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Soccer appeals morons. The moronic underdogs (plebs) that attend soccer matches vent their frustration in the soccer fields. It's much better to let them vent their frustration in soccer fields that out in the streets. I would let them fight to death in the stadium, but only if they are properly contained.
Congratulations, dumbest post of the year . Soccer is loved by all types of people here in Europe, lower class, middle class, upper class. Even in my little team, there's a lawyer playing next to a construction worker, a civil engineer next to a cop, a banker next to a factory worker etc etc.
To answer the OP, racism is still there, a lot more in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. Western Europe has tons of black and brown people now, lots of them also rooting for a local team. Even our "white trash" here is getting used to seeing people of different color. I attend soccer games a lot and racism has seriously declined here as compared to not even fifteen years ago. Is it still there? Of course, it'll probably always be there, as there will always be racists around.
And as Anondragon said, there's plenty of racism in Africa, Asia, etc as well.
And you have to remember that football (soccer) is overwhelmingly the most popular sport in most of Europe, so it's pretty obvious that the sport attracts also the most morons and racists, compared to volleyball, for example.
Football is a beautiful game and not at all racist, quite the opposite. It is played all over the world, almost anyone can play, it appeals to all social classes and it's relatively cheap. You just need a few guys or girls and throw a ball to them.
Some supporter clubs and ultras especially in Eastern Europe are quite racist, but that's not because football makes them racist and sometimes violent, the reasons lies mainly in the society, disappointment in the government, unemployment, drug abuse and poor prospects for the future.
Racism is a sick mentality that is unfortunately now ingrained to some extent in most if the world, just worse in some places than others. Racial ideologies arose in Europe so it's not surprising that its ideology has found its way into football/soccer there. It will likely be more deeply ingrained there.
Hooligans really are not interested in the game, just getting drunk, beating each other up, smashing stuff, and such. Neo Nazi skinheads have similar interests so lots of crossover.
Many in the Hooligan scene are not really racist, even some minorities involved but if the other guy is of another race and you really want to **** him off and start a fight than you will likely use racial insults.
Hooligans really are not interested in the game, just getting drunk, beating each other up, smashing stuff, and such. Neo Nazi skinheads have similar interests so lots of crossover.
Many in the Hooligan scene are not really racist, even some minorities involved but if the other guy is of another race and you really want to **** him off and start a fight than you will likely use racial insults.
That is a good point.
In addition, Hooliganism has really slowed down now in 2012 in most European countries, compared to the times when it started in the 20th century.
I never thought Hooliganism was about racism, but about sport rivalries and excuses to beat each other up. Symbols that can be interpreted as Nationalist/racist, such as using the Jewish flag in that club in the Netherland (Ajax?), are really misinterpreted as sport rivalries.
Hooligans do not have the brain power to be involved in the politics of nationalism/racism. Simple as that.
True racism you will never hear about, and happens behind closed doors in high ranking circles.
Of course the media does not care about this kind of racism (which affects all ethnic groups depending on the party involved in these discussions, by the way).
Also, for instance, when Polish fans during world cup verbally abuse German fans with racist chants going back to WW2, media does not care. But if this were to happen with a foreign club, then all hell breaks loose.
I am just so tired of the hypocrisy of it all (rant).
Wake up call.
Racism is everywhere, and its not just in Europe and white people being the perpetrator.
Ever been to Asia? Africa? Dont know how many times I've noticed blatant anti white racism in these countries. Again like everywhere, this was the exception not the rule..
Oh please, stop the denial! This defensive argument is weak at best. Can you imagine in the United States, if fans at an NFL game threw bananas on the field at Black players or threw stuffed animal monkeys at them. That would be a national controversy and be on the national news and ESPN calling for additional screening and arrest of fans. That just does not happen here. Yet in Europe, this is not uncommon. In fact, what is more disturbing is the players themselves yell racial slurs at each other which would be a huge deal in the United States if that happened. This type of racism is far more rampant in Europe to the point that ESPN produced a feature on it. I'm sorry but in my experience, Europe has gotten away with this type of racism for far too long, it's taken this long for it to be addressed. Most of the world was unaware of how rampant this type of racism is. I implore you to watch this ESPN segment and you will feel differently
Football is not as racist in the UK as people on here seem to think! It is DEFINATELY more prevailant in Spain and EVEN MORE prevailant in Eastern Europe - how do I know? Experiance thats how. Because my black girlfriend and black kids have been to Stamford Bridge on numerous occaisons (along with hundreds of other 'black' supporters) and we have NEVER had any problem whatsoever, we have NEVER heard 'monkey' chanting. Whereas we wouldnt dream of attending a game elsewhere in Europe. I am not saying that there are no racist idiots in the UK, of course there are, but unlike a lot of Europe the English FA will stamp down HARD on any slight hint of racist behaviour. What happened to the black English players in Serbia was disgusting and the fact that UEFA slapped a small fine on the Sebian FA says rather a lot about UEFA's stance on the problem!!
Are you implying that English are more perfidious?
Are you implying that English are more perfidious?
I am just telling you that myself my 'black, girlfriend and 'black' children have NOT suffered any racism when we have been to Stamford bridge, make of that what you will. Of course there are some racist people in the UK but anybody found guilty of racism at Premier league football stadiums is banned for life, perhaps if UEFA took the same stance you wouldn't still have the problem in southern or eastern Europe now.
Congratulations, dumbest post of the year . Soccer is loved by all types of people here in Europe, lower class, middle class, upper class. Even in my little team, there's a lawyer playing next to a construction worker, a civil engineer next to a cop, a banker next to a factory worker etc etc.
To answer the OP, racism is still there, a lot more in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. Western Europe has tons of black and brown people now, lots of them also rooting for a local team. Even our "white trash" here is getting used to seeing people of different color. I attend soccer games a lot and racism has seriously declined here as compared to not even fifteen years ago. Is it still there? Of course, it'll probably always be there, as there will always be racists around.
And as Anondragon said, there's plenty of racism in Africa, Asia, etc as well.
In fact there are way more racism in Africa, Asia or even the Americas (US included) than there is in europe.
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. Soccer is loved by all types of people here in Europe, lower class, middle class, upper class. Even in my little team, there's a lawyer playing next to a construction worker, a civil engineer next to a cop, a banker next to a factory worker etc etc.
