Offside intervention 24/11/11
Sirs,
The Scottish Government's attempts to legislate against "offensive
behaviour" at football matches demonstrates the total lack of
understanding of what is essentially a working class sport by middle
class lawyers and self styled intellectuals.
Intrinsic to soccer is a tribalism which often spills over into
ritualised verbal and physical violence off the pitch. For a
significant proportion of match goers, it provides a weekly safety
valve for the pent up aggression which they are, quite rightly, unable
to vent in daily life.
The Saturday scrap between opposing supporters is part of the genuine working class football experience and is well understood by the real football fans who inhabit the terraces rather than watching on TV.
It is sad to see MSPs buying into the commercialisation of the sport
which requires a squeaky clean family image in order to attract major
advertisers. They should stick to the violence of rugby with its off
pitch politesse and stop trying to impose their standards on a milieu
of which they are totally ignorant.
John Eoin Douglas
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
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