Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
English soccer has dealt with its fair share of problematic fans over the years, from the slightly disorderly to the downright dangerous, from the vaguely obscene to those who chant racist slurs. But a different kind of fan group has been making its voice heard in recent months: those who would rather not sit down.
It's more controversial than it sounds.
Clubs in the top two tiers of English soccer are currently required to have all-seater stadiums. The regulation was the fallout of the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster, which saw 96 people die in a decrepit standing area when they were crushed against rigid metal fences. The event attached a permanent stigma to standing sections.
At the time, the official inquiry blamed drunk and ticketless hooligans for...
It was the second minute of stoppage time in this past Sunday's Manchester derby when Robin van Persie stepped up to take a free kick, just outside Manchester City's penalty area. The score was 2-2 and Wayne Rooney had a... more »
No matter what holiday you celebrate, or choose not to celebrate, it's the time of year when the wish lists come out and dreams for the future percolate. With plenty on the horizon across all facets of U.S. Soccer, here is a... more »
YOKOHAMA, Japan —It was when the huge, heaving mass of Corinthians players and staff were partying at the final whistle, when their 20,000 fans were lighting flares and chanting their idols’ names, that it really hit home to... more »
A year in which racism and xenophobia have marred European soccer has brought another brazen act of intolerance. The largest fan club of Zenit St. Petersburg, the two-time defending Russian champion, has demanded that the team... more »
Email
Print
Share