Some may remember that there was a Football game in Budapest recently between the English team Arsenal, and the French team Paris St-Germain. PSG won, and in traditional fashion their fans set light to cars and rioted.
They don't only do this to celebrate Football games, they also set light to cars to welcome the New Year. On the 1st Jan people actually listen to The News, to hear that year's tally. I think they like it to be greater than that of the previous year.
It's a strange way to celebrate, but in France we're used to it. Different cultures have different traditions; I think this one seems to be practiced mostly by N Africans. If you search for PSG players, you will understand what I mean.
During the 'celebrations', one person died, and about 460 were arrested. 71 Towns and Cities were affected.
Meanwhile, a few Arsenal fans were arrested in London, after their usual drunken behaviour to mourn their defeat.
A good time was had by all.
p.s. Why is it that Rugby Union, Rowing, and Cricket fans don't do such stupid things. I suppose it's simply that they're better behaved.
12 comments:
I've always assumed that it has to do with the difference in intelligence between football fans and the followers of other sports.
Football fans seem to have a 'safety in numbers gang culture'. Just a few of them together are OK, but when they get together en masse, they don't seem to be able to control themselves.
Forgive my ignorance, but why is it tolerated? Does France not have a national military? Surely if they were arrested and spent time in prison and then deported if not citizens they might lose their taste for burning public property? Do the French allow their children to set fire to the furniture? I don't get it.
It isn't tolerated, and 460 were arrested. Whether or not some of them are deported afterwards, I don't know. But I expect they are. None of this will stop them.
It has to be said that Football is a working class game that unifies the working classes unlike say, Cricket, Rowing and our up and coming Summer sport Tennis.
But what irritated me most after the Arsenal Euro Final and the following London celebrations, was in how the on the street tv reporters gave the fans so much air time, particularly picking out fans that gave out loud incohesive animalistic verbal responses. The media really do try to make the fans look stupid. Where as the beautiful game can be discussed in a much more intelligent way. Sadly the media paint the sport in a yobbish way.
Was quite shocked at the violent outcome in France though. What would have happened if PSG had lost?
Rugby Union, Rowing, and Cricket have much more appeal for the middle classes and posh people like yourself. Football is essentially a working class sport. Having said that, I still find any riotous behaviour connected with football results utterly baffling.
I thought the post was about the PSG supporters in Paris. It is a funny way to celebrate, setting cars on fire, and fighting, but that's the French I guess. Lots of arrests must have filled all the prison cells in Paris that night.
I didn't see any of the Arsenal footage, but I can imagine the reporters looking for the worst scenario possible. It makes better viewing. If PSG had lost they would probably have toppled the Eiffel Tower.
If you are correct, and I have to presume you are, why are the 'posh' well behaved, and the 'working class' not?
Yes, it is; in Paris and elsewhere. They rioted in 71 different cities.
We started arresting ours under federal offence, sentencing them to many years in federal prison which is a nightmare. No more slap on the wrist. My kids were in France when it erupted like that. Thankfully they were staying outside Paris with friends. That was some years ago. Astonishing it's still happening.
Any opportunity and they're on the streets. And when the French riot, they really do RIOT.
Post a Comment