I agree with St Charles Owl that, if, as I suggest England simply withdraw now for the good of sport, that does run the risk that in future other countries might try to get us to do it again by mounting attacks similar to those that have been happening, BUT if you don't go there and act like arseholes in the first place then you become neither a target, nor a thug.
INNOCENT BYSTANDER ATTACKED IN HOTEL BEDROOM BY RUSSIAN ULTRAS -
- It ain't going to happen.
We withdraw from this tournament. We actually win a lot of admiration. Next time we make it to a tournament (and the authorities will probably be daft enough to penalise us for withdrawing this time) even our divviest fans will get the message.
What do some of our football fans think they are doing? Do they imagine it is acceptable to the French people hosting the tournament for them to be drunk, chanting mindlessly and smashing bottles at any hour of day and night? If I want to hear some chanting I'll climb a fcuknig mountain in Bhutan.
We are behaving as if we think we have the right to colonise France. Their feelings don't matter, when in fact they are welcoming fans from all over Europe to their country, they are staging a tournament for us all to enjoy and deserve our gratitude and good behaviour. (If they choose to use Riot Police that is what they do, it is their country, we follow their rules.)
Would you go round to your Uncle's house for tea and smash his tea service against the flying ducks? So why do we offer any kind of understanding to these people?
I only just read Wakey Terrier's excellent piece after writing the above. Lots of innocents obviously have been caught up in what happened, and I've no sympathy with the creation of media storms, BUT unless we believe INNOCENT ENGLAND FANS ON QUIET NIGHT OUT ATTACKED SEVERAL TIMES IN MARSEILLES we learn nowt. White men go abroad and treat the world to behaviour they know is unpleasant and wrong. They don't offer the French much respect or thanks. If you add baking powder and stir it is going to rise and that's the trouble. Who is fairly innocent, slightly or obviously guilty is largely irrelevant. I've a feeling if all the England fans were as capable of putting together a piece as Wakey Terrier for whom I've loads of respect we'd not be hearing about any trouble at all ......... but that's snobbish and elitist of me.
One final thought, allowing the Russians to host 2018 will be a recipe for disaster ......... but ask yourself why would you even go other than a deathwish?
INNOCENT BYSTANDER ATTACKED IN HOTEL BEDROOM BY RUSSIAN ULTRAS -
- It ain't going to happen.
We withdraw from this tournament. We actually win a lot of admiration. Next time we make it to a tournament (and the authorities will probably be daft enough to penalise us for withdrawing this time) even our divviest fans will get the message.
What do some of our football fans think they are doing? Do they imagine it is acceptable to the French people hosting the tournament for them to be drunk, chanting mindlessly and smashing bottles at any hour of day and night? If I want to hear some chanting I'll climb a fcuknig mountain in Bhutan.
We are behaving as if we think we have the right to colonise France. Their feelings don't matter, when in fact they are welcoming fans from all over Europe to their country, they are staging a tournament for us all to enjoy and deserve our gratitude and good behaviour. (If they choose to use Riot Police that is what they do, it is their country, we follow their rules.)
Would you go round to your Uncle's house for tea and smash his tea service against the flying ducks? So why do we offer any kind of understanding to these people?
I only just read Wakey Terrier's excellent piece after writing the above. Lots of innocents obviously have been caught up in what happened, and I've no sympathy with the creation of media storms, BUT unless we believe INNOCENT ENGLAND FANS ON QUIET NIGHT OUT ATTACKED SEVERAL TIMES IN MARSEILLES we learn nowt. White men go abroad and treat the world to behaviour they know is unpleasant and wrong. They don't offer the French much respect or thanks. If you add baking powder and stir it is going to rise and that's the trouble. Who is fairly innocent, slightly or obviously guilty is largely irrelevant. I've a feeling if all the England fans were as capable of putting together a piece as Wakey Terrier for whom I've loads of respect we'd not be hearing about any trouble at all ......... but that's snobbish and elitist of me.
One final thought, allowing the Russians to host 2018 will be a recipe for disaster ......... but ask yourself why would you even go other than a deathwish?