Soccer Fans Attemt to Burn American Flag

Associated Press via ESPN ^ | September 22, 2001 | AP

[oldvike]

Club coach disgusted by display

[Associated Press]

EDINBURGH, Scotland -- Fans of the Greek soccer club AEK Athens tried to burn the American flag before the team's match against Scotland club Hibernian, and booed during a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.

"What went on in Athens disgusted me," Hibernian coach Alex McLeish said Saturday. "With what happened last week, innocent people of all nationalities in America, anyone would show respect."

There was a minute's silence at all 77 European games played during the week. But McLeish said that as the players stood in silence to pay their respects in the Athens stadium before Thursday's UEFA Cup game, many AEK fans jeered through the silence and tried to burn the American flag.

"What badly disappointed me was that there was no effort made by anyone, the police included, to do anything about it," McLeish said. "When I first heard all the shouting and jeering, I thought it was their way of doing the minute's silence. Then I was told by someone who said, `Look, they're burning the American flag.'

"I could not believe such anti-American feeling in a European country."

Several hundred fans booed and jeered, and a group set fire to an Israeli flag, while others tried to burn an American flag but couldn't get it to light.

[ValerieUSA]

A moment of silence is the coward's substitute for public prayer because it has been judged inoffensive, thus rendered powerless.

Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.
~Winston Churchill

Who would have foreseen that prayer takes so much courage today?

[Fearless Flyers]

I think it is something that should be considered if it hasn't already been done. Add flame retardent fabric to the specs for the U.S. Flag.

[Alan Ford]

OK, I want you guys to go out and kick the ball. You, Johnson you are going to kick the ball and you, Nunez, if you get near the ball -- kick it. Now this is very important, it should go generally toward the other team's goalie. But you can kick backwards if one of our guys is there, just to confuse 'em. And remember, whatever happens, if the other team gets close to you, fall to the ground and grab a body part. I hope I didn't confuse you, but strategy is an important part of this game.

Err, about baseball, a "sport" where a fat man can become a success and be called an athlete .God knows but nobody around the known world wants to have anything to do with it

"American football" is not played by the foot at all but by a bunch of corn fed padded up semi-humanoids who stop the game every two minutes for beer comercials. Basicly a joke of a game outside the States

Basketball, the ony sport worthy of note to come out of the US. Dominated by African Americans During the Sydney olympics the Americans came within a basket of losing from the Litvanians (a country the size of New York and new Jersey)The current World and European champions Yugoslavians are said to have what it takes to beat the US Dream Team

[oldvike]

A moment of silence is the coward's substitute for public prayer because it has been judged inoffensive, thus rendered powerless.

I hadn't really thought about it that way. Yes, you are definately right. I can clearly remember back 15 years ago before certain sporting events a prayer would be said before a game for no particular reason other than to praise God (which is a good reason). Now, even in times like these we hear no public prayers being offered for any reason.

[oldvike]

Get lost a$$hole.

[BritBulldog]

Your talking about all the bad developments that have happened in football over the past 25 years or so. Football at it's worst. But football at it's best, there is nothing to come close to it. If you could get a film of some of the European Cup Finals of the early sixties when the scores used to be something like 5-2, 7-3 etc. you would know what I mean.

[ValerieUSA]

You may enjoy reading this essay by Dr. James Dobson about The power of wartime prayers

[eastsider]

Err, about baseball, a "sport" where a fat man can become a success and be called an athlete. God knows but nobody around the known world wants to have anything to do with it.

Central America and Japan would disagree, and I happen to love the game. What I resent is the emphasis on money, but that's true of all professional sports. Personally, I'm partial to amateur-league games in the park.

Having said that, I'm looking for the Yankees to start the third millennium the way they ended the second. : )

[linn37]

approaching the rear is the only way they know

[Churchillspirit]

I have to agree with you about the attitude to prayer in this politically correct world, but have to say that some of my most intense - and in some cases comforting - thoughts have been during moments of silence.

"Let all mortal flesh keep silent"

[oldvike]

Don't pay attention to Alan Ford. He's only been a member of FR since yesterday. Obviously a liberal, eurotrash disruptor.

[ValerieUSA]

The humility in "Be still and know that I am God," does not result in silence, but in Heaven's rejoicing.

The void created by a politically correct moment of silence is hell's own empty revelry, while the Creator's Heaven doesn't recognize nothingness.

[Alan Ford]

Central America and Japan would disagree, and I happen to love the game.

I said "around the KNOWN world". I think that soccer is surpasing baseball in Japan in the popularity contest and after the world cup next year being co-hosted by Japan in will surpass it for sure.

About the money in sport you mensioned, it's done wonders for soccer . Soccer is basicly a huge money machine nowdays

[BritBulldog]

How can you say money has done wonders for soccer (football). It's destroying it.

[wonders]

Believe me, as a widow, I know that prayers strengthen my family and are helpful, whether I hear the prayers or not, for God does, and He is the source. A moment of silence is not a comfort or a help, it is nothing. There is enough emptiness.

The problem with empty gestures like a public moment of silence is the open void... and voids will be filled. The Greek flag-burners took advantage of the void. Creating a void is not productive, it is destruction. It would be better to just begin the games without the gesture.

Wow. Such wise words, Valerie. Thank you.

[AmishDude]

At all levels, the 0-1, 1-0, 1-1 phenomenon reigns. High school, college, amateur, professional. How did the game change?

[zoyd]

Of course, this dovetails with the Greek armed forces motto: "Never leave your buddies behind."

Did I miss a possessive apostrophe somewhere?

(/end homophobic comment)

[Churchillspirit]

Well, if you need noise for comfort so be it.

[eastsider]

About the money in sport you mensioned, it's done wonders for soccer.

Make that the team owners, and I believe we'll have found a point of agreement. As for soccer itself, I guess I'll always think of it as a kids game; real men play rugby.