Yeah, I like checking out how passionate some of the fans are around the world. Initially thought it’s Europe and South America where it’s more fanatic. I then saw some of the African and Asian football clubs and realized they have really passionate support and songs/ chants as well.
The below two for example are from Africa and Asia!
Football riots happen everywhere, no matter if the atmosphere in the stadia are good or not. Even in my sleepy country ffs… 
In all honesty, the atmospheres shown above are breathtaking. Completely different to what you can see in Northern Europe. Then again, the English atmosphere is well known for a good reason, although the all-seaters have taken something away there. The atmosphere in Nothern Germany is brilliant too. Just different cultures expressing themselves.
Riots and so on should always be cracked down upon, but not at the expense of these brilliant and so diverse atmospheres.
And again this is my exact point. English fan trouble was roundly (and rightly) condemned in the euros but everything else is just different cultures expressing themselves.
Again you point out how these atmospheres are breathtaking. How they are brilliant and diverse. Yet I was told that nobody is admiring this behavior?
Is the big problem with english fan trouble that it isn’t impressive to watch. Because it’s just a few hundred chavs throwing bottles it isn’t acceptable?
I am not condoning english violence. In fact it is shameful. But the hypocrisy and double standards are incredibly grating.
You should try to differentiate the chants and the atmosphere produced by fans before and during a game (brilliant), and some disgusting aspects coming to the fore at times (which must be criticised and taken care of).
Yes. Exactly. But that should also be applied to English fans.
Yet I was told repeatedly that fans singing 3 lions was intimidating and foreign fans might not understand the words and I wasn’t allowed to point out that it was a minority and the majority of the 60000 people at the stadium or the 30m watching across the country were just enjoying the progress and success of the team.
In each of the above cases of ‘amazing atmospheres’ there are the same fans engaging in violent and shameful behaviour. Yet for some reason it is only the England team where this is a a valid reason not to be able to show support for the team. To enjoy beating a rival. To hope for success.
It’s not these fans showing their passion and support that I disagree with. It’s simply the double standards.
I really don’t understand why you need to make the English fans out as victims, but everyone his own I guess…
My take on this (and also my last word) is the following: fans everywhere show the best of themselves when they produce their specific, in part fantastic atmospheres in stadia, and the worst when they riot, create trouble or injure other people.
It’s not really difficult is it… but I’ll let you with your rumblings on how the England fans suffer from double standards or something… for me, that is definitely not the case.
My point isn’t a difficult one to grasp either, but you clearly don’t even want to try to.
The narrative during the euros was that the behaviour of the fans was unique to english fans. That they shouldn’t have celebrated after beating Germany. That they shouldn’t sing their song of support.
I’m not going to go through the threads and pick out examples, but I know they are there because when I tried to pull anyone up on it I was told i was condoning the behaviour or diminishing it by pointing out it was a minority. When I pointed out examples of other teams fans behaving in the same way I was told ‘it was not the same’. The english are arrogant and entitled. Everyone else is passionate and showing their culture.
The reactions in this thread only confirm the double standards.
Unfortunately, football matches are continually used as some sort of ‘pressure release valve’ for the crap that people have to face in their everyday existence…!
How that manifests itself at the games, whether it be riotous, fighting, banter or good humoured intermingling, depends upon a couple of simple facts…
a) Alcohol Consumption
b) Weather Conditions (Sunny or Freezing Snow)
c) Warmongering Tribal Mentality
d) Low IQ Levels of the Moron Ringleaders
e) Other Interests in Life Outside of Football…
In Short, a hostile segment in society, intent on spoiling the fun side for everyone else!
At the end of the day, we can only hope things get better, rather than deteriorating each season
Aren’t people here just saying the mental atmosphere, huge banners and pyrotechnic displays are awesome.
Not sure how that can be likened to a few hundred pissed up England fans forcing the gate at wembley.
I think you are confusing entitlement and arrogance with criminal behaviour.
What I (and others) criticised English fans for was not their passion or support, but the way that passion manifested (IMO) as a divine right to win stuff. The ‘coming home’ narrative was (I think rightly) interpreted by a lot of nations as claiming that football belongs to England, and that isn’t the spirit of an international tournament. There is also historically, a conflation amongst England fans of games of football and international conflict - the two world wars and one World Cup stuff, the dreary great escape music, the use of Nazi/third reich images when we play Germany - although it has to be said this was much less of this at Euro 2020, which was encouraging.
Criminal behaviour is not unique to English fans - I’ve felt for years that the Italian FA are long overdue a ban for the behaviour of their fans abroad - and the ‘Ultras’ culture at a number of big European clubs is deeply unpleasant.
No I’m perfectly clear in what I’m referring to. No confusion here thanks.
Glad it’s clear in your head 
And not just in my head. Thanks.
Champions League play-off draw
Champions Path
Salzburg (AUT) vs Brøndby (DEN)
CFR Cluj (ROU) / Young Boys (SUI) vs Ferencváros (HUN) / Slavia Praha (CZE)
Malmö (SWE) / Rangers (SCO) vs Olympiacos (GRE) / Ludogorets (BUL)
Crvena zvezda (SRB) / Sheriff (MDA) vs GNK Dinamo (CRO) / Legia Warszawa (POL)
Come on Stevie, it’s meant to be you 
League Path
Monaco (FRA) / Sparta Praha (CZE) vs Genk (BEL) / Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Spartak Moskva (RUS) / Benfica (POR) vs PSV (NED) / Midtjylland (DEN)
Can the Rangers fans travel yet I wonder
Malmo vs. Rangers: 1-2 is definitely better than 0-2. In the olden days a 1-0 home win would have had sufficed for the Stevie Lads.
Well, Sheriff Tiraspol are some hard cookies, aren’t they? Or maybe Red Star are just shit. Still a lot to play for in the second-leg.
@Zoran would you be watching the Zagreb game tonight?
Definitely. In statistical terms, a 1-2 away from home gives you a 50-50 chance to make it through, whereas a 0-2 is in the 20-25% range if I remember well. That late goal could be vital for Rangers.
Great result for the Wasps! 
I thought UEFA had done away with the away goal rule as of this season? 