How Hooliganism Is Seen in the Contemporary World - Coursework Example

Hooliganism Introduction Hooliganism aroused international worry a few decades ago and continues to create public and official concern. Despite all efforts made and resources devoted in the past few years, hooliganism still remains a troubling social dilemma to varying degrees. Nonetheless, significant differences exist in nature and intensity of hooliganism in different societies. There is no accurate definition of hooliganism. This is because it is deficient in the legal description and covers an assortment of activities which occur in relatively directly football linked frameworks. To give a reason for some of the phenomenon’s key attributes, a division between impulsive, relatively secluded confrontations of spectator violence and the conduct of socially organized fan groups which participate in aggressive violent behavior should be drawn. This division is historically apparent through a change from a pattern in which assaults on football match officials and opponent players preponderated over assaults on opponent fans, to a practice in which fights against fans and the police became the dominant form of watcher muddled state. Pearson (1983, p. 26) defines hooliganism as a violent, raucous and disparaging behavior. Hooliganism has closely been associated with sport activities due to violence among the spectators. This paper is threefold. It discusses the history of hooliganism and its link to the racism, the firms in United Kingdom, their problems and solutions and how hooliganism is seen in the contemporary world. History of Hooliganism and its link to racism There are numerous theories on the history and origin of hooliganism. In reference to the Oxford dictionary (2012), hooliganism originated in the late years of 19th century from the surname of an illusory unruly Irish family, Hooligan, in a musical-hall song of 1890’s. Hooliganism has been used since late 19th century. It described a street bunch of criminals in London in 1890’s, just about the same time Manchester street mob were achieving disrepute. Exact first usage of the term hooliganism and how it came to be used in the present meaning is not well known. The Daily News (1984) reported a case at Southwark Police Court in London where it indicated that Clarke, 19 years old, arraigned for attack on police was the ring leader of “Hooligan Boys”, a gang of youth (p. 1). This gang had graced with their presence a music hall and caused disturbances which led to the police being called. Later the next month, two young men were brought before a court in London for unruly behavior. They were also described as members of the hooligan gang. In reference to Daily News (1984, p. 3), violent activities increased in London, and the local trades men organized a delegation to heighten police activities in stamping out the supposed “hooligan gangs or roughs” (p. 4). Within a short time, all the media houses in London stopped referring to gangs as a gang of thugs to the astounding hooligan gang. In London, Daily News (1984, p. 5) reported that one defense canvasser representing his client in a Court on an attack arraign said “everyone who got into a row in that the district was now referred to as a hooligan”. However, according to Quinion (1998), hooliganism originated from a person referred Patrick Hooligan who was an insignificant bouncer and a crook. He was later convicted for killing a police officer. This led to the origin of hooliganism. In 1970’s, hooliganism was associated with violence in sports. Hooliganism has been linked to racism. In reference to Pearson (1983, p. 41), there are numerous ethnic groups that are viewed as complicated committing definite categories of felonies on the aboriginal English people and necessitate exceptional procedures of control. Back, Crabbe and Solomos (1999, p. 421) note that the white ethnic identities play a role in comprehending racist violence. Approximating the genuine scope of violent racism is an activity burdened with theoretical and practical predicaments (Back, Crabbe, and Solomos, 1999, p. 422). According to Back, Crabbe and Solomos (1999, p. 424), in situations of brutality or hazards filed with the British Crime Survey, perceived to be ethnically prompted, injured parties practically always mentioned white delinquents. Hawkins (2003, p. 160-164) notes that there is violence against minority ethnic groups due to numerous reasons. Economic differences, the size of minority population, and alcohol consumption. Racism is evident in football hooliganism. Sport is a ritual activity according to Hawkins (2003, p. 163), in which the “relationship between race, nation and inclusion is repeatedly stated and defined, through representation of the ‘us’ that is manifested between the team and its devoted supporters”. So, race is not a “given but the process in which racial difference is evoked and connected with issues of identity, entitlement and belonging” (Back, Crabbe, and Solomos, 1999, p. 431). In the contemporary world, football hooliganism has been closely linked to racism. In the Euro 2012 championship, Mario Balotelli was racially abused by fans. Hooliganism and racism seems to have permeated into international sporting games. The Firms in United Kingdom Hooliganism has been linked to sports since they began. The biggest sports and football rivalries is between the clubs and firms in the same cities or localities. Problems were reported in precisely football games since the 19th century (Gulianotti, 1994, p. 24). A firm refers to a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments. There are notable hooligan firms in United Kingdom, which are groups that have been affirmed as taking part in sports-related hooliganism and football hooliganism. In United Kingdom, hooligan firms include Aldershot Town, Arsenal, Barnsley, Bolton wanderers, Bradfold city, Brentfold, Bristol Rovers, Burnley, Charlot Athletic, Chelsea, Everton, Derby county Hooligan Group, Black Pool, Fulham, Birmingham City, Hull city, Aston Villa, Leeds United and many more (BBC, 2004). These clubs and groups have been associated with football violence as well as assaulting opponent fans and referees. Numerous players and fans have been convicted and banned from matches due to violence against a referee or against an opponent fan. Football and sport violence has changed the face after the invention and construction of the seater- stadiums. Nowadays opponent fans engage in violence in the streets. Recently, BBC (2004) reported a ban on four men from attending football matches for three years, after participating in street violence in Derby County. The four belonged to a hooligan group known as Derby lunatic Fringe which was involved in a clash with Bradford City fans after a match. Global Firms' problems and solutions Global football and sporting firms have numerous problems and challenges that hinder effective performance. The major problem that these firms face is hooliganism. Hooliganism has had severe implications in United Kingdom and the world. Hooliganism is the root of all the problems that these firms face. Hooliganism causes violence which leads to damage of property and injuries. In addition, racism is another dominant problem in the firms. Numerous football players have faced violent racism through assaults by fans (Gullianotti, 2003, p. 182). These problems can be solved through the use of surveillance cameras in the stadiums and streets. The CCTV cameras can help capture any violent behavior and activity by fans and players and be charged in court. The four individuals banned for three years from any match reported by BBC (2004), were captured in a CCTV camera and used as evidence against them. Deployment of ordinary clothes police in the stadiums is another alternative form of surveillance. These police officers take a trip to away games and identify their ruffians to the police officers. This police can help reduce cases of hooliganism in sporting activities. In addition, the clubs and firms should ensure that there is deployment of police officers armed to deal with any unruly and violent behavior that may arise from the fans (Hawkins, 2003, p. 172). Hooliganism in the contemporary world In the recent times, hooliganism is highly associated with sporting activities particularly football. Present day people associate hooliganism with violence, assault and attacks on other people or property (Quinion, 1998). There has been a move from the idea of assaulting each other and fighting in sports stadiums to fighting and assaulting each other outside the stadiums. In the 1960’s and 70’s, hooligans thought they had a marvelous time. Activities such as abusing one another and threatening seemed fun to them. Due to the introduction of stadiums with seats, hooligan activities have moved from the stadiums to the streets. Present day technology is used to arrange for fights between different hooligan groups. In particular, the internet and mobile phones have been employed to finalize details on the meetings and fights. When fights break out in the streets, the most common behavior is people getting on their phones to call more hooligan groups to join the fight (Hawkins, 2003, p. 162). Conclusion Hooliganism is detrimental in sports. Since its origin, it has been publicly and officially defined as a significant social problem and the state apparatus in United Kingdom has been increasingly mobilized in an attempt to eradicate it. So far, however, what these attempts have succeeded mainly in doing is increasing the solidarity of the hooligans, displacing their activities further and further away from grounds and increasing their organizational and tactical sophistication. Repressive measures will need to be harmonized by a social-preventive technique to avoid future hooliganism. References Back, L., Crabbe, T., & Solomos, J. (1999). Beyond the racist/Hooligan Couplet: Race, Social Theory and Football. Culture, British Journal of Sociology, 50(3), 419-442. BBC (2004, November 29). Match Ban after Football Violence. BBC News. Retrieved August 2012, from http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/4052567.stm Daily News (1984, April 24). Who Where the Original Hooligans. Daily News. Retrieved August 2012, from http://quezi.com Gullianotti, R. (1994). Football, Violence and Social Identity. Routledge. Hawkins, D. F. (2003). Violent Crime: Assessing Race and Ethnic Differences. Cambridge University Press. Oxford Dictionary (2012). Hooliganism. Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved 2012, Pearson, G. (1983). Hooligan: A history of respectable fears. London: Macmillan. Quinion, M. (1998, June 20). Hooligan. World Wide Words. Retrieved August 1, 2012, Read More