Poland convicts 23 for soccer hooligan violence

[ML]

Poland isn't screwing around with these folks.  Good for them.

http://www.kyivpost.com/news/euro2012/general/detail/129633/

On a related note . . . why is it the soccer fans are seemingly more violent than those who focus on other sports?

[Chicagoguy]

Next let's get after Golf. There have been times when someone coughed while a pro was lining up a put. 

[Vinnvinny]

Poland isn't screwing around with these folks.  Good for them.

http://www.kyivpost.com/news/euro2012/general/detail/129633/

On a related note . . . why is it the soccer fans are seemingly more violent than those who focus on other sports?

It's a deep rooted 'culture' thing the same as Americans seem to enjoy scoffing humongous amounts of food whilst watching Football and Baseball.

[Chicagoguy]

It's a deep rooted 'culture' thing the same as Americans seem to enjoy scoffing humongous amounts of food whilst watching Football and Baseball.

Not to mention beer. Before and after. Or even while at home and maybe at a bar.

[SANDRO43]

Not to mention beer. Before and after. Or even while at home and maybe at a bar.

Yes. IINM, when we host late-evening matches against soccer teams from Britain, Germany and other possibly rowdy beer-loving countries, our local bars are prohibited by  the municipality from serving alcoholic drinks after 4 PM or earlier .

[Gator]

At Philadelphia professional football games, unruly behavior became so bad that it was ill-advised to take children to games.  New procedures were enacted.   Besides prohibiting spectators to carry alcohol into the stadium, the stadium stopped selling it (large loss of revenue).  More important, a small jail was constructed at the stadium and a court and judge assigned to try and sentence arrested spectators during the game.  Philadelphia is a tough crowd - going so far as  booing Santa Claus at halftime.

Neverthless, what we have seen of soccer hooligans, you Europeans are far worse.

[Faux Pas]

Neverthless, what we have seen of soccer hooligans, you Europeans are far worse.

Agreed. At US sporting events, the violent element is definitely there. The extremism prevalent at Europe soccer matches isn't. I've seen many fights break out in such places over team honor but nothing compared to what happens at soccer matches. South America is just as bad too

[Boethius]

I recall a South American goalie (I think - Colombia?) being murdered for losing a match.


ETA - Not a goalie -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Escobar