| Soccer riots have always been something | | | | other sports is its international |
| of a mystery. The violence in hockey is | | | | acclaim. Soccer isn't a property of any |
| at least reconcilable. Grown men in | | | | one country, people, or race but is an |
| heavy outfits skating at high speeds | | | | international phenomenon, encompassing a |
| with sharp blades on their feet create | | | | diversity of people, ideas and |
| enough tension and energy to start a | | | | landscapes. Because of the vast |
| brawl in a hurry. In baseball, a hard | | | | diversity of participants in the game, |
| leather ball thrown 100 mph at your head | | | | world politics often play an unfortunate |
| can understandably make you want to | | | | part in soccer rioting. When countries |
| charge the mound. But soccer? Even the | | | | become enemies or evoke different |
| game happens at a slow pace and hardly | | | | political positions the residents often |
| inspires more than focused concentration | | | | let the soccer team play out their |
| on the field itself. American | | | | frustration. This creates an angry |
| commentators jokingly portray the reason | | | | energy and misdirection from the good of |
| for soccer riots as its low-scoring low | | | | the sport to the violence in the stands. |
| key nature. They often say "after paying | | | | A soccer riot at a game between Iran and |
| almost $100 for seats and fighting the | | | | Japan was said to be motivated by |
| crowds to see two teams play an entire | | | | protesters fed up with Iran's gender |
| match an end in a 0-0 tie, you might | | | | rights violence. The erupting riot left |
| riot too." However, to the rest of the | | | | three dead. In 2004 a soccer riot in |
| world, soccer riots are no laughing | | | | Rome was planned to protest the |
| matter. | | | | government's spending in regard to |
| People die | | | | education and sports. When the tension |
| Deaths from soccer riots happen around | | | | of the world around invades the field of |
| the globe. They have been recorded in | | | | sport, everybody loses. |
| Germany, England Greece, Spain, South | | | | Antisocial behavior |
| Africa, Italy and Latin America. In | | | | Unfortunately, soccer seems unable to |
| 2001, a soccer riot in Ghana claimed the | | | | separate itself from its reputation as a |
| lives of 138 people. While it is in our | | | | riotous adventure. This draws fans |
| human nature to have a visceral response | | | | wanting to be part of the mob mentality |
| and succumb to mob mentality the fact | | | | and creates an atmosphere of antisocial |
| that any fan would be killed simply | | | | and anti-authority behavior. The number |
| watching a soccer game is tragedy at its | | | | one casualty of any soccer riot is |
| height. All sports should make players | | | | generally the police or authorities who |
| and fans more noble, and more a part of | | | | have come to maintain order in and |
| the tapestry of humanity. Loss of life | | | | around the stadium. Gangs of young |
| at a soccer game shows how truly far we | | | | people calling themselves "soccer |
| have fallen from our ability to connect | | | | hooligans" have purposely begun to |
| with one another. | | | | infiltrate the world of soccer to spread |
| Politics enter | | | | their own brand of antiauthoritarian |
| What distinguishes soccer from many | | | | violence. |