I've followed football since, yes, 1982 and seen a lot of fan violence (hooliganism used to be the cool word) but I never quite got it. The organized battles in England and Holland, and probably, elsewhere, the surging on the terraces in England...why? Why did a fan get killed in Sweden last weekend. He was at a football match. And is he going to become a martyr of sorts, a hero? And will the killer/s be glorified like they were in the "Real Football Factories" (youtube). Why was it so cool to be part of the "firms" who's sole reason was to make football watching hell for everybody else? I understand there were very often a myriad of social issues as to why a group of men from a certain demographic saw the need to be associated with these firms, and high and drunk, would turn violent. The emotion of watching "their" team was just a convenient excuse. I don't understand the violence, but that there are unfortunate reasons.
What I don't get with this story in Uruguay (link below) is that the behaviour of these idiots is the fault of the Uruguayan FA. There is more to it and maybe this line reveals what could be going on: "Analysts have suggested that Uruguay could be barred from this summer's World Cup in Brazil if world football governing body, Fifa, decides there has been political interference." Are the politicians embarrassed that this is happening and it is them who are blaming the FA? Maybe the politicians should all take a look at what they have done to contribute to a society that promotes this violence.
By the way, Uruguay kicked out of the World Cup by Fifa? Ha! At least there was a bit of humour in this story.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26829031
