The other face of our football

Over many years, Argentina’s football has suffered violence with dozens of deaths to cry for. However, the violence in sports events is not new and not exclusively from our country. Many countries solved this terrible phenomenon but others are still suffering it.

Violence has always been associated with football since the origin of the game, since 225 BC. Curiously, medieval football was like a battle field where young people of rival villages and towns solved arguments or disputes over their lands. At this time, the football matches involved hundreds of men and the game did not have enough rules.

As we all know, football was born in England and this traditional game was often accompanied by huge amounts of alcohol. In consequence, the matches always concluded with serious injuries and even death of some of the participants.

The sport was rapidly spread over other countries in Europe, principally in Germany and Italy. The huge popularity reached by the football all over Europe, led to a more regulated and restrained game. From this, modern football emerged, but unfortunately, the violence was still growing with the game.

In 1960, a new behavior called 'football hooliganism' appeared in England. This fact was related with social conflicts and the demand of the working classes to obtain the possibility to access to the matches. In fact, in the seventies, when England was suffering a hit of unemployment, the “hooligans” appeared. The English Parliament analyzed seriously the problem and elaborated hard laws to penalize the aggressive groups and in this way the problem was solved.

At present, in our country, the violence in football is out of control. The problem is supported by social factors like poverty, unemployment, the educational crisis etc. Every weekend there are real battles between fans of the different clubs. Moreover, sometimes leaders of different bands of the same club fight to win the control of the club. Unfortunately, this situation is not exclusive from the first division because in the least important division, this warring situation have also appeared.

Obviously there is no interest in solving this problem from the state or the political leaders. The reason is simple, everyone benefits from it. The clubs leaders do not see with evil eyes the so called “barras bravas” because they are maintained in their positions by these groups. In other words, the clubs leaders are afraid of these violent groups.

In my opinion we can finish with this serious problem if all society demands the authorities the elaboration and application of more appropriate laws. Another important thing that we can do as young people is persuade all our friends about the importance of returning to the Greek concept of the sport, which means that the final objective of all sport competition is not to win, but to increase the spirit of the competitors.