The Problem With American Soccer Fans

Wall Street Journal ^ | June 6, 2014 | Jonathan Clegg

[C19fan]

Growing up as a soccer fan in England, I've witnessed my fair share of horrors. I've seen shocking acts of violence, overheard hundreds of abusive chants and watched Pelé retire to sell erectile dysfunction pills.

Over the years, I've been angered, saddened and ashamed by these things. But through it all, my love for soccer remained undimmed.

But lately, I've discovered there's a new scourge on my beloved game that I simply cannot tolerate: Americans.

[SECURE AMERICA]

There are American soccer fans? Why?

[Roman_War_Criminal]

You and me both. He can’t seem to stay on point, much less make a point.

I suppose he’s bothered that American soccer fans have become exactly like the drunken oxen that Euro soccer fans have always been. I’ll never forget reading about how one Italian fanatic reacted to his favorite soccer player being transferred to another Italian rival team—throwing himself in front of a train.

I love the game, but the fans ruin it.

[sphinx]

But as a more typically American fan of soccer ...

I hear 'ya. The author lost me when he started complaining about Americans talking about PK's and outside defenders. Perfectly good American contributions to soccer lingo, IMHO, and clearer in meaning than his preferred usages. It was a queer complaint from someone who started out criticizing the eurotwit wannabes who mindlessly copy everything european.

[dead]

I found it interesting because he was mocking a subset of people I've also noticed - the people always out to prove they're more European (generally because they've spent more than two weeks there) than the Americans they're forced to interact with. The same people who want to discuss how Russian ballet or French movies are soooo much better than their American counterparts or how sophisticated German pop music is.

The article was more interesting than watching soccer anyway. By a long shot.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

“That said, soccer has one major barrier to overcome before making it big in the U.S., and that is television. Soccer does not lend itself to a television commerical every 38.4 seconds. Unless soccer starts allowing a tv timeout on every throw-in, it will never get a big time tv contract, and it will remain a small budget game.”

That’s one of the only things that keep me watching the game. If it ever became a snore like the NFL or MLB then I suppose I’ll never watch another full game again, just like I can’t stomach 4 hours of “football” and beer commercials.

[sphinx]

Agreed. Maybe we should prohibit televised sports, so that the games could return to their natural form and be played for the enjoyment of the players and fans in the stands, as opposed to inebriated viewers in bars or on their couches at home.

All those NFL tv fans woould be forced to adopt local college or high school teams -- and they would find out that they enjoy it a lot more, as being at the game always beats the couch.

[KarlInOhio]

I shared that view for many years. I've now watched enough youth soccer to have developed a bit of an appreciation for the game. That said, soccer has one major barrier to overcome before making it big in the U.S., and that is television. Soccer does not lend itself to a television commerical every 38.4 seconds. Unless soccer starts allowing a tv timeout on every throw-in, it will never get a big time tv contract, and it will remain a small budget game.

Many sports are greatly improved by a DVR. Most American sports because it allows me to skip the commercials (and long huddles in football). Soccer is improved because it is more interesting at 2x speed.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Soccer? Soccer? What the heck is soccer? Is that the event where scantily clad smaller men run all over a field and do nothing?

[sphinx]

No, that’s track, where scantily clad men run in circles.

[dfwgator]

or even, for inexplicable reasons, that 90% of soccer fans in the U.S. seem to root for Arsenal.

Ewwww, ARSEnull sucks.

[VA_Gentleman]

Dear Mr. Clegg, have you read, “Among the Thugs”? It’s a great book about a reporter who gets entrenched with Manchester United thugs. It’s replete with racism and violence. You premier league fans are so cultured.

[danamco]

Being from a smaller soccer country, yet once won the European Cup winning 2 - 0 over World Cup Champion Germany, that country is fostering and exporting players all over Europe. Now observed how Soccer-Moms here take children to play soccer, even girls that was a NO-NO when I grew up, I predict USA will be a major international force in the next 25 years. It takes a least a 1/4 of a Century to make it to the top. At that time NFL will be down the line of popularity. Hope I will live long enough to see it come through!!!

[dfwgator]

If you think die-hard SEC college football fans are bad, just wait till you deal with the ultra fans of soccer teams in Europe. Those ultra fans make the drunken NFL fans in the upper deck of stadiums look positively civilized in comparison.

Not so bad now in England, but it's really bad in Central and Eastern Europe.

[areukiddingme1]

Well, ever since I saw someone on some team give a fantastic shoulder hit on some player from another team and the ref gave the hitter a card (not sure if it was hallmark) for the hit, which I thought was a great hit I have never watched another “sissy ball game” as I have affectionately come to refer to soccer — Just isn’t violent enough for me. Soccer = Hitting is penalized.

Sorry, give me lots of violent hitting, trash talking, and fighting otherwise known as the National Football League and I’m happy. Football = Hitting is cheered!

[Sherman Logan]

Very strange article.

Complains about Americans imitating European soccer fans, and then complains when they don’t imitate them precisely.

[danamco]

I would say, because you don’t need to be 300 pounds body weight to make it in soccer and the violating body attacks, I think Soccer Moms prefer Soccer over American Football for security of their children, see my previous post!!!

[dfwgator]

There was a good series, the episodes should be on YouTube, called “The Real Football Factories”.

[D Rider]

somebody should hand that guy tweezers and a mirror, so he can get that hair out of his...

[dfwgator]

If you watch highlights of the games in the 70s, a lot of stuff that would get a straight red today went on without so much as a foul being given, it was a pretty rough game back then.

[Sherman Logan]

You do know where the thecrete pronunthation comes from, don’t you?

One of the Spanish kings had a thpeech impediment. The arithtocrathy thtarted imitating him as a way of thucking up, and it gradually worked its way down into thociety.

Very thtrange.