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.

[IronJack]

Greece. Fah! Grease. Oozy relics from a civilization long dead. With the exception of baklava, even their food sucks.

[Go Gordon]

I read this in disgust and frustration that my better judgement will not allow me to post the virulent, screaming pissed-offness I am currently experiencing. Greeks.

Big "O": When I start to feel my blood start to boil, it helps me to calm down by thinking "boy, I sure am glad I don't live there. I sure am glad to be living in a modern civilized nation of freedom etc. etc. etc." Yes it might be smug, but to h$ll with the rest of the world's idiots that think the way those (probably a small minority) soccer fans do.

[oldvike]

Sorry about that. I checked and rechecked my everything prior to posting. Don't know how I missed it.

[oldvike]

Hey Valerie. No need to be a smartass. I messed up. So sue me. You've had a sour attitude on this whole thread. You must be a real happy person in real life. NOT!

[self_evident]

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.

I thought you said earlier that Greece was with us.

[oldvike]

Damnit, I did it again. Delet the word "my" from post 63. Forget it, I'm gonna go watch football. It just ain't my day.

[JohnPaulJones]

T-SHIRTS</a href>

[Critter]

Show me.

It's easy to say that, but show me a source, and I'll rethink what I said.

[Cleburne]

Greece has become a hotbed for Communist groups of all stripes and varying degrees of violence they'ld try. Kinda odd, the birthplace of democracy turned into Commieland.

[self_evident]

They are lucky a substantial amount of Americans weren't present.

One would be sufficient; I would have LOVED to be there.

[oldvike]

Greece has become a hotbed for Communist groups of all stripes and varying degrees

Sounds like California.

[BritBulldog]

Very eloquent. I'm almost agreeing with you, but don't you think that it would be helpful to the families of the victims to know that these silences were observed. They wouldn't know about peoples silent prayers.

[piasa]

Note that these jerks couldn't get the flag to catch on fire. Is that some kind of sign?

Someone took my advice and began manufacturing US flags treated with FlameSorb flame retardant?

Wonder if anyone has figured out how to make my other suggested flag design... the one composed of highly explosive material infused with tiny pellets of 1080 cyanide.

[dighton]

Sounds like California.

Thanks, rub it in!

[ValerieUSA]

I don't need to sue you, I merely corrected you. If you can find someone who doesn't have a sour attitude on this thread, please let us know.

I am a thoughtful individual articulating my position on the lame new tradition of "a moment of silence" and it has led another to accuse me of having no thoughts because I can't find meaning where there is none.

[palo verde]

ambrose, I agree with you
I heard the Greeks are enraged about clinton's bombing of Serbia (he bombed Serbia for 78 days and nights)
Love, Palo

[SuperLuminal]

Typical soccer fans.

[piasa]

Treat those flags here...

[ValerieUSA]

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.