Reflection

Green Street Hooligans is a movie that depicts the lifestyle of many people all over Europe. Football based firms originated in England, but hooliganism takes place all over the world. I have seen that a group of fans out of Ohio tried to experience the thrill of hooliganism in the United States when their Major League Soccer team, the Columbus Crew, played West Ham United in 2008. Football firms are becoming a widespread phenomenon that fans everywhere are trying to associate themselves with.
Throughout this bog, I have learned that whether you are apart of a firm or not, the passion that these fans experience toward a particular team is endless. I have already stated that I love to play soccer, but I now understand why it is so important to these people. Football games and the violence surrounding it create a way to escape real life problems. Firms are about loyalty and establishing yourself as part of a devoted group of people, and this group of people becomes your family.

After conducting my research and interviews, I have discovered that hooligans are actually wealthy and have good jobs. They are able to purchase expensive clothing and attend football games every week, so why do they join firms and surround themselves with violence? The answer to this question is very simple; hooligans become involved in firms as a form of acceptance. Because as children their parents neglected them, firms give them a sense of belonging. Anthropologists study different cultures around the world, but I have learned that football is more than just a way of living to these people; attending these games, drinking beer, and fighting is how hooligans identify themselves.