One of Swordplay’s friends found herself at a football match last night. Specifically, she witnessed Chelsea prevail 1-0 over fellow West London club QPR in the third round of the Carling Cup. It was the first time she had ever seen a football match, and, by and large, she enjoyed the occasion. Stamford Bridge is a fine stadium and the attendance of some 37,000 made for a lively atmosphere, especially among the QPR fans, whose singing, chanting and, as Swordplay’s friend put it, taunting was relentless.
Here, though, is the rub. Outside the ground, after the game, what had been a simmering feeling of menace blossomed into ugly scenes which many assume have long since disappeared from British football. Police, on horses and foot, had to separate Chelsea and QPR fans as scuffle after scuffle broke out on the way to Fulham Broadway station. For perhaps 25 minutes, anyone unlucky enough to be caught in the middle of this mini-riot was unable to move anywhere, making for a growing sense of dread each time there was a surge of the crowd or a charge of a police horse. It was unnecessary and unpleasant.
But Swordplay’s friend kept her wits about her. Later, in the relative calm of Parsons Green, she made the following observations:
1. Quite a few football fans are not very good-looking. Perhaps this contributes to their anger with the world?
2. Football fans predicate their existence on a sense of hate. “We hate Chelsea and we hate Chelsea, we hate Chelsea and we hate Chelsea, we are the Chelsea haters” was but one of many anthems sung by the QPR faithful. No one asks that they replace the word ‘hate’ with ‘love’, but seeing such visceral loathing, in so physically unprepossessing a group of people, was dismaying.
3. Before the game there was a tangible feeling of danger in the streets near Stamford Bridge. Afterwards, its fuse caught fire. But why should attending a sporting event in modern Britain be accompanied by fear for one’s safety?
4. Social media plays an intriguing role in fans’ confrontations. The standoff around Fulham Broadway saw virtually every fan holding mobile phones high above their heads and filming the action. Soon enough, footage will appear on Youtube. Just add bilious comments and you have a snapshot of tribal warfare in football.
5. What sort of father applauds his 12-year-old son when he hears him shout “F*** off, you Rangers *****!!”? For this happened as the QPR fans slowly made their way home, a proud Chelsea dad saying “Go on, son!” as his offspring screamed abuse.
6. The majority of football fans are decent folk. But thanks to the minority who prefer to watch what their opposing number is doing rather than enjoy the action on the pitch, football fans badly need some positive PR. “The trouble is,” said Swordplay’s friend, “with all the above factors in mind, where on earth do you start?”
Pictured courtesy of alofbrid: Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire. If only the scenes outside the West London version last night had been as idyllic.
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