Football ‘Hooligans’ v Terrorists: The Same Mentality?
April 28, 2008 by CLDsport
Before we get too far into this, I want to make absolutely clear that I am in no way suggesting that any football fans are terrorists, or will ever be terrorists in the future. I’m merely going to suggest here that the same mentality can be found in both.
Football is a religion. It’s a religion that many are born into. The football stadium is a church - and it’s sacred. A fans’ favourite player is his god, and a fellow fan is treated as a brother - one of the same.
Muslim Extremists are - supposedly - acting in the name of their god. They are fanatics - although completely misguided. They will die for their cause, and are proud to do so. A terrorist is passionate about his ‘calling’ and will live and die for the cause.
As a football fan myself, I live and breathe football. Being a Spurs fan this has it’s low and it’s highs, but my passion will never die. I will support Spurs through thick and thin until my time on Earth comes to an end. So, can it be true that I do have the same mentality as a terrorist? The very same people that sicken me?
No, I don’t think so. I’m merely a passionate fan. But, there are many football fans that DO have this same mentality. These fans will HATE somebody else, purely because they happen to support a different team to themselves.
These are the fans that I believe to share some of the personality traits that you’d find in your average terrorist.
It can be said that there are differing levels of this fanaticism. There are the fans that will happily attack, and even kill in some cases, in the name of their football club - their religion. Just like I will never understand or condone terrorism, I will never comprehend the reason behind this mentality.
Just one quick browse through the many football forums on the Internet and you will see this hate. These forums are, of course, moderated, so you will not find any threatening messages on them. You can still see messages of hate though - typically between bitter rivals. Don’t get me wrong, rivalry is an important part of football - always has been, and always will be. But, rivalry is NOT hate. Hating somebody for their team colours is just as bad in my eyes as being racist, homophobic or sexist.
Being a Spurs fan does not mean I have to hate Arsenal fans. I don’t like seeing Arsenal win - but I can still say that I admire the way they play, and all their recent success. I’m proud of the fact that I see things this way. To me it shows that I am in control of my thoughts, and am a good person. What gives me the right to hate an Arsenal fan? Nothing. Damn I’d even marry an Arsenal fan if she was the ‘right’ girl.
Based on these thoughts, lets compare football fans to Muslims as a whole;
If I was a Muslim - that’s all I would be. Just like the majority of the Muslim population - who are caring, thoughtful and all together good people who accept others religions gracefully and play an important part in the community.
Then you will find the minority of football fans who directly compare to Muslim Extremists. These fans have lost control. They have forgotten the difference between right and wrong and will personally attack fans of other clubs. They see it as a ‘crime’ that somebody can possibly have different views to them - and believe violence is the best way to communicate their anger.
A Muslim Extremist is the same. While I can partly understand why they are angry, their actions sicken me to the core. Just as a hateful football hooligan has lost all power over his or her distinction between right and wrong, an extremist has too. He or she has developed a belief that the West is at war with Muslims directly - and is determined to fight that war by killing innocent people who have NOTHING to do with political policy in the Middle East.
Do you see the similarities? Both groups will gladly attack innocent people in the name of their religion. Let’s be honest, they are purely animals who have no place in today’s society.
Funnily enough, the same people that you could class as football extremists are likely to be the very same people that believe ALL Muslims are terrorists. That’s how misguided they are - and why we should do everything in our power to stop them.
So, in summary - football is a religion, and so is Islam. Both have their extremists that endanger the respectability of said religion.
Let’s unite as football fans, we are all of the same religion after all. I’m going to go off and hug an Arsenal fan!
Your an idiot mate…Football casuals dont attack innocents they attack rival football firms, and they have a code of respect such “not as using no weapons” and “always having equal numbers on both sides” or never hitting someone who has fallen over and on the floor”
To compare them to terorists is Idiotic..You are obviously writing about something You Know Nothing about