America Experiences Hooliganism

In July of 20008, West Ham United played in a friendly match in America. It is believed that in the United States, supporters of the Major League Soccer teams tried to emulate the firm from the film Green Street Hooligans. One group that supported the Columbus Crew out of Ohio, the Hudson Street Hooligans, started a fight with some of the members of the Inter City Firm. A handful of members from the firm moved to the northeast corner of the stadium, where they provoked the Americans. The groups chanted at each other and ultimately a fistfight broke out in the stadium. It took the police large efforts to break up the fight, but ultimately only one arrest was made. This was the first time America experienced European football hooliganism.

After speaking with an anonymous woman who has attended football matches in England, I was surprised to find the level of violence that occurs within the stadiums. She recalls one particular game where a fight broke out. She attended the game with her husband, an avid follower of the Premier League in Europe, but she did not stay with him the entire time. A small fistfight broke out in the middle of the game, which turned into more of a riot. She remembers standing in one section of the stadium, watching the fight. She then stated that the pack of men grew larger and larger, until it was eventually reaching the place she was standing. Her husband was excited by the violence, but she became very nervous and a bit frightened. She decided to move to the lower part of the stadium, where the kids were playing. After telling the story, she laughed and said that she was happy to safely be with the children, and that’s where she will be standing from now on.

Leonard, Tom.
2008 West Ham Fans Brawl with Columbus Crew as Football Hooliganism Hits the US. Telegraph.co.uk: New York, July.