by Dutchman » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:46 am
Throwing them on the pitch should indeed be acted upon, it's just a shame that they do throw them so you're not allowed to take flares into the stadium, because imo the flares can create a very nice atmosphere. Mind you, I'm quite certain that in Ukraine they're not allowed either, or at least not during UEFA/FIFA sanctioned matches, but the security isn't as tight as it is here. It all depends on whether they search every person coming into the stadium, or whether they only search bags or don't do any of that. Especially flares are quite easy to take with you, as long as they don't search thoroughly.
It makes sense FA have filed a complaint over the flares being thrown on the pitch, but I would hate to see the result being overturned. It's probably all on camera, find the people who threw the flares, fine them and possibly ban them for the next 5 games or so. Of course the Ukraine FA should be fined as well for not having their security in order.
I used to go to American Football games here in Amsterdam, when the NFL Europe was still in existence, and we played in the same stadium as the Ajax football team (not their stadium, even though they whined a great deal that 'we' wrecked 'their' pitch... numpties). First couple of years we were allowed just about anything, far more than the football fans were, simply because we did not have a bad reputation. Quite the opposite really, for a great number of years the away fans would easily be sitting literally right next to us, and whoever's team had lost would congratulate the winning fans and that'd be it, no fighting, no bad-mouthing, none of that.
Unfortunately as the football fans kept misbehaving, stricter rules were enforced and they made these universal for all events at the stadium, including our NFL Europe games, so we got quite restricted in what we were allowed to do, which certainly didn't help towards the atmosphere which detiorated in the final 2-3 years.
Just makes me hate football as it is today. I love the sport itself, but I've grown tired of all the rubbish going on at the same time, not just on the pitch but definitely off the pitch as well. Must say I was pleasently surprised when I went to see an Arsenal game last season. Even though it wasn't against one of our rivals, I suppose Spurs fans won't be able to mix as easily with the Arsenal fans as the Middlesborough fans were able to then, it was nice to attend a match without hearing rude/racist chants (as is deemed 'normal' over here). Of course the opposing fans would taunt eachother, but all in a friendly manner. It somehow reminded me of how the NFL Europe games were like, just because you don't support the same team, it doesn't mean you have to smack eachother's brains in and wish them a lengthy and most gruesome death. You don't have to be friends either, but you love the same game, isn't that enough to just get along
[FuN]Dutchman
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