Comments on: Calm Returns, Albeit Without Much Hope of Change http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html News from the Italian Serie A Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:30:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jd http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26497 jd Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:07:06 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26497 SP thanks for the insights. Your blog is invaluable. I think English hooliganism had it's social and economic roots beyond a "love of violence." But as you said, that's a book length explanation. Hopefully the burden of solving the problems won't be given to the Football authorities alone to handle. SP thanks for the insights. Your blog is invaluable.

I think English hooliganism had it’s social and economic roots beyond a “love of violence.” But as you said, that’s a book length explanation.

Hopefully the burden of solving the problems won’t be given to the Football authorities alone to handle.

]]> By: Martha http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26493 Martha Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:20:32 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26493 Thanks, SP, fixed it. Thanks, SP, fixed it.

]]> By: SpanglyPrincess http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26490 SpanglyPrincess Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:25:31 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26490 Hi there, that wasn't the funeral today, just the lying in state for people to visit his coffin. The city council prepared a special room in the centre and shut off the roads in the area. The actual funeral is tomorrow at midday. As for the political dimension, JD, you are spot on. This is a political and social problem, the football is merely an excuse. Whereas English hooliganism was a straightforward love of violence, here in Italy there is enormous and widespread distrust of the state and its institutions, especially the army and the police. This is common to all political orientations, right and left alike, and also to all social classes and age groups. For most people it takes peaceable forms, from political marching, tax evasion, avoidance of the authorities, though even placing one's trust in the Mafia is part of the same thing. For a small minority of young, largely male and largely working class people, this distrust has turned into violence, for a variety of reasons. Which would take a whole book to explain. Hi there, that wasn’t the funeral today, just the lying in state for people to visit his coffin. The city council prepared a special room in the centre and shut off the roads in the area. The actual funeral is tomorrow at midday.

As for the political dimension, JD, you are spot on. This is a political and social problem, the football is merely an excuse. Whereas English hooliganism was a straightforward love of violence, here in Italy there is enormous and widespread distrust of the state and its institutions, especially the army and the police. This is common to all political orientations, right and left alike, and also to all social classes and age groups. For most people it takes peaceable forms, from political marching, tax evasion, avoidance of the authorities, though even placing one’s trust in the Mafia is part of the same thing. For a small minority of young, largely male and largely working class people, this distrust has turned into violence, for a variety of reasons. Which would take a whole book to explain.

]]> By: jd http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26468 jd Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:47:19 +0000 http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/calm-returns-albeit-without-much-hope-of-change.html#comment-26468 Well said. this is bigger than football. I don't claim to understand the subtleties and complexities of the problems, but recognize that it will require massive changes in Italy and Italian football. Sad though, that in the short term it has such tragic costs in human lives. I have heard (maybe just in my head I can't remember) comparisons to England in the 1980s. Are these fair? The current situation seems more politically driven (distrust of authorities etc) and directed at officialdom than the English hooliganism of the past. Anyone closer to the situation have any thoughts? Well said. this is bigger than football. I don’t claim to understand the subtleties and complexities of the problems, but recognize that it will require massive changes in Italy and Italian football. Sad though, that in the short term it has such tragic costs in human lives.

I have heard (maybe just in my head I can’t remember) comparisons to England in the 1980s. Are these fair? The current situation seems more politically driven (distrust of authorities etc) and directed at officialdom than the English hooliganism of the past. Anyone closer to the situation have any thoughts?

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