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Soccer organizations supporting hooliganism?

posted Apr 26, 2015, 8:11 AM by Dimitrios Simitas
April 26th 2015


So I came across this interesting article ...


The Greek government wants to pass laws on violence following a series of incidents at matches.  

The Greek Super League has already been suspended three times this season due to serious outbreaks of violence.

Any new legislation would breach Fifa and Uefa rules on third-party influence on a national football federation.

On Wednesday, the European and world football governing bodies sent a letter to the Greek government reiterating their stance.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino hopes the threat "will make them reconsider their actions, so we can still work together to resolve the issues affecting Greek football".

However, Greece's deputy sports minister Stavros Kontonis rejected the ultimatum in a television interview on Wednesday evening.

"We are not going to change the philosophy of the sports bill. The supervision exercised in Greek football by Fifa and Uefa has failed," Kontonis said.


We all know the kind of hooliganism that occurs in soccer matches not only in Europe but other parts of the world as well. This has been an issue that has plagued the sport for years. Over zealous fans causing problems depending on the outcome of in game calls, and events, but also how the game ended.

I have to question the validity of the organizations when measures directly meant to combat hooliganism is seen as an “imposing” legal precedence that a nation has the right to control it's own citizens.

If UEFA and FIFA claim to be the sole implementer of anti-hooligan measures, does that mean that instead of having the various police forces of nations playing soccer, shouldn't the organizations completely foot not only the enforcement costs but compensation for damages?

After all, if local LEO's are supposed to maintain order during soccer riots, but nations cannot impose punishment for people who riot, then who is responsible for the injuries, damages and potentionally loss of life?

Seems to me there is only two organizations responsible, so perhaps during the next mass riot at a European soccer game the injured should initiate a law suit for UEFA and FIFA being unable to protect them and deal with the riots?


Dimitrios Simitas

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