April 14, 2005
WANT A TV CONTRACT? CUT STRAIGHT TO THE RIOT:
Milan's football violence 'not a first' (Angus Loughran, 4/14/05, BBC)
Tuesday night's incident in Milan, although shocking, was by no means a first, as regular followers of football will testify.But the appalling incidents achieved worldwide publicity for two extra reasons.
Firstly a player - in Tuesday night's case AC Milan's Dida - was struck by a missile whilst on the field of play which to any sportsman should remain sacrosanct.
Secondly this was not a Serie A domestic clash, but the Uefa Champions League - Europe's premier club competition - being broadcast live around the world.
One of the most startling facts was the surprising lack of police who, incredibly, were in the stadium but chose to take positions on the forecourt outside instead of attempting to challenge those throwing the fireworks.
How could well over 100 fireworks be allowed in the stadium will be a question senior Italian football figures will be bringing up as a matter of urgency with the Milan club.
If the game wasn't so bloody boring they wouldn't need to riot to amuse themselves. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 14, 2005 12:00 AM
How different is this from the chariot races in Byzantium at the time of Justinian? There were races between riders who wore one of 4 different colors, and their respective partisans would butcher each other along the route during the race.
Posted by: bart at April 14, 2005 9:18 AMNot nearly as boring as American "football."
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 14, 2005 10:14 AMJim means NORTH American football, which is watchable only because of instant replays. Wel, guess what: they are showing instant replays of REAL football now.
Posted by: Lou Gots at April 14, 2005 12:15 PMWhat do they do, replay the riot in slo-mo?
Posted by: oj at April 14, 2005 12:40 PMLet's face it. Compared to the rest of the world, North Americans just aren't good haters.
Posted by: Peter B at April 14, 2005 2:07 PMAmerica has its own occassional bouts with fans tossing things onto football fields, only in this case its usually snowballs (or frozen iceballs during a late-season game at Giants Stadium or down in Philly when the fans are particularly drunk and unruly).
Posted by: John at April 14, 2005 2:45 PM