation with citizens from a wide variety of races, nationalities, and religions. European and south american countries have less diversity and so may feel more free to use a racial epithet. A guy at a Raiders game might want to use a racial epithet towards the Broncos, but he might not do it if the guy sitting next to him is a member of that race. That situation might not occur as much in other countries

I think it has more to do with official US organizations making an effort to stamp out any racism at sporting events. If you look at the crowd of any sporting event, besides maybe the NBA, it's going to be 99% white. European teams don't do enough to punish their fans, especially in Spain.

[Northwood_DK]

Tonights CL game between Inter - Milan had to be stoped 10 min before full time due to riots by the Inter fans.


Sad...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4432047.stm

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tonights CL game between Inter - Milan had to be stoped 10 min before full time due to riots by the Inter fans.

And there's still Juventus v. Liverpool to look forward to.

[Desnudo]

I would think, after tonight's performance, that security would hopefully be tight. You do wonder if Liverpool supporters might be committing suicide by going to the match.

[Crapshoot]

And there's still Juventus v. Liverpool to look forward to.

I actually don't think its going to be as bad- the ill feelings from Heysel are for the most part gone (Liverpool apologized and had a minute of silence before the first leg), and perhaps more importantly- Liverpool, much as I wish otherwise, are likely to get whupped- all of which makes Juventus fans less likely to riot.

[moriarty]

Tonights CL game between Inter - Milan had to be stoped 10 min before full time due to riots by the Inter fans.


Sad...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4432047.stm

Dang, just saw the highlights ... that was awful. They started pelting flares (how did they get flares into the game) down on the field. Half the field was covered w/ flames and one of the goalkeepers got hit in the back (looked like a minor burn only hopefully).

[Galaxy]

Sad...Where did you see the highlights? Inter Milan should be suspended for the next year from European Cup play.

[moriarty]

Sad...Where did you see the highlights? Inter Milan should be suspended for the next year from European Cup play.

ESPN of all places was showing it (I'm sure Sky sports on FSC would show it as well).

[Honolulu_Blue]

Watching those highlights leads to one obvious question...

Who the hell allows flares into the stadium? That's freaking ridiculous. I remember watching old 70's and 80's highlights where flares were burning in the stands. It looked cool, but dangerous. I figured they would ban this. Apparently not in Italy, or if they are, they do a pretty crap ass job of screening fans. It's a joke.

[Ksyrup]

THIS could be the moment that revolutionizes the way Americans watch soccer! ESPN coverage and everything - wow!