With the violent scenes on our televisions both prior and after the English vs Russia game, it’s easy for the media to run wild on the English fans for their so-called thuggish behaviour.
It’s an unfair and unwarranted assertion.
For starters, on this occasion the general consensus in the aftermath is that a practically militarized gang of Russians were hell-bent on causing trouble and were unawares of any football match.
The English fans were rowdy but it seems again on this occasion that it was a “hit back” altercation.
Irrespective, the English fans love their football. There’s an element whose fists go up as soon as they see the opposition, but they’re by far and away in the minority.
As an Irish nation, we don’t like the paddywhackery of being denounced as drunks who fight each other then kiss and make up.
It’s OK for us to slag and sneer each other, but it’s another thing when foreigners start it for their amusement.
The English fans are getting an unfair go this week. The majority are there on a hard-saved fare, looking forward to seeing Wayne Rooney hit the back of the net or Joe Hart make a world class save.
They’re there to bring their children to the games and enjoy the fan park atmosphere beforehand.
They’re there to “have a crack”, as they like to say, rather than have some craic with their Irish neighbours – it genuinely happens!
They’re not there to teach their kids how to knock someone out or throw a chair at a policeman or smash a restaurant.
They’re there for fun, and the ironic thing is – the genuine English fan is disgusted by the hooligan element just as much as the rest of us.
The genuine English fans deserve “fair play”.