hooliganism

Hooliganism refers to unruly and destructive behavior.

Such behavior is commonly associated with sports fans, particularly supporters of professional football and university sports. In some countries, the hooligan elements of a group of supporters are known as Category C. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The term has been used since at least the 1890s, to describe the behavior of street gangs. The first use of the term is unknown, but it appeared in an 1898 London police report. One theory is that the word came from the name of an Irish hoodlum from Southwark, London named Patrick Hooligan. Another theory is that it came from a street gang in Islington named Hooley. A third theory is that it's based on an Irish word, Hooley, which means a wild, spirited party.^[1]

In the Soviet Union, hooliganism (хулиганство) was made a criminal offence under the penal codes of the Soviet republics. Article 213 of the penal code defined hooliganism as "any deliberate behaviour which violates public order and expresses explicit disrespect towards the society." a wide range of behaviours, such as vagrancy, stalking and foul language. This law was often used by Soviet authorities against political dissidents. Hooliganism is still covered under the criminal and administrative codes of Russia, and is applicable to persons at least 16 years old. Hooliganism is graded into Malicious hooliganism(злостное хулиганство), hooliganism(хулиганство), and Petty hooliganism(мелкое хулиганство). Petty hooliganism is "subject to administrative proceedings" (roughly equivalent to application of the civil law) and classified as roughly equivalent to an infraction. It is mostly applied to minor street disorders and fighting by urban youth. Malicious hooliganism is defined as being committed "with extraordinary cynicism, with resistance to law enforcement, with usage of arms or attempt thereof, or committed by a recidivist."^[2]

In Russia hooliganism appears to be associated with anti-semitism, although this connection may be due to local authorities using the term hooligan to describe something else, perhaps in order to downplay the seriousness of the offences committed.^[3][4]

Hooliganism in Argentina

Most sports-related hooliganism in Argentina (barras bravas) is associated with football, but many times it is linked to other sports, such as rugby and basketball. In most stadiums in South America, there are sections behind the goals which have no seats, just steps (terraces). Most hooligans and fans bring flags, fireworks, and small pieces of paper that they throw when their team comes out to the field. Many times when teams lose decisive matches, fans get violent and fight the police and other supporters. During the period of military rule in the 1970s and early 1980s, hooligans were used by the government to attack pro-democracy protesters overseas. Since then they have been occasionally used by football club owners to attack business or political opponents. ^[5].

Footnotes

See also

• Casuals
• Collective Effervescence
• Football hooliganism
• List of hooligan firms
• Skinhead
• Yobbo
• Ultras

Books

• Among the Thugs
• Red Army General: Leading Britain's Biggest Hooligan Gang
• The Family Game: The Untold Story of Hooliganism in Rugby League
• Hooliganism: Crime, Culture and Power in St. Petersburg, 1900-14
• The Frontline
• Ten reasons why there are no hooligans in Great Britain
• City Psychos: From the Monte Carlo Mob to the Silver Cod Squad
• Flying With the Owls Crime Squad

Documentaries and films

• Green Street Hooligans
• The Firm
• I.D.
• Klatka
• Proč?

External links

• English-HooligansEnglish casual culture
• [4]An example of the rivality between Russian hooligans.
• Hooli-News Hooligan-related news and information
• German-HooligansAbout the German Scene
• The Night of Nancy: Social Psychology and Football Registration Required

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