The blessed Chris
12-11-2007, 19:18
I'm quite surprised this hasn't been posted before now in truth, however, I can't be the only poster to have been staggered by the events, and response to the aforementioned, in Italy at the weekend.
BBC link here. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7090017.stm)
Firstly, I would not like any responses or observations to overshadow what is a genuinely tragic death; that said, I do hope the whole fiasco prompts a sustained, profound and harrowing look in the mirror for Italian football, and, more pertinently, the Italian police. Much as the rioting that ensued from the fans death was abhorrent, and much as the original fight is symptomatic of a moribund state of hooliganism that does merit attention, the simple fact is that the Italian police are unprofessional, officious pseudo-mafia enforcers who should be reformed, for the purposes of football at any rate.
I would imagine UK posters will recall the unjust, and outrightly brutal, treatment meted out to Manchester United fans in Rome; despite conclusive testimony, and video evidence, that Italian police gave arbitrary, random beatings to children and female fans, no apology, or inquest, has been forthcoming.
However, despite this, and the death of a policeman at a game last season in Italy, England remains a pariah for its "hooliganism".
BBC link here. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7090017.stm)
Firstly, I would not like any responses or observations to overshadow what is a genuinely tragic death; that said, I do hope the whole fiasco prompts a sustained, profound and harrowing look in the mirror for Italian football, and, more pertinently, the Italian police. Much as the rioting that ensued from the fans death was abhorrent, and much as the original fight is symptomatic of a moribund state of hooliganism that does merit attention, the simple fact is that the Italian police are unprofessional, officious pseudo-mafia enforcers who should be reformed, for the purposes of football at any rate.
I would imagine UK posters will recall the unjust, and outrightly brutal, treatment meted out to Manchester United fans in Rome; despite conclusive testimony, and video evidence, that Italian police gave arbitrary, random beatings to children and female fans, no apology, or inquest, has been forthcoming.
However, despite this, and the death of a policeman at a game last season in Italy, England remains a pariah for its "hooliganism".