- Alcoholic drink should not be available from early in the morning right through the day. Manchester has regulations prohibiting alcohol from being consumed in public areas - what happened to those yesterday? Why were Tescos in the city centre so keen to push their alcohol sales from early morning? (We could have a whole new debate about Tescos and morality!)
- Police officers, ambulance crews and any law-abiding citizens should not have to face that kind of behaviour. Take a look at this police officer being kicked on the ground in Manchester Police Battle Rioting Rangers Fans - Sky News Video Player Later, ambulance crews refused to go into the city centre without a police escort because they were constantly being attacked.
- The Council should review its big screen policy (only reluctantly accepted by the police who know how difficult it is to control - there have been problems previously) and perhaps consider siting them in easily contained areas, such as parks like Heaton Park which are outside the city centre. Was their decision to have big screens motivated by greed for the extra business generated by the visiting fans?
- I believe Rangers Football Club should contribute to the cost of the policing required last night - particularly the additional costs incurred because of the fighting and violence. Why should the people of Manchester pay? Also, what about outlets selling alcohol also paying towards the cost of the drunken violence to which they contributed?
- How come Russian fans did not get involved in this violence - it started before the game so no-one knew who would win? Is it something about British fans' mentality?
- Lastly, domestic violence incidents increase when there are major football matches - particularly when the perpetrator's team loses. What does that say about football and its fans?
Comment from dannyjmu 18/05/08 21:32
Hi Newscow!I'm not actually a Rangers fan, I support Liverpool. But I just thought I'd raise the point that people should not be judged on the basis of someone else's behaviour. The majority of Rangers fans were well-behaved and they should not have to bear the shame of the actions of those mindless few.I dont disagree with any of the points you make, they are all perfectly valid. With regards to my comments regarding domestic violence, I simply wanted to make the point that alot of football fans (including me) abhor such actions and condemn them completely. Football support, like every other social grouping (religion,race etc) is diverse and different. We should not be stereotyped (not aimed directly at you). As a Liverpool fan, I've been accused of horrible things because a section of our great club's fans were involved in the Heysel tragedy. (despite the fact it took place a year before I was born).My comments were more of a general point than a critique of your points, which as I say are completely valid.6 Comment from newscow00Entry Author 17/05/08 17:56
Hi DannyJust to clarify, the last point wasn't about Rangers fans - I live in Manchester and statistics show here (not just here but in most areas of the UK) that allegations of domestic assault increase whenever there is a big game and increase more if the perpetrator's team loses. I don't have a link because I got this information from work where social services, ambulance, police and others plan for additional resources to be available when there are big games.I do agree though that you can't generalise at all.Newscow x
Comment from broonieghirl 16/05/08 09:43
ITS NOT JUST GLASWEGIANS, THERE ARE OLD FIRM FANS ALL OVER SCOTLAND, BEING ONE MYSELF NOT FROM GLASGOW!!! MY POINT IS WHEN CELTIC TOOK 85THOUSAND TO SEVILLE 5 YEARS AGO THERE WAS NO TROUBLE AT ALL AND WE LOST TOO, THERE IS A CERTAIN PART OF THE RANGERS FANS WHO JUST CANNOT BEHAVE THEMSELVES AND CANT TAKE GETTING BEAT BELIEVE ME IVE SEEN IT ALL MY LIFE, AND I AM NO BIGGOTT I MARRIED AND HAVE 2 KIDS TO A RANGERS FAN!!!
Comment from lpoliticalanimal 15/05/08 22:13 Hi danny, long time no hear, thanks for your contribution to the discussion.Polly x
Comment from dannyjmu 15/05/08 22:05
Whilst I agree these actions were deplorable and inexcusable, I think generalisations about Rangers fans and indeed football fans should be avoided. There were almost 100,000 Rangers fans in Manchester yesterday and a very large proportion, despite many of them drinking alcohol like the trouble causers, were peaceful and did not cause any significant trouble for the authorities. Those fans who did commit acts of vandalism, assault and numerous other criminal acts should be punished severely but the club nor the majority of its fans should be stained by their actions.As a massive football fan myself, I taken offence to your last point that we are are drunken loud-mouth louts who often commit acts of domestic violence if our team loses a match. Generalisations are a dangeorus thing. I'm very passionate but my passions does not spill over into abuse, both physical and verbal. I'm positive this is the case for the vast majority of football fans. Dont get me wrong, I agree with the general sentiment of your thread, I just find certain aspects of it are generalising about a very significant and diverse section of the population.
Comment from lpoliticalanimal 15/05/08 20:35
Excellent article newscoo, and thank you. I would say alcohol is 99% of the problem at events like this.What a sad indicement of what should have been a great event. But as usual a small minority will ruin the reputation of Glaswegians, and Glasgow Rangers FC - the majority would have been having a great time, enjoying the game and the atmosphere.Polly
Comment from broonieghirl 15/05/08 15:44
TYPICAL RANGERS FANS, CANT TAKE THEM ANYWHERE
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