If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
This is a spin off thread prompted by Father Senegal's comment in the Graeme le Saux thread. Basically what I'm asking is, is the septic rivalry that exists between clubs, the outright hatred between fans and the extreme loathing of players of other clubs, worth it? The way fans have to be segrated in stadia and brought in from different ends.
That's not what sport is about and as a member of the GAA is foreign to me. There's no segregation between fans at GAA games. I was at the Kerry v Dublin game a few weeks ago. That's the biggest rivalry that exists in gaelic football, more or less, and I'm a Kerry supporter. I was surrounded by Dublin fans and I don't tend to be quite at games and therefore a significant amount of banter ensued. Yet at the end of the game there were handshakes all round.
Another story that comes to mind is when 4 friends of mine went to a Charity Shield a few years ago. Liverpool and United were playing and they had seats in the Liverpool section. 2 of them were United fans and they had to turn their jerseys inside out. FFS that's ridiculous, it's only sport.
Rivalry is one thing but outright hatred is another. I know people will say that fans have passion for their team and that it's only a minority who take too far. But it does tend to turn me off football.
Of course it isn't worth it.
But if you want to take it to its basest level and look at the sort of supporters (and the level of "civilisation") that comes hand in hand you will understand why.
It's all about primitive tribalism and the need to belong.
Hell we do it at a national level without the need for sport, so of course it is going to happen at the local level with a principle at stake.
Of course it is. Nothing makes a game better than a rivalry. There aren't really any serious rivalries with Chelsea tbh, mainly just a slight rivalry with Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool simply due to being top 4 teams but it always makes a game more entertaining to watch imo.
when it gets to the point of hate it's too far, love going to the cricket where all the fans mix, esp when it's against the Aussies, and it's not like there's any lack of pride or competitive element between England and Aus.
Originally posted by ericcantona7:
when it gets to the point of hate it's too far, love going to the cricket where all the fans mix, esp when it's against the Aussies, and it's not like there's any lack of pride or competitive element between England and Aus.
That's really what I'm getting at, the segregation of fans. Why can't supporters of both teams mix together at football matches? Because they'd kill each other. Yet there are loads of sports where there's a healthy rivalry and fans can mix together. Obviously when you take a competitive sport there will be rivalries inherent in it but people should keep it civilised.
Football rivalry. Is it worth it? 
Linear Mode
