It’s a factor but not one on its own. We seem to have behave better on longer haul journeys than short haul, whether alcohol is available or not. I was reading a similar conversation somewhere else online and availability of cocaine appears to be a bit factor on behaviour as well, as cocaine use is rampant within the National Teams support base. I imagine access to that is particularly difficult in Qatar.
I've got a friend who has just come back. Watched 3 games and said beer was definitely available just not in the stadiums. You can find it out there.
So what we are agreeing on is that trouble is caused by the availability of alcohol and drugs. I am not trying to ban alcohol use but this WC has highlighted to me anyway how there is a 99% link between football violence and drugs/alcohol. It is so strange how other sports don't have this issue.
That's a definitely a factor imo in that loads of the types of people who'd go for that are priced out and/or don't fancy running the risk of a ME prison cell. It's not just us either no European nation has had fans travel in huge numbers. Up until the final last year we've been well behaved at tournaments on the whole for years tbf. Could say 2016 but that was clearly more Russian instigated in the main. We don't really have football hooligans in the traditional sense following England anymore. We just have loads of people who like getting drunk and on the packet acting like ****s. It's not just football either as you'll see similar on high streets and at festivals.
All the more reason to win it this year though if we're not retaining our plastic chair throwing world title.
It definitely does for English fans but it's only a partial factor for the whole tournament. I think the main reason is that many European teams (the worst behaved are all from mainland Europe) just haven't travelled in the numbers they normally do, albeit the lack of alcohol may have played a part in that. Your second paragraph doesn't only relate to football tbf. How much violence in society ingeneral is down to alcohol? Only have to see city centres in the early hours and I'm sure we've all known a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of a drunk too. In fairness it's not true that other sports don't have this issue it's just not as severe (as less popular) or publicised because it doesn't fit the narrative. Rugby in particular has had big problems and a huge rise in anti social behaviour since fans returned post covid.
Remember the Euros in 2000? England started their campaign in Amsterdam, famous for it’s cannabis coffee shops; all the fans were blissfully mellow, not a hint of trouble. Moved to Belgium, famous for it’s beer; Engerlund fans kicking off everywhere, mass arrests, drunken yobs in England shirts all over the tv news right across Europe.
That's what world class players do. Do nothing all game then do something great when it really counts. He's a massive knob, but his ability is undeniable.
