Rivalries: why do so-called football fans talk of hatred?

A certain number of LFC and United fans have been discussing their mutual hatred of each other, on their respective boards.

Now, I can understand how intense rivalries might encourage some of us to wish for the downfall of certain clubs, but why does it have to descend into hatred for another club's fans? I see our greatest rivals as the Arsenal, but I certainly don't "hate" Gooners. It would be problematic if I did, as there are Gooners in my family. Worse still, perhaps, there is the odd Spanner, too.

Is there genuine hatred among fans on this site? Or is it merely the talk of ignorant and unsophisticated juveniles?

 

The greater irony is that most of the fans of those clubs aren't actually from either Liverpool or Manchester and don't have any common faith, either.
It's historical and each of them stoke it up with some appalling behaviour.

I think that us and Arsenal probably have the balance about right with our rivalry.
It's passionate and derby days are extremely important and emotionally charged, but they're not violent and some things are more important.

I remember when David Rocastle passed away in 2001 and our next two games were coincidentally against Arsenal.
I hoped that our fans would react in the right manner and I believe that the minute's silence was impeccably respected, as it should be.
That sort of thing should go without saying, but you do get some idiots in every crowd nowdays.

 

The worst thing I remember was the minute's silence for Ken Bigley before an England game at Old Trafford being constantly interrupted, just because he happened to be a Liverpool fan. I mean, seriously, show something approaching decorum, you ****ing morons.

The rivalry between Villa and Birmingham seems to have gotten nastier ever since Brum started appearing in the Premiership, which makes little sense. The bizarre thing with that rivalry - at least according to various Brum/Villa fans - is that it's based on class divisions, with Birmingham the working class area and Villa the middle class area.

 

They keep bringing up the Heysel and Munich Stadia tragedies!

How low can people go?

 

I think our "thing" with the goons, is on about the right level too, especially when you consider the decidely Unhealthy rivalries, most notably in Scotland, along sectarian lines. The fact that most of fans who stoke up such "religious" rivalries never set foot inside a church makes the whole thing even more unfathomable.

 

Or is it merely the talk of ignorant and unsophisticated juveniles?

That, plus ignorant and unsophisticated adults. If you have very little in your life then your 'support' of your team can reach levels that are very unhealthy for what is after all a game. A game which should be all about fun and enjoyment becomes a substitiute for war in the tiny undeveloped minds of too many fans.

BTW Scotland has gone to great efforts to resolve the sectarian issue in a far more enlightened manner than we have seen in England.

 

I am from out of London but used to go to the different grounds and I honestly saw no difference in the supporters. They all spoke with the same accents and shouted the same things etc etc. I haven't a clue why the hatred. Some people just get too deeply involved and some supporters might be jealous of other team's success and take it out on the fans.

 

I've never Hated fans of other teams,i've disliked some,the way they behave etc.after all it's only a game ,dispite what Shankley thought.

 

Shankley said he would break his own wife's legs!

What kind of unthinking, hateful brute would do that?

Unbelievable!

 

Hate?...yes I hate Arsenal fans, not to the point of wanting to inflict harm or wish ill on them, just a healthy hate! and I think thats perfectly ok. Our rivalry is a sporting matter only. Mancs and Scouser's different ball game (pun!) as Luke has alluded too, transport links to Salford in history, resulted in many job losses and poverty on Merseyside...hasn't changed much! so you can understand the whinging pudlians to a point!

 

I'm with you on that.

 

Or he was joking?

 

he didn't joke,that bloke was always deadly serious

 

The actual quote: "I was the best manager in Britain because I was never devious or cheated anyone. I'd break my wife's legs if I played against her, but I'd never cheat her."

 

Look at my signature.. Nice one for taking it out of context

 

Enough said, mate

 

Yeah. No doubt that Celtic-Rangers is the one that tops all others. They REALLY hate each other, or they certainly used to.

 

I can't imagine hating somebody because of the team they support - it's too strong a word. I would reserve hatred for anybody who harmed my immediate family. Also, I have several good mates who are Gooners - as I'm sure others on here do. We take the piss out of each other unmercifully, but we're still mates. Football can't change that.

 

I seem to have got myself banned from the LFC board, and I'm not quite sure why!!!!

I think I've commented on one post on that board, and it was all very politely undertaken.

Are the Scousers known for being overly sensitive on this site?

 

Ensil,

I can absolutely assure you that I have done no wumming whatsoever. In fact, I am completely bemused that I have been excluded from their board. I think I may have posted on it a couple of times and had a bit of banter, but certainly nothing nasty.

The only real contact I have had with LFC fans on this site has been on a thread posted on the United board. But, again, the only person being insulted in that thread was me, by some barbaric (and, it does have to be said, idiotic and, I strongly suspect, ignorant) LFC fans.

One thing I have noticed is that there appears to be very little crossover between fora on this site, and I suspect that is because there is a rigorous and extremely discriminatory banning policy on posters who have strong opposing views to those held by the native fans, and that posters are fearful of being unfairly and randomly censured. Even the old BBC 606 board was not that draconian!

It is extremely sad that fans cannot be permitted to engage in open, polite debate.

Ah, well. I shall have to divest myself of the joys of engaging in informed and exciting debate with LFC fans.