Hooliganwatch™: On Location with England
A look at the destructive celebration of the England faithful in Frankfurt after their win against Paraguay.
At first the crowd on the corner very much resembles an official World Cup fan party. People are standing around drinking, talking, singing. It appears to be a peaceful group of Englishmen. Maybe 300 of her majesty’s finest milling around a street corner bar as the sun drops behind the central train station in Frankfurt, Germany.
They’re sipping on beers the way men who have been out in the sun watching football all day have been known to and singing songs that make them feel good about their country. The sign above the bar reads, “Karaoke Disco Friday and Saturday.” It’s more dancing than destruction.
Then an arm comes up, out of the crowd and grabbing onto a “garage” sign about eight feet off the ground. It’s a skinny kid, maybe 17, with an England jersey and pants ending around the knee. He’s pulling himself up, his feet kicking out to get a lift off of the hands pushing him upward. The crowd cheers, their own hands in the air.
He climbs to an overhang above the bar on the corner and starts running around, ducking out of sight. He’s probably not old enough to vote in England, but he is a hero to the English watching him, a national icon. He’s ducking out of sight to grab the footballs stuck on the ledge and now he holds one above his head.
Holding the power of the moment in the movement of his hand, he tosses the ball in the air and the able-bodied below him compete for the privilege of meeting it with their head on the way down. He throws the several balls that he has collected from the overhang and the focus shifts from him to redirecting the balls back into the air. When a ball rests on the ground it is picked up and drop kicked toward the goal of an open window on the fourth floor.
Someone says, “It’s going off,” and laughs. The scene is mayhem and becoming destructive but it is not malicious yet. At the other end of the city block an imposing line of police enforce boundaries to the party, hoping the tinderbox of drinking English ignited by a victory over Paraguay will burn itself out.
The bar that’s being climbed and torn down to retrieve soccer balls is doing a brisk business selling beer to the guys violating their city block.
Someone pulls a glass display case over. It crashes at my feet and shards of glass rain off my jeans as I jump away. The violence has escalated from a casual disregard for any property that gets in the way of the party to a moment of aggressive destruction. The crowd cheers this development but remains content to knock each other down and kick balls around.
A song breaks out, first the shirtless kids in the center of the crowd singing with a raised fist and a pump in the air, then an exponential spread through the rest of the crowd and all movement yields for the song. Its lyrics are somehow dirty and catchy without being intelligible and I am an outsider looking in through the lyrics of a drinking song.
The song ends and the paused scene continues: The balls bounce off shop signs and make windows shudder, young men scrap to feel the satisfying impact of leather on leather.
None have gone in the open window but every time one comes close it is accompanied by an intake of breath and a disappointed, “OH!” The balls collect on a different overhang and the teen once again scales the building to retrieve them. Within moments they’re stuck on the other side.
Someone lifts a kid up. He’s draped in a white England jersey and a red hat, maybe eight or nine years old. He’s lifted onto a pair of shoulders; they’re going to send him up onto an unstable overhang over the street to retrieve the balls.
From the churning, shirtless mess in the middle of the street, one of the ringleaders rushes to the man with the boy on his shoulders. “No no no no no. You don’t want to do that mate.” He lifts the boy down and points to someone else to go up and retrieve the balls. It is surprising method in the madness.
An officer explains the situation on camera as the police change shifts. He says that they are recording the crowd and will move in to arrest them with SWAT gear later. Those taken into custody will spend the night in jail and, depending on the view from the video, some may face three to four months in the German judicial system.
There is an American Christian rock band playing outside the train station, 100 yards from the bar. “When you lift the banner for England you lift the banner for Jesus Christ,” they say between songs. Christ is working overtime down the street behind the stage now, parachute size England flags hang between lampposts announcing the home neighborhood of different groups of fans. They stand proudly with their beer next to their banner.
“Eng-land! Eng-land!” The second syllable of each word drops in pitch. It’s the only part of the song that I understand and I’m mouthing the words with the crowd.
Then, suddenly, there is a ball flying in the air and I’m in the perfect position to meet it on the way down. Its arc will bring it curling toward me about a foot off the ground and I can see the fourth floor window in the same glance. All it would take is a quick shift in balance and a microsecond motion of my leg; a quick flick of the foot to feel that brilliant connection and send the ball sailing straight through the window into an open, probably unoccupied apartment. The crowd would cheer and I would jump in the air, a member and momentary hero of the raucous fraternity. And although I don’t join the mayhem and violence; I don’t stoke the fire and add momentum to a celebration that will probably be tame compared with things to come; I don’t hype the crowd and give it a reason to sing and pull displays from the wall; as the ball drops in toward where my foot could meet it, I very much want to.
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Comments
By owen | June 13th, 2006 at 1:04 am 
nice story – very nice – exactly how easy it is to get momentarily carried away and become a ‘hooligan’ even if only for a moment.
by the way – you guys have the absolute best online commentary for the cup period. spot on comments. great summaries. even good comments for the most part…
Posted from 
United States
By VooDoo | June 13th, 2006 at 1:19 am Africa involved into results of World Cup 2006.
According to unexpected results of the football matches, african magicians are working hard in their magic area.
See the results on http://www.voodoo4football.com
Is it possible in our modern life?
Posted from 
Ukraine
By AdamK | June 13th, 2006 at 1:34 am I’m slightly concerned by the sensationalist tone in this story, as the incident you describe above would barely register as a violent scene in the UK. I should perhaps declare myself as English at this point, but I’m not here to try to excuse hooliganism or anything like that.
However, from what I can see in your words, pictures and video, all you saw was a group of intoxicated boisterous England supporters kicking a football around in the town centre. There appear to have been a couple of incidents of property damage and people climbing up onto unsafe areas, but presuming the damage was unintentional I would argue that this is not “hooliganism”.
I realise that the concept of complete strangers getting together and kicking a ball around a built-up urban area might seem aggressive behaviour to some, but surely it’s just one step up from being asked for “a little help here” when somebody accidentally kicks/throws/hits a base/basket/football in your general direction?
Also, in the UK this kind of group mentality has historical precedent – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mob_football for examples of us “wacky Brits” with our “traditional violent customs” 
(There’s even a TV advert campaign that uses this theme: http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=15239)
Anyway, in summary, I agree that the impromptu mass football match might seem overtly threatening to anyone caught up in it, and I agree that any damages should be paid for by those responsible, but I thought the German police officer interviewed showed an impressively low-profile response which is to be commended for a fairly minor incident.
Apart from this minor gripe, I’m enjoying the blogging so far, thanks for the international insight!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Wozafriday » Blog Archive » HooliganWatch: The Power of Video! | June 13th, 2006 at 2:43 am [...] If you want to know what the English are like aboard then you should take a squiz at this blog entry. Its a slightly sensationalist piece about a minor disturbance but I think he conveys the scene he encountered quite brilliantly. Be sure to click on the links within the story which sends you through to photos and videos of the moment. The photos capture the moment with clarity but the videos and the sound accompanying it really put you there! The song they are singing in the background is “Lets go f***ing mental, tra la la la”. There are some 200 000 England fans in Germany, not all of them behave like this squad of morons, most are out on holiday, enjoying the sunshine, the beer and the football. “Singing a song, having a laugh, walking in a German wonderland.” I really, really wish I was there. [...]
Posted from United States
By sam | June 13th, 2006 at 3:01 am wow, talk about going overboard. It’s just a bunch of drunk people singing.
Posted from United States
By Ali Siddiqui | June 13th, 2006 at 8:16 am At least this was just a rowdy party and not hardcore hooligans going off at it. I think after watching the video you guys posted up I can happily say, “You guys need to be put on sports channels.” Your giving us the whole World Cup experience from the good to the bad.
Two “Footie Fanatic” Thumbs up! 
Posted from 
Canada
By R Coulson | June 13th, 2006 at 1:22 pm I agree with above (adam k), this is far from real hooliganism, its not great but its not hooliganism.
example:-
“The song ends and the paused scene continues: The balls bounce off shop signs and make windows shudder, young men scrap to feel the satisfying impact of leather on leather.” — Known as a “BUNDLE” in england (is what it looks like to me), a school classic which can also be re-created by adults (probably drunk). i see smilling faces in this “hooliganism” photo. but its made out to be a attempt to fight for blood.
****A storm in a tea cup reporting**** i think. but good read.
Posted from United Kingdom
By willo | June 14th, 2006 at 9:07 am If you think that’s hooliganism, wait till it properly kicks off. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning it, but when the English kick off, we kick off. I am not sure if there will be much trouble this year, but it’s not to worry about to be honest, the English will be ok, we always are!
England till I die, I’m England till I die, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m England till I die!
Posted from United Kingdom
By Tami | June 14th, 2006 at 8:49 pm Enjoyed your article Peter!
Posted from United States
By Argie-Bargie » Blog Archive » UKR 0-4 SPN, TUN 2-2 KSA, GER 1-0 POL | June 14th, 2006 at 11:22 pm [...] Hooligans or just plain ol’ drunks? [...]
Posted from United States
By tony | June 16th, 2006 at 2:54 am would you be happy guys if rowd and drunk football fan is kicking ball in your frontyard? besides, why do english have to be drunk to have fun…insecurity,perhaps?
Posted from United Kingdom
By Eddie | June 17th, 2006 at 4:17 am It’s comin’ home, it’s comin’ home, it’s comin’, football’s comin’ home!
Come on Engerland!!! =)
Posted from United Kingdom
By SAN LORENZO(ARGENTINA) | June 18th, 2006 at 8:01 am IN GERMANY ALL THE ENGLISH ARE GOING TO DIE..
I WISH TO PLAY AGAINST THIS STUPID GAYS..
AND ENGLISH..DONT FORGET..
MEXICO 86 ARGENTINA 2 ENGLAND 1
FRANCE 98 ARGENTINA 3 ENGLAND 2
COWARDS..ENGLAND..THE CHICKEN OF EUROPE..
YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DIE!!!
COME ON ARGENTINA
AND SAN LORENZO THE BEST TEAM OF ARGENTINA!!
AND OBVIUOS..MARADONA THE BEST PLAYER OF THE WORLD..DONT FORGET THE SECOND GOL IN MEXICO 86 ENGLISH AJAJAJAJ
Posted from 
Argentina
By Joanna Smith | June 18th, 2006 at 2:30 pm Oh my lord…. San Lorenzo… you moron. It’s football your talking about not war… and while we’re on about war… I think you need to remember that the last war we fought against Argentina, we actually won. Not that that has anything to do with this blog.. anyway, in my opinion, the pictures and videos, show a bunch of rowdy, over excited drunk men, messing about with a ball and singing. Get a life mate. Hooligans are the people who go about stabbing Leeds supporters or burning cars, throwing Mopeds over stadium walls and the like… not this large group of smiling, singing rowdies. Give us a break!
Posted from United Kingdom
By THE SYNICAL | June 18th, 2006 at 9:26 pm you guys missed the point completely of the blog. they dont have to be “going about stabbing leeds supporters” at all times of the day. the point was anything could have happened at any given time..to anyone. period. quit over analyzing and tellin us what a hooligan is. we all know the germans got a headstart this cup its a game of catch up now!
Posted from United States
By Patrick | June 20th, 2006 at 3:43 am Besides, Maradona was a cocaine freak and openly bragged about cheating in that game (i.e. the “Hand of God” stuff). He felt his cheating was justified because Argentina had lost the ‘82 war. Not exactly the world’s best role model. 
Posted from United States
By Chad Schofield | June 20th, 2006 at 9:34 am What an absolute bunch of sensationalist rubbish. I’ve just come back from Germany and had a fantastic time. If that’s “hooliganism” then there would be Germans, Portuguese, Dutch, Iranians and Ghanaians facing three to four months inside.
Having been in Frankfurt on Wednesday, when Germany won, we went down to Saxon Hausen (main bar area – not shown here). Although we were wearing England shirts, people were great and it was a carnival atmosphere. Exactly the same scenes (but with different fans) on Saturday night. Absolutely fantastic people and exactly what the World Cup is about.
In Nuremburg there was no trouble that we saw. England, Trinidad & Tobago, Croatian, Japanese and more GERMAN fans all together having a good time.
Being half-Dutch and born and brought up in England, I think it’s almost instilled to dislike Germany/Germans – but the whole experience over there was brilliant and I can’t say enough about how hospitable and friendly people were in such a beautiful country.
Your website is a disgrace:
“one of the ringleaders rushes to the man with the boy on his shoulders. “No no no no no. You don’t want to do that mate.”” – Sorry?! A hard core ringleader trying to calm things down?! Try writing something worthy you useless, spineless hack.
Posted from United Kingdom
By alan | June 20th, 2006 at 11:40 am san lorenzo, what an arsehole.
Posted from United Kingdom
By Tribe’s Blog » Blog Archive » Scarf burning | June 20th, 2006 at 8:21 pm [...] Anyway, keep up on your favorites by periodically checking out Hooliganwatch. [...]
Posted from United States
By Tribe’s Blog » Blog Archive » Night of the chavs | June 25th, 2006 at 5:03 am [...] News coming in reports that over three hundred fans, the bulk of them English, have been arrested during a couple of melees in Stuttgart. Nothing yet on the incident from Hooliganwatch. [...]
Posted from United States
By Richard Quest | June 25th, 2006 at 6:30 am We english are not hooligans inherently.
Posted from 
Sri Lanka
By John | June 30th, 2006 at 10:31 am SAN LORENZO- everyone, including you will die one day. The bloated coke addict you refer to was in fact the greatest CHEAT in the world and even that was a long time ago.
England beat you very recently so does this mean you were beaten by a chicken?
Posted from United Kingdom
By futebolblinger | July 24th, 2006 at 3:58 pm Well everyone who thinks that ENGLAND has a competent National Futbol Team is Supposed to be CRAZY, all i see are a bunch of far below par g-string wearing men during a soccer match while flossing about how they’re well paid more than anybody on the WC, and the BLOODY ENGLISH MEDIA giving RONALDO a baptism of fire, and the damn English drunken mastered FANS were ACTUALLY Booing the KID!!!
Rooney got himself into that situation, but like Sven Said, “the boy’s still young”, getoutta here……England is never, ever gona win anything as looking for scapegoats in every loss they encounter…..
By razta | November 25th, 2006 at 7:23 pm Comments are closed
