Hooliganism - the Sicilian experience

[Scottish Mag 3]

Football hooliganism has often been referred to as 'the English disease' but the sobering experiences of Newcastle supporters and the travelling Press in Palermo this week suggest otherwise.

 

That there were no disturbing reports of violence emanating from the Sicilian city yesterday was down to one thing and one thing only - the remarkable restraint demonstrated by the Magpies' faithful in the face of some considerable provocation.

 

When this country's football fans head for foreign climes, they do so with an unfortunate reputation for causing trouble.

 

Yet as United's followers have shown, the truth is often much different.

 

It is a fact that several journalists who found themselves in the midst of a riot-in-waiting on Wednesday evening can all confirm.

 

As Newcastle's supporters drank quietly in a Palermo bar, a knife was produced on a table outside. That the night could have ended in tragic fashion was plain.

 

Thankfully, with the Toon Army here for football and not fighting, the threat passed without serious incident.

 

But it could easily have been so different, as the Middlesbrough fans who were stabbed in Rome last season will understand better than most.

 

For those in Italy to report on black-and-white fortunes, what happened was, at the same time, both fascinating and frightening.

 

It was an episode that demonstrated how quickly trouble can brew and one that proved that the English are not always as they are painted. First things first, the Gallowgate faithful have not travelled in their masses. Less than 200 have made the passage to Palermo and those who are here have not been obvious in their allegiances.

 

On the eve of last night's match, there was not a black-and-white shirt to be seen and not a Geordie anthem to be heard.

 

Newcastle's supporters could not have been more restrained, yet it mattered little to those who lay in wait.

 

While a quiet drink was enjoyed inside the bar, outside the air hung heavy with threat. Groups of young men assembled on street corners with menacing intent and the Carabinieri gathered, their riot shields at the ready, their batons in their hands.

 

A small group of journalists was approached by two youths who, having boasted that they were hooligans - 'We are the Palermo Ultras,' they explained with sneers on their faces - demanded to know if they had found Newcastle supporters of a similar persuasion.

 

One of the reporters was manhandled and another had his drink taken, while all were subjected to cut-throat gestures.

 

That it was time to leave was obvious, yet it was not that simple. A larger group soon appeared, this time older, this time armed. Ludicrously, they demanded to see identification, Press cards to prove the journalists were who they said they were.

 

Even when supplied with the evidence, they were not satisfied.

 

A furious debate ensued about perceptions of Palermo and about how, when West Ham had played at Stadio Renzo Barbera earlier in the season, their supporters had been obsessed with the Mafia.

 

On that occasion, the game was preceded by violent scenes and numerous arrests.

 

It could have so easily been the case again here, this time with Newcastle's name being dragged through the mud.

 

West Ham supporters have since disputed reports which suggested that it was they who had instigated the ugly scenes and, if what happened then was anything like what happened this week, their discontent is justified.

 

Palermo's fans were spoiling for a fight and it is to their great credit that Newcastle's didn't give them one.

 

The intent was obvious, long before the most animated - a 30-something skinhead with violence on his mind - pulled a large knife from a jacket pocket and began to rap it furiously on the table. In that moment certain things became clear.

 

That hooliganism remains endemic, that it is a disease that continues to afflict football, that it is something that should not be considered an exclusively English problem.

 

Of course, there are those who set out from the UK bent on trouble but, as Newcastle's supporters have demonstrated, they are in the minority.

 

It suits other countries - Italy chief among them - to portray hooliganism as the English disease. But really, it is not the case.

[Renton 21215]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

[manc-mag 1]

It said on the Channel Five coverage that North East journalists were sat at a table, a knife was produced and they were told to 'produce their credentials'. I hope to Christ they weren't referring to journalistic credentials or they'd have ended up being posted back to the UK in envelopes, piece by tiny piece.

[Gemmill 44242]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

 

I can just picture you giving them the throat-cutting gesture. "I keeeeeell yooooooo."

[Isegrim 9707]

Italian football is totally rotten, from the bottom to the core. Lethargic football, violence, cheating on and off the pitch, corruption. It's also interesting to see that the real fans seem to abandon the stadia as well as the average attendances are dropping vastly each year.

[manc-mag 1]

Won the fucking world cup though to be fair.

[Renton 21215]

Won the fucking world cup though to be fair.

 

Only by goading the greatest player the world has ever seen. Cheating bastards.

[Isegrim 9707]

Won the fucking world cup though to be fair.

Aye, and they built the aqueducts as well...

[Gemmill 44242]

I just can't imagine these Italian youths looking all that menacing. I picture them all standing wide-eyed, hands on hips, in tight T-shirts, like in Beverley Hills Cop when Eddie Murphy pretends he's gay, except speaking like Serge. "Oh you Eengleesh, you are in so much trouble now. Mm-hm."

[Guest alex]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

We? Righto

Italian fans are a disgrace like - for one simple reason - they're allowed to get away with it by the authorities. Would be the same here were that the case.

[Renton 21215]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

We? Righto

Italian fans are a disgrace like - for one simple reason - they're allowed to get away with it by the authorities. Would be the same here were that the case.

 

Iirc correctly there was a match where they used a burning moped as a missile. I mean how the fuck did they get a moped through the turn styles?

[Guest alex]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

We? Righto

Italian fans are a disgrace like - for one simple reason - they're allowed to get away with it by the authorities. Would be the same here were that the case.

 

Iirc correctly there was a match where they used a burning moped as a missile. I mean how the fuck did they get a moped through the turn styles?

The hoolies (Paniniero iirc - sp?) control the turnstiles in parts of the stadium. And that was Inter, who are arguably the worst of the lot.

[Tom 14011]

Italian football is a mess man,

 

 

theyve allways cheated like...

[snakehips 0]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

We? Righto

Italian fans are a disgrace like - for one simple reason - they're allowed to get away with it by the authorities. Would be the same here were that the case.

 

Iirc correctly there was a match where they used a burning moped as a missile. I mean how the fuck did they get a moped through the turn styles?

The hoolies (Paniniero iirc - sp?) control the turnstiles in parts of the stadium. And that was Inter, who are arguably the worst of the lot.

 

Isn't that some type of fancy bread/sandwich ???

[Tooj 17]

Won the fucking world cup though to be fair.

 

Only by goading the greatest player the world has ever seen. Cheating bastards.

Was Pele playing like?

[Guest alex]

Pity there's no return leg so we can give them a good kicking.

We? Righto

Italian fans are a disgrace like - for one simple reason - they're allowed to get away with it by the authorities. Would be the same here were that the case.

 

Iirc correctly there was a match where they used a burning moped as a missile. I mean how the fuck did they get a moped through the turn styles?

The hoolies (Paniniero iirc - sp?) control the turnstiles in parts of the stadium. And that was Inter, who are arguably the worst of the lot.

 

Isn't that some type of fancy bread/sandwich ???

Panini

[Renton 21215]

Won the fucking world cup though to be fair.

 

Only by goading the greatest player the world has ever seen. Cheating bastards.

Was Pele playing like?

 

Zidane was greater than Pele. Maradonna would have been a moot point.

[nufc4ever 0]

A small group of journalists was approached by two youths who, having boasted that they were hooligans - 'We are the Palermo Ultras,' they explained with sneers on their faces - demanded to know if they had found Newcastle supporters of a similar persuasion.

 

'Yes, they're over there. They're called the Toon Ultras.'

 

[Tooj 17]

Won the fucking world cup though to be fair.

 

Only by goading the greatest player the world has ever seen. Cheating bastards.

Was Pele playing like?

 

Zidane was greater than Pele. Maradonna would have been a moot point.

Zidane greater than Pele.

 

At least spell Maradona correctly Renton man.

[Guest alex]

Zidane would struggle to make the all-time top 10 tbh, although I imagine Renton is simply in need of his daily online-argument fix.

[Renton 21215]

Zidane would struggle to make the all-time top 10 tbh, although I imagine Renton is simply in need of his daily online-argument fix.

 

Bollocks. The comment you have just made is more ridiculous than ANYTHING I have ever come up with.

 

Btw, Pele never did it a club level and was part of arguably the greatest international team of all time. Difficult to see where he fits in as an all time great imo.

 

Oh and btw btw, it wasn't me that started this argument!

[Tooj 17]

Zidane would struggle to make the all-time top 10 tbh, although I imagine Renton is simply in need of his daily online-argument fix.

 

Bollocks. The comment you have just made is more ridiculous than ANYTHING I have ever come up with.

 

Btw, Pele never did it a club level and was part of arguably the greatest international team of all time. Difficult to see where he fits in as an all time great imo.

 

Oh and btw btw, it wasn't me that started this argument!

Never done it at club level? Santos didn't win a trophy for twenty-odd years when Pele left them and were a poor team before he came through the ranks. Whenever Santos played the likes of Benfica, Inter, AC Milan and all the other European Heavyweights at the time in the World Club Cup, Pele ripped all of those teams apart several times, and in particular the Catannacio style of Inter and AC which was the style at the time.

 

Brazil had also never won a World Cup until a certain 17 year old lad was the best player of the 1958 World Cup SIR.

[geordieshandy 0]

Zidane would struggle to make the all-time top 10 tbh, although I imagine Renton is simply in need of his daily online-argument fix.

 

Bollocks. The comment you have just made is more ridiculous than ANYTHING I have ever come up with.

 

Btw, Pele never did it a club level and was part of arguably the greatest international team of all time. Difficult to see where he fits in as an all time great imo.

 

Oh and btw btw, it wasn't me that started this argument!

Never done it at club level? Santos didn't win a trophy for twenty-odd years when Pele left them and were a poor team before he came through the ranks. Whenever Santos played the likes of Benfica, Inter, AC Milan and all the other European Heavyweights at the time in the World Club Cup, Pele ripped all of those teams apart several times, and in particular the Catannacio style of Inter and AC which was the style at the time.

Brazil had also never won a World Cup until a certain 17 year old lad was the best player of the 1958 World Cup SIR.

 

That sounds so Grandpa Simpson it's untrue.

[snakehips 0]

Zidane would struggle to make the all-time top 10 tbh, although I imagine Renton is simply in need of his daily online-argument fix.

 

Bollocks. The comment you have just made is more ridiculous than ANYTHING I have ever come up with.

 

Btw, Pele never did it a club level and was part of arguably the greatest international team of all time. Difficult to see where he fits in as an all time great imo.

 

Oh and btw btw, it wasn't me that started this argument!

Never done it at club level? Santos didn't win a trophy for twenty-odd years when Pele left them and were a poor team before he came through the ranks. Whenever Santos played the likes of Benfica, Inter, AC Milan and all the other European Heavyweights at the time in the World Club Cup, Pele ripped all of those teams apart several times, and in particular the Catannacio style of Inter and AC which was the style at the time.

 

Brazil had also never won a World Cup until a certain 17 year old lad was the best player of the 1958 World Cup SIR.

 

Fuck me, 2Jags, you almost had me believing you knew what you were talking about there

[Renton 21215]

Zidane would struggle to make the all-time top 10 tbh, although I imagine Renton is simply in need of his daily online-argument fix.

 

Bollocks. The comment you have just made is more ridiculous than ANYTHING I have ever come up with.

 

Btw, Pele never did it a club level and was part of arguably the greatest international team of all time. Difficult to see where he fits in as an all time great imo.

 

Oh and btw btw, it wasn't me that started this argument!

Never done it at club level? Santos didn't win a trophy for twenty-odd years when Pele left them and were a poor team before he came through the ranks. Whenever Santos played the likes of Benfica, Inter, AC Milan and all the other European Heavyweights at the time in the World Club Cup, Pele ripped all of those teams apart several times, and in particular the Catannacio style of Inter and AC which was the style at the time.

Brazil had also never won a World Cup until a certain 17 year old lad was the best player of the 1958 World Cup SIR.

 

That sounds so Grandpa Simpson it's untrue.

 

 

South American teams simply don't count, FACT.