Half - time:
Give them what they deserve
I wonder when sports fans will understand the true meaning of what they are watching? When will they realise that, after all, it's only a game and that it's not a matter of life and death, nor is it the lesser issue of winning and losing. It's all about fair play and sportsman-like conduct on and off the field.
The violence which marred last week's match between Ahli and Ismaili in Ismailia, in which more than 40 people were arrested and detained, is but the latest chapter in a sorry page of supporters running amok. It's no secret that fans take to the field and streets to vent their anger when their team loses. The question is why? Who stands to win from such a debacle?
The clubs are the ones who are the big losers. They are the ones fined by the relevant federations for the irresponsibility of their fans. They are the ones who, as punishment, have to play matches on neutral territory or sometimes in front of empty stadiums. As a result they lose matches and money.
Hooliganism is not alien to Egypt. There were fireworks in a 1971 game between derby stars Ahli and Zamalek which forced the cancellation not just of the game but the entire league.
But crowd trouble has slowly found its way not just in football and not just in local encounters. And there have been incidents over and over that clearly prove that our troublemakers have not learnt previous lessons. They appear to have forgotten that the country failed to make it to the 1994 World Cup because of a stone tossed at the head of a player from Zimbabwe in a qualifier. The game, FIFA determined after seeing its videos, should be replayed, in Lyons, France, and we lost.
There were ugly scenes last month when Egypt played Denmark in Cairo Stadium. Fans, angered by the play of both teams, pelted the players of the two sides with stones during Egypt's 5-1 loss. The surprise was that the encounter was a friendly, with no points nor championship to worry over.
The melee, shown live in, among other places, Denmark, could not have helped Egypt's bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
No punishment ever meted out here -- and they have never included more than a brief prison stay -- no matter what the offence, has ever prevented violence, the tearing up of arena seats, the smashing of shop windows and the stoning of cars.
Rabid fans must be stopped. But punitive action must be more than just a slap on the wrist. It must be equal to the crime; nothing less will deter.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 13 - 19 March 2003 (Issue No. 629)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/629/sp2.htm