Uefa Smacks of Hypocrisy

Monday, 25th October 2010 at 09:44am

Despite being the authority of all matters football in Europe, Uefa seems happy to overlook many of the game's problems when it comes down to supporter behaviour. Violence and racism are still commonly encountered problems on the continent, yet Michel Platini and co seem almost blas about it all.

Liverpool FC travelled to Italy last week to face Napoli in the Europa League and emerged unscathed, taking a point with a second-string team from a ground where no British team has ever won a match.

The same, however, sadly cannot be said for Liverpool fans.

Three Liverpool fans were stabbed and had to be treated in hospital for the wounds they sustained. Four others were injured when they were attacked by a group of 20 to 30 men.

In another incident in the city, a family of three was ambushed in a bar.

Neapolitan police said they expected trouble but were powerless to do anything to prevent it, while Dr Filippo Bonfiglio, head of the DIGOS anti-terror unit, said that the problems were caused by a small section of Napoli supporters who, in his own words, "only intended to hurt".

They only intended to hurt? Well then, that makes it perfectly acceptable. Why should we kick up such a big fuss?

The problem began when one of the local daily newspapers ran a story that said 1,000 English hooligans were making their way to Naples which mobilised the local group of Ultras - the name given to the hardcore group of supporters associated with every Italian football club.

The disease that plagued English football in the 1980s and 1990s is largely a thing of the past and few, if any, incidents of bad behaviour are witnessed among travelling British supporters.

Unfortunately, the stereotype still lingers despite the efforts of fans and British police alike and result in events like last Tuesday.

When hooliganism at club level came to a head at Heysel in 1985 at the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, Uefa took the necessary steps and banned English clubs from competing in Europe until 1990.

In recent years, English fans have had to suffer run ins with rival fans on the continent, especially in Italy where violence and racism seems rife.

Arsenal and Chelsea fans were stabbed in Italy in 2009 when both teams travelled to face Italian sides in the Champions League, while Manchester United fans were wounded in a European tie in Rome in 2007.

If these events had taken place in England, Uefa would have been quick to act against the 'English disease', possibly resulting in another ban for English clubs; Tuesday's events didn't even warrant a mention on the official Uefa website.

If European football's governing body isn't going to take steps to punish clubs and countries for the actions of 'supporters', nothing is going to change.

Perhaps it will take the death of supporters - as happened in Turkey back in 2000 - for Uefa to take action; here's hoping that it doesn't go that far before something is done.

Italian football is leagues behind English football in terms of stadia, facilities and supporter behaviour but if pressure isn't put on clubs and football associations from the game's administrators, things will continue as they are.

It is high time for Uefa to take a firm stance and dispense the same justice that it has in the past.

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