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Anyone every been to a match in Europe / abroad? Run-ins with Hooligans?

Posted on 7/2/13 at 6:20 pm
Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
27513 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 6:20 pm
Well as I mentioned in the other thread I started I plan on going to a friendly vs AOC Den Haag and Swansea City in a little over a week or so and was just wondering what should I expect? It is just a friendly and its not against a Dutch rival or anything so just wondering what kind of atmosphere I should expect?

I'm worried about looking out of place. I plan on rooting for the home team or at the very least acting neutral so its not like I plan on antagonizing the home crowd or anything. Essentially is it possible for me to watch a good European soccer match without worrying about getting caught up in a brawl full of people that I can't even understand?
Posted by theOG
Member since Feb 2010
10861 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 6:35 pm to
i saw Marseilles play at PSG. lots of seedy looking people, but nothing bad happened. of course, there were more riot police than there were Marseilles fans.

eta: you'll be fine. have fun!
This post was edited on 7/2/13 at 6:36 pm
Posted by cwil177
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
30134 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 7:30 pm to
I lived in Marseille and went to a lot of the games. The people in the "virages," or the ends of the stadium, are the ultras. They basically smoke hash and yell obscenities while catcalling any women they see. There was a time when Dortmund had to get an escort in there.

Also, OG, l'OM fans aren't allowed to travel to Paris anymore for games, and PSG fans can't come to Marseille for our games.

Also been to games in England (Sunderland @ Fulham), Italy (USA @ Italy, Lecce @ Chievo Verona), Holland (AZ @ Nijmegen), Ireland (St. Pats) and never seen any problems with hooliganism.

ETA: The worst fan behavior I've ever experienced was from the Mexican fans at the 2011 Gold Cup. Final.
This post was edited on 7/2/13 at 7:31 pm
Posted by Keys Open Doors
In hiding with Tupac & XXXTentacion
Member since Dec 2008
33034 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 8:00 pm to
I would expect it to be kind of dead. Preseason games aren't intense in general, and these are two teams with no history at all.

To put in perspective, my mom let me go to a Fenerbahce-Galatasaray preseason game when I was 12. If I went to a Fenerbahce-Galatasaray regular season game 16 years later, I am sure she wouldn't be able to sleep until I told her I made him alive.
Posted by Keys Open Doors
In hiding with Tupac & XXXTentacion
Member since Dec 2008
33034 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 8:01 pm to
Are Marseilles ultras white, Algerian, or both? Very interesting demographics in that city
Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
27513 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 8:04 pm to
quote:

Preseason games aren't intense in general, and these are two teams with no history at all.


Yeah I noticed pretty quickly the Dutch powerhouse resides in Amsterdam
Posted by Nimbus2000
Member since Jun 2013
1250 posts
Posted on 7/2/13 at 8:53 pm to
I went to a small conference lower league match in England.... I've seen Sun Belt games better attended.... I still have going to a real match in Europe on my bucket list.
Posted by SuperSoakher
Member since Jun 2012
4585 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 12:34 am to
I've seen a teenage kid blow his hand and half his face off misusing pyrotechnics in the stands. Luckily no one else was seriously hurt cause of him.
Posted by thenry712
Zasullia, Ukraine
Member since Nov 2008
15795 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 3:27 am to


These are the Dynamo Kiev Ultras. Despite being a bunch of racist, xenophobic and uneducated assholes, they really didn't do much damage during the one match I attended about a month ago. They were just pissed off that Dynamo finished third for the first time in its history in the Ukrainian League.
This post was edited on 7/3/13 at 3:29 am
Posted by StraightCashHomey21
Aberdeen,NC
Member since Jul 2009
126858 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 6:28 am to
quote:

match without worrying about getting caught up in a brawl full of people that I can't even understand?
:rotflmao:

you would literally have to go looking for it
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
45206 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 8:02 am to
Went to Man Utd reserves match summer of 2008. Preseason friendly. Our travelling group were all Man Utd fans because all our kids went to a week-long Man U camp previous week. Our guide would not let any of us wear any Man U clothing at all. Also told us not to cheer obnoxiously (or at all if possible). Actually cant remember who we played, it was a small stadium but their fans were really into it. I think it was a championship or 3rd division side.
Posted by StraightCashHomey21
Aberdeen,NC
Member since Jul 2009
126858 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 8:04 am to
im already saving up to go to a United away match this season in england, i hope they get a german team in the group play of the CL b/c ill be there.
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
45206 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 8:08 am to
That would be awesome
Posted by StraightCashHomey21
Aberdeen,NC
Member since Jul 2009
126858 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 8:19 am to
one of the guys i met in the pub and was drinking beers with before the villa game was showing pics and vids from the madrid trip this season, said he dropped 1,300 pounds all together, but his seats were sick like 3 rows from the pitch had his united jersey and scarf on and no one even bothered him.

The stories those guys told me about aways sounded intense
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
45206 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 8:25 am to
It might have also been a case of our seat location. I think we were amongst the home fans and not the Man U fans. But anyway, I didnt see any problems, lots of people wearing Man U gear and no one had any issues (at least that I saw).

We also went to a Spurs match vs Leyton Orient and it was packed and vibrant but I didnt witness any problems (a little heckling outside the stadium). Seeing teams like that in a tiny stadium is awesome. We were right on top the pitch.
Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
27513 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 11:40 am to
Yeah the venue I'd be heading to is new but only site 15,000 so I think whatever seat I get will be good. I'm curious as to what the atmosphere will be like. It is just a friendly but it's also the first home game of any kind of the season so maybe that'll help attendance?
Posted by cwil177
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
30134 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 2:27 pm to
quote:

Are Marseilles ultras white, Algerian, or both? Very interesting demographics in that city

Mostly Arab, but plenty of whites and Africans as well.
Posted by TRUERockyTop
Appalachia
Member since Sep 2011
16887 posts
Posted on 7/3/13 at 7:29 pm to
I've been to a bunch of games home and away with my team TSG 1899, and got into 2 group fights something close to a 10 on 10 with some Bayern Munich fans at a Burger king rest stop on the side of the autobahn about an hour and a half outside Munich and in Kaiserslautern when we played an away game there last year. Probably 11-12 of us and 15 of them outside the visitor block by the concessions. Both times the only reason it happened was because I was with one of the Ultra Groups (Dementio Boys). If your some random guy there just to watch the game and aren't acting like a dumb arse 95% chance no one is going to mess with you.

If the Ultras don't know you they're not going to let you stand with them, and most of the violence is between rival Ultra groups/Hooligans so you shouldn't have anything to worry about
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