New Delhi: Fans in any sport have the power to elevate the atmosphere of the playing arena with their passion and energy. Football fans are particularly famous for their loyalty and passion for their heroes and the clubs they support. This passion often results in hooliganism over a long period of time.
Recently, there have been multiple instances of rivalry going off the field. Dinamo Zagreb vs AEK Athens clash in UEFA Champions League 2023 had to be delayed after a 29-year-old fan was stabbed before the game in Athens. The recent clashes between fans in local German football left 79 people injured. In a local football game in Guinea, dozens were reported to have been killed after a controversial on-field decision.
Amsterdam riots after Ajax-Maccabi Tel-Aviv game
BREAKING NEW:
Israel fan were badly beaten last night in Amsterdam after they started attacking bars and passers-by with Palestinian signs. pic.twitter.com/KFtFhxHJwt
— FREEDOM INTL⛓️💥⛓️💥⛓️💥⛓️💥 (@myweaponmyvoice) November 8, 2024
The clashes in Amsterdam are one of the most recent examples of how fanbases can become violent. During the Champions League clashes between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the Israeli club’s fans were heckled in Amsterdam after the game. With political border tensions in Israel causing a lot of upstir, there was an expected tension in the capital city of the Netherlands.
It was reported that Maccabi fans were ambushed on the street as they left the stadium. This resulted in the Israeli government making urgent evacuations for its citizens. The clashes resulted in tighter security during France’s clash against Israel in the UEFA Nations League.
English-Serbian fans clash during Euro 2024
During England’s opening Euros 2024 campaign, the Three Lions won 1-0 against Serbia. However, the win was overshadowed by the violence that had taken place earlier the day, leaving one police officer and several fans badly injured in the German city of Gelsenkirchen. A brawl had broken out in a restaurant, with many claiming Albanian fans instigated the fight.
German police had noted that those involved were Serbian and English supporters. The unrest resulted in the arrest of seven Serbian fans, and a warning was issued of a ban on any English nationals found to be involved in the brawls. Many were injured, and as a result, riot police were deployed in order to cordone the area.
Kolkata derby 1980 stampede
#OnThisDay in 1980, a dark day in #IndianFootball history when 16 fans lost their lives due to stampede in stands of Eden Gardens, Kolkata during an ill tempered Kolkata derby. All football action in the city was cancelled for rest of the year. pic.twitter.com/IbgkOFOr9p
— IndianFootball_History (@IndianfootballH) August 16, 2019
Football has one of the largest followings in Kolkata, India, and the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal clash is one of the country’s oldest clubs. The rivalry has always been one of the fiercest in Asia. However, 16th August 1980 is a black day in the history of this rivalry when the two teams met in Eden Gardens. Repeated poor decisions by the referee led to the clash of supporters of the two sides.
Due to the fierceness of the rivalry, the two teams are arranged to sit in separation. However, on this particular day, there was no segregation nor any police deployment for the game. The rivals of the two sides clashed, and fans were soon rushing out of the small gates of the stadium, which resulted in a stampede that killed 16 people.
Argentina-Brazil 2023 FIFA World Cup Qualifier clash
Horrible scenes in the stands prior to Brazil vs Argentina. pic.twitter.com/ZluK2yQI4b
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 22, 2023
Argentina and Brazil’s rivalry is one of the oldest and fiercest in international football. The two neighbours have had a long history of fierce rivalry and meeting each other during big football events. This is one recent instance during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier in 2023. While the two teams lined up for the national anthem, fans of the two sides came into physical skirmishes with each other.
The scenes were flashed on the screen as local police rushed into Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro. The authorities were seen beating Argentina fans, which led to Lionel Messi having a word with the match official before walking off the field. The game resumed thirty minutes later after the crowd had calmed down.
The Estadio Nacional disaster of 1964
Estadio Nacional disaster during the 1964 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament is one of the lowest points of Argentina and Peru’s rivalry. Riots began when a crowd of 40,000 made a pitch invasion, breaking barriers of the stadium to protest against a goal disallowed against Peru, which would have been the equalizer. The match had to be abandoned with just six-minutes remaining of the normal time.
The police responded with violence and threw tear gas, which resulted in the crowd panicking. People were trampled up, and there was total chaos, with the official death toll recording 328 deaths. Most people died while trying to escape the stadium and into the streets.
Clashes in football have become more prevalent over the past few months with rivalry growing between clubs. Here’s a look at some of the notorious moments of the game. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
