Violence in Sports - Research Paper Example

Violence in Sports Introduction Violence in sports has for a long time been a big issue. In any sporting event, there tend to be stiff competition as people strive to achieve the best. With this in mind, there are strong emotions as both the participants and fans desire to win, this may sometimes lead to violence. In facts, studies have documented that, there is a high level of violence both in professional sports, high school and college sports (Coakley, 1982). In such cases, violence is not always amongst players but, amongst fans who often engage into fight. For instance, in the sport of soccer, fans are so much obsessed to the team that, turning against their team would lead to violence. With no doubt; the high level of violence in professional sports can be outlined in a recent incident of violence between San Francisco and Oakland Raider fans. In the society set-up, there have been controversial on who initiate violence in sports. In response to this, most people have believed that players are the ones who initiate violence, and unknowingly encourage fans to engage into conflicts and physical confrontation. Those who have attended professional sport events have either experienced or have been subjected to some level of physical or verbal confrontation. It borne in mind; conflicts are everywhere, and even projected in the field play. But the question still lingers many, where do we draw the line for violence particularly amongst football fans who often engage into some level of physical and verbal confrontation. The report of this research is significant because, it determines what level of violence is permissible, within the content of sports, and what violence should be punishable. For many years, violence in sports has not been fully addressed, and it has often been accepted as the norm. With the high level of violence in sports, there should be laws that govern the players in the field. In short, there should be rules and regulations in the field, those who participate in violence should be punished under criminal law. The best way to stop violence in sports is to make the punishment so severe that, it serves as the deterrent to perpetrators. In this regard, the following paper seeks to explore what level of violence should be punishable under criminal law. In essence, violence in sports should not be accepted as the norm but, rather players should be punished under criminal law. This implies that, there should be strong rules and regulation governing sports so that those who complain of violence in sports can air their voice. With this in mind, an Athletic Director should determine what level of violence is permissible within the content of sport and what violence is punishable. As mentioned earlier, those involved in violence in sports should be punished to discourage many from participating in fights and commotions. In this context, the following are the kind of violence that should be punishable under criminal law. First, verbal taunting should be punishable since in most cases, it triggers fights. All players should be warned of exchanging hurtful words, which mostly cause fights. Still, fans should be given a chance to air their voice when their fellow fans exchange vulgar language. To support this discussion, sports experts have affirmed that, football is not like Opera where fans clap softly and sit quietly after a gain (Leonard, 1988). In sports, particularly football, fans are loud and energetic and a times view the game as the release. No wonder, those who complain about verbal profanity are seen soft and perhaps subject to questions why they are at the game. Obviously, most fights start with verbal taunting, which often lead to deaths. Following this, there should be proper laws in the sport governing freedom of speech without allowing potential for violence to escalate. Hate crime should be punishable by law for the team members and fans to enjoy their time playing and watching football. From this, it stands out that, prevention would work well in eradicating violence cases in sports. For instance, by increasing the number of police officers, there is a likelihood of keeping people from participating to violence in sports. Secondly, when fans fight with their fellow fans because of a defeat in the game then, this should be punishable under the criminal law. There should be instructions governing how fans should relate with other fans. For many years, cases have emerged about fans fighting fans from a different team, which at time leads to death. Though this is not perceived as violence; it should be recognized as dangerous since when people gather in a team to fight, it may cause loss of lives and damaging of properties. This stands out that, fan to fan violence is part of hate crime. Terry and Jackson (1985) articulate that, the definition of hate crime should be the driving force of why fan to fan violence should be punishable by law. Hate crime is outlined as a physical attack or disfigurement of property that is motivated by hostility. Viewing violence in sports from this angle, it is obvious that, fan to fan violence should be considered as a hate crime since there is hostility that eventually leads to assault. With no doubt; punishing those who are found guilty of assaulting a fan from a different team would send signals to other fans of the dangers of abusing someone. Thirdly, racism in the field should be viewed as a hate crime thus, perceived as violence. In reality, racism is a core factor that contributes to physical confrontation and verbal taunting in sports. In such cases, the white may feel more superior in the field than blacks or vice versa thus, triggering fights. A line should be drawn to the punishment imposed to those who participate in violence. To daunt racism in the field, those who participate in racism should be punished and imprisoned to deter those participating in racism. In doing this, it would discourage many people to engage in violence in fear of the punishment that is linked with the behavior. With no doubt; when a line is drawn on how to punish behaviors that are related to racism, it would definitely reduce violence. There have been beliefs that, punishing criminals has been paramount in reducing crime rates. In the current society, punishing criminals has been beneficial in eradicating crime as many fear to be imprisoned. With this regard, a line should be drawn on how far is too far when relating with people from a different race. When discrimination is detected, the perpetrators should be punishable under criminal law. Fourthly, intention fight in the field should be detected. Though this is not easy, there should be guidelines set in the field to enhance safety for all players in the field. In this assumption, Wandzilak, Thomas, et al. (1988) articulates that, rules and regulations in the field create a platform for players to understand how to relate with their fellow players. Warnings in the field should be imposed to those who intentionally fights or exchange vulgar language in the field. For instance, in soccer, issuing cards when violence is detected in the filed enhance respect amongst players in the field. In an attempt to eradicate intentional fights in the soccer, there has been issuing of red and yellow cards whereby, one is either exempted or disqualified. This has significantly improve safety in the field since most soccer players fear to be disqualified or exempted in the field, which come in hands with so many disadvantages. Therefore, this demonstrates importance of detecting intentional fights or exchange of vulgar language in the field. As discussed, when players are issued red or yellow cards, it creates a great signal of handling fellow players in dignity and integrity. By doing so, it eradicates violence in the field and imposes the need to respect all players regardless of their background. Conclusion From the above assumptions, it is true to argue that, violence in sports is a core issue that needs to be dealt with. This paper has briefly discuss how there is a high level of violence both in professional sports and high school and college sports. Most fights amongst players and fans result from excessive joy and stiff competition as people endeavor to be the best. As a result, there are strong emotions from both the participants and fans, which eventually lead to violence. The paper has significantly discusser what level of violence should be permissible within the content of sports, and what violence should be punishable. In doing this, the paper has brought into discussion where to draw the line for violence. First, verbal taunting should be punishable for it is a core aspect that triggers fights. In this context, fans and players should be warned of exchanging hurtful words, which mostly cause fights. As discussed previously, there should laws governing freedom of speech without allowing violence to escalate (Coakley, 1982). Therefore, hate crime should be punishable by law. Secondly, conflicts that come out from fans to fans because of a defeat in the game should be punishable under criminal law. In this regard, there should be instructions governing how fans should relate with other fans in the field. Thirdly, racism should be viewed as hate crime since it is a core factor that contributes to physical confrontation and verbal taunting in sports. Fourthly, intention fights in the field should be detected in the field and punishable under criminal law. Those who engage into fights should be given warnings or disqualified in the field. This may be helpful in soccer where players may intend to trigger fights when defeated. By realizing the importance of giving warnings to those causing intention fights, there have been yellow and red cards where the former is given for a warning and the latter for disqualification. This has been helpful in the soccer where violence has been less compared to other sports as many fear to be given the mentioned cards. Following the above discussion, the paper has explored what level of violence should be punishable under criminal law. References Coakley, J. J. (1982) Sport in Society, Issues and Controversies (Second Edition). St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Company. Leonard, W. M. (1988) A Sociological Perspective of Sport (Third Edition). New York: Macmillan Publishing Company Terry, P. C., & Jackson, J. J. (1985). The Determinants and Control of Violence in Sport. Quest, 37 (1) 27-37. Wandzilak, Thomas, et al. (1988). Values Development through Physical Activity: Promoting Sportsmanlike Behaviors. Perceptions and Moral Reasoning. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 8 (1) 13-21. Read More