FA NEEDS TO TACKLE ENGLAND HOOLIGANS
EVENTS in Seville last week could prove to be watershed moments for both good reasons and bad.
England’s demolition of Spain was one of the best performances in a generation and surpassed anything Gareth Southgate’s men achieved in reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
The Three Lions were so good in that first half, storming into a three-goal lead inside the opening 38 minutes, that even Spanish fans stood and applauded the football on show.
Southgate will now be hoping the win convinces his stars that beating top-class opposition in competitive fixtures on a regular basis is no longer a pipe dream.
Shame
Yet the achievement on the field took place against a backdrop of moronic behaviour off it from England fans, who once again brought shame on our nation.
Picture the scene: On a warm and pleasant evening on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, families are enjoying some wine and tapas. The wonderful city, one of Spain’s finest, is resplendent ahead of hosting a showpiece sporting fixture.
Then a group of drunken hooligans arrive and the whole atmosphere changes in an instant. Nights are ruined and locals find themselves in danger.
It transpires this group of goons, fuelled by nothing more intelligent than hours of cheap lager, had been running amok through the cobbled streets of Seville, kicking wing mirrors off cars, threatening whoever dared to challenge them and hurling glasses at passing motorists. Shirtless and mindless. Enter Spanish riot police to wield truncheons in a desperate attempt to control these animals.
Five of them were lined up on the kerbside, spilling blood from various wounds that, to them, represent a badge of honour.
Those responsible will feel satisfied their own invasion of Europe has made an impact. Stick up the flags, get drunk and go on the rampage.
These imbeciles represent the future hooligan. Young lads in their twenties that have gratefully accepted the baton passed down from older relatives.
The uniform of brash designer clothing and tattoos remains the same and so, it seems, does the mindset.
It’s like a hereditary cancer that spreads through the generations. We saw it in Amsterdam the last time these idiots were let out of the cage. We saw it in Dortmund, we saw it at Euro 2016 and now we’ve seen it in Seville.
One group have become known as the ‘Football Lads Alliance’ (FLA). The letters dominate flags and represent them coming together to hate Muslims.
Yet in Seville, the chanting reached a new level of depravity when some decided to demonise the Irish, Roman Catholics and even the Pope. No one, it seems, is immune from their uneducated wrath.
These hooligans also take pride in singing about wars and conflicts that took place before most of them were even born. Work that one out.
Southgate must be shaking his head in total despair. Since becoming manager he’s done so much good for the game and forged a team we can be proud of once again.
A team made up of footballers from different cultures, backgrounds and religions that, for a few glorious weeks in the summer, brought together a nation that has otherwise rarely been as divided as it is now.
The FA’s biggest challenge isn’t reducing its debt. It isn’t an overhaul of grassroots football or overseeing the senior side winning a major tournament.
Thugs
The greatest challenge remains changing the mindset of those who think breaking the law while following the Three Lions across the globe is their calling.
The FA were quick to condemn those thugs responsible. So what? What is giving them a verbal roasting going to achieve?
Desperate times call for desperate measures, so what FA chairman Greg Clarke should do is set up a panel of councillors – it could also include reformed hooligans – capable of educating these offenders. Or at least attempting to. Get into their heads. Ask them why they behave like they do, how it makes them feel and what they think they are achieving.
It should be compulsory for those identified or convicted of crimes to attend. If they don’t, authorities should be allowed to confiscate passports.
Perhaps some of Southgate’s players could attend sessions to make it clear how embarrassed and disgusted they are.
What have we got to lose? Not our reputation, pride and credibility that’s for sure, because these continue to be trampled on and nothing will change until our attitudes do.