Daily Archives: December 18, 2023

Tear gas, cages and midnight lock-ins: The reality of being an away fan in Europe

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“Penned in cages. Tear-gassed by police. Forced to queue for hours by heavy-handed stewards. Locked in stadiums until midnight and enduring transport chaos. This has been the reality of life for travelling supporters in European competition this season, with seemingly every fanbase having a horror story at their treatment by host clubs or local security forces. When set against a general backdrop of disorder across the continent — from fatal stabbings in France to games being played behind closed doors in Greece or called off altogether in Turkey — it appears that life for away fans in Europe is grimmer than ever. So, what is the reality? In the last week, The Athletic attended three games in two countries — Napoli vs Braga and Atletico Madrid vs Lazio in the Champions League, and Real Betis vs Rangers in the Europa League. This is what we discovered. …”
The Athletic

Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd: 34 shots for Klopp’s team, Varane impresses, Onana passing key

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“Liverpool were frustrated against Manchester United as they dropped two points at Anfield in a 0-0 draw. The home side dominated possession and had more chances but the visitors, arriving on the back of their midweek Champions League exit, showed resilience. Liverpool’s 34 shots are the most in a Premier League game by a team that failed to score since Manchester United’s 38 against Burnley in October 2016 and the fifth most in the competition’s history (since 2003-04 when Opta have the data). …”
The Athletic
Guardian – Erik ten Hag: from Ming the Merciless to circling the Old Trafford plughole – Jonathan Wilson
Guardian – United stoop to trench-digging for pragmatic draw at Liverpool

World Cup 2022 migrant worker diaries, one year on: Death, regret, joy and trying to return

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“One year ago tomorrow, a bisht-wearing Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy into the Qatari night. That moment would not have happened without migrant labour. Foreign workers, making up more than 90 per cent of Qatar’s population, built eight stadiums, miles of roadway and dozens of accommodation blocks. The deaths of thousands of these workers remain unexplained. During the tournament, FIFA and Qatari organisers have pushed back against discussion of migrant worker rights, insisting that it was time to focus on football. Over that month, with the help of human rights researchers Equidem, The Athletic published four instalments of diaries written by migrant workers. …”
The Athletic

The story of Saddam Hussein’s psychopath son Tifo Football

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“Uday Hussein was a sexual sadist, drug addict and psychopath – but he was also the man in charge of Iraqi sport, especially Iraqi football, which he ran using torture, theft, extortion and murder. This is his story, his lengths to control Iraqi football, and how he was brought down. Written by James Montague. Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.”
YouTube

France struggles to find right balance as violence at matches escalates

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Marseille’s supporters light flares at the Stade Vélodrome.
“When Fabio Grosso’s bloodied face was plastered across the front page of L’Équipe on 30 October – ‘Disgust and shame,’ the headline read – there was already a prevailing sense that the spate of violent incidents in French football was plumbing new depths. Lyon’s Italian coach was injured as the team bus was pelted on its arrival at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille for a high-stakes Olympico showdown. To make matters worse, Nazi salutes and racist chanting were seen and heard from a small minority of the Lyon fans who were already inside the stadium. The match was postponed and played without away fans more than a month later. …”
Guardian