Hooliganism consists of different communities where from the people can be anywhere from 17 to 70. The fights are unlike your everyday verbal fights, which therefore can help you get away from reality and have an out lead for your worries. Football is like society because people need football to take their aggression out on and is therefore popular from varying age-groups.
You obtain a certain reputation and people remember your face and make it impossible for you to go in certain areas. “There were some people from North London that knew me and made me unable to go to White Hart Lane. Hooliganism didn’t give my any family problems, but it does affect your professional life because you create another identity, which makes you feel like you are two separate people with separate needs.” (Football fan) This shows the good/responsible and the bad/irresponsible side where one side sometimes appear more tempting than the other. “The temptation is walking with two hundreds people and gaining a buzz. There is a certain risk to it, but the temptation is so dominant because you feel like the king of the world, but you reach a point in your life where you cannot afford to let the football affect your work and that’s when you realize that you must stop.” (Football fan)
It appears that this lifestyle can affect the football experience for an average bystander, but as my source explains it is important to have principles and therefore not hurting innocent football fans. “I have my principles and you do not go to cause trouble or hurt anybody innocent and unwilling of receiving a punch. “(Football fan) Less fair is it when you are on your own and are getting knocked down by your enemies. These hooligans doesn’t seem to have as many boundaries and responsible barriers and often the once that creates a lot of fuzz.
“I have tried to be knocked to the ground by several people when being on my own and you suddenly realize that the protection and safety you get from being in your group is valuable. It is fantastic to have each others backs and be able to help your friends. “(Football fan)
“In big matches for example against Manchester or Liverpool, you get bricks thrown at you, but you don’t care when your young.”(Football fan) It creates an atmosphere where your fully awareness is crucial when you must avoid getting hid. You cannot stress out, but remember to use your fear constructively against your enemy and this makes the fight scenes very dramatic and brutal. This part of the football culture is unstoppable as long as football stays popular. It is a part of the football culture to have the fans humiliating the other fans and maintain their pride and without it football wouldn’t have the same drama ongoing. “Football will always have rivalry. It is tribal and that’s why Arsenal will always hate Tottenham and why knowing your territory is important so you don’t get into trouble.”(Football fan)
Millwall is known as a very racist team and have the highest tendency of getting arrested. This might be explained by the long history that is trying to be maintained and the tribal look on things where you stick to old tradition of being white and showing that their the same and therefore have an unbreakable relation and sees each others as brothers.
The media often depicts situations more dramatically than they are and in some cases mentions less dramatic events more serious. “The media said that black fans are more careful in Ukraine, to hype the situation and therefore hoping to create some sort of story that can sell papers.”(Football fan) Journalists often generalize hooligans and that can be hard to get around that stereotypical view created by the media.
The media would after my opinion have given my the impression that hooligans are physically violent on everyday basis, but according to my source he has learnt not to make people bother him, but he can get in argument and fight verbally, but does not solve conflicts using violence.
"Interview Football Fan." Telephone interview. 25 Jan. 2012.
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