Hooligan Wars: Causes and Effects of Football Violence

Whenever football hooliganism breaks out, the government, the football authorities, the police, and journalists are all too ready to offer quick-fix solutions--solutions that rarely consider the underlying causes of the violence. Is it about boys becoming men, racism, and the hatred of all things foreign, or about a defence of territory and national pride? This title looks behind the easy answers by comparing England's fan culture to football supporters' experience in France, Germany, and Holland. The role of fascist groups is investigated, the effect of media coverage of hooliganism is analyzed, and the impact of all-seater stadiums reviewed.