Comments on: Hooliganism: Did It Ever Go Away? Who Foots The Bill?

By: Paul Bestall

Paul Bestall — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:42:41 +0000

Apologies ovalball. Millwall v West Ham, night game in the Carling Cup. It is a fixture with “history” shall we say.

By: ovalball

ovalball — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:36:28 +0000

“…yet everyone who knows anything about football could have told you that trouble would occur.”

I plead guilty to ignorance. Please explain.

By: ovalball

ovalball — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:33:51 +0000

As an American I certainly don’t feel qualified in any sense to comment on causes, cures or fault. I will say I am always stunned at the number of police/stewards surrounding a pitch, particularly since I watch a good deal of rugby union and never see anything approaching the same presence.

At least the Brits haven’t had to resort to towering wire fences. Those really blow me away.

Good article. Looking forward to the commentary.

By: Paul Bestall

Paul Bestall — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:30:05 +0000

Odd that Trotter didn’t mention the completely unprovoked attack on Sunderland fans last month by baton wielding policemen. Football Hooliganism is nowhere near the levels he claims, nothing like anything seen in the 1970’s or 1980’s and seems to me a plea for more funding.
The West Ham situation caused so much media, because it was such a unique incident these days, yet everyone who knows anything about football could have told you that trouble would occur.