Fed up of hearing 'Football violence once again rears its ugly head' stories, I ask: can we have all the facts for a change please?
This morning my peaceful slumber was once again broken by the annoying chimes of the brash breakfast television program GMTV. Whilst I’m not a fan of morning television, 'Europe’s biggest breakfast show' is my girlfriend’s getting-ready-for-work-program of choice. This morning’s mundane mutterings dressed up as ‘news’ included a story about Edwina Currie complaining about rude service from a well know baby store. This is a typical GMTV news article (i.e. it’s not news) and one which usually sends me back to sleep.
However, just as I was about to re-enter the half-awake/half-asleep zone, I was suddenly alerted by the show’s reporting of the violence that occurred prior to Manchester United’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Roma. The disturbances were compared to the ugly scenes that took place in Rome during the first leg and the troubles that were witnessed during Tottenham’s recent defeat in Seville. The conclusion: English football has a problem with crowd violence and once again it has ‘reared its ugly head’. Admittedly, GMTV’s reporter did not say these words exactly, but it was clear that this was the spin that the program had put on this story.
It is a sentiment that was clearly repeated by the Italian politicians who blamed the violence in Rome on the English fans. Let’s make things clear: English football does not have a problem with football violence anymore. Or at least no more than any other country in Europe does. Through crowd control measures, all-seater stadiums and intelligent policing, English football grounds are amongst the safest and most hospitable in Europe.
It is no coincidence that the most violent scenes witnessed in Europe this season have occurred outside England. Manchester United fans were nearly crushed to death in France in their match against Lillie, and were attacked by baton-waving police in Italy in the game against Roma. Meanwhile Tottenham have accused Spanish police of hitting a disabled fan during their match against Seville in Spain.
I was beginning to worry that these facts were being ignored in favour of the lazy journalism conclusions of media such as GMTV. Thankfully UEFA no less, have criticised European policing and highlighted the good work of the English police and football authorities. Will this story be reported by GMTV? Of course it won’t.
And whilst the show’s target audience probably won’t be interested in such a story, I just wish that people were presented with all the facts for a change. Biased reporting is what causes the general ignorance of millions. Perhaps I’d better go back to sleep next time: ignorance after all, is bliss.
Yes it's true...
