Probably A Very Dumb Question...

[Feralpeg]

I just finished watching a movie called "Green Street Hooligans". In it, Elijah Wood goes to visit his sister living in the UK. He becomes friends with a bunch of guys who are football fans. They called their group "a firm". After the games, they got into fights with rival "firms".

I was just wondering. Do these "firms" really exist? Do they really fight each other? I'm never sure what is real and what is just made up for the film.

I hope this isn't too dumb a question. Thanks!

 

[Graeme]

Yes they do, but not as much as they used to. There's still bits of violence around the country at football matches but most of the time in the UK the police win. (bigger gang you see!)
A few years ago there was a piece of legislation introduced where anyone involved in any type of football related violence could be banned from attending games and was subject to pretty heavy restrictions on their movements on match days, including surrendering their passports when the national team are playing abroad. These 'banning orders' have been very effective.

 

[Feralpeg]

Thank you! Very interesting.

 

[Claire L]

Yes there were alot of football hooligans back in the 80's/90's and a good film to watch is one made in 1995 called ID.

Claire

 

[natsworld]

This sort of thing is still going on and is very much on the rise.Just yesterday the two local football teams in the area i live (sheffield)played a match,the two local firms(bbc with 400+members)and the smaller(ocs with 50+)had what you may call a meet with quite alot of the ocs ending up in hospital with very serious injury's