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FluSH
04-05-2009, 11:44 AM
Rogers Center to close down Liquor sales at 3 sporting events this year

http://www.rivercitysportsblog.com/




Hey Bomber fans, we know how much you love the Appleton's Rum Shack at Canada Inns Stadium. We know how much the East Side revels in its ability to drink more and cheer louder than any other gathering of fans in the CFL.

Well, if you're among "The Proud, The Many, The Drunks," at Bomber games, you'll probably want to avoid the airplane to Toronto on Aug. 1.

Winnipeg fans love to head to T.O. every summer to watch the Bombers face their arch-rivals, the Toronto Argos. It's a nice weekend and it's always loads of fun. This year, however, there will be no beer at the ball yard.

In a statement issued on Friday night, Rogers Centre officials admitted that provincial liquor licensing inspectors, citing "drinking infractions at several unnamed past events," will close down liquor sales at three sporting events this year.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario advised the Rogers Centre's Food and Beverage Dept., last week that it would suspend liquor licences for the April 7th game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers, the Jays' April 21st game with the Texas Rangers and the Argo-Bomber game on Aug. 1.
So, Bomber fans, ahh, wear a big coat and BYOB?




Wait... that's not Cathal's trash article... it's this one against soccer and Toronto Supporters:



Forty-five minutes into yesterday's Toronto FC home opener and the fans were already testing the fuzzy limits of Major League Soccer's new code of conduct for spectators.
Many were clearly drinking in a manner that your mother would not consider responsible. Language directed by the crowd at comedian Drew Carey, part-owner of the Seattle franchise, was obscene, abusive – and sometimes hilarious.
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller spent a few nervous minutes dodging cups tossed from the south end of the BMO Field, a violation of the `thrown objects' rule.
Later a few dozen people papered a Seattle player with streamers as a lone security staffer ineffectually tried to persuade them to stop.
Based on previous fan performances, it was remarkably orderly.
"The funny thing is you get these wannabe British hooligans over here," one police officer said in exasperation. "C'mon, we're in Canada, guys."
TFC's fans – specifically the diehards who cluster in the southern stands at the Exhibition Place field – have been under heavy scrutiny following a noisy encounter with police in Columbus, Ohio, after a game a week ago yesterday.
Police converged on Columbus Crew Stadium after squaring off with drunken Toronto fans. Video posted on YouTube showed officers swarming one Toronto supporter.
Only one Torontonian was arrested, but both Toronto FC management and leaders of fan groups like the Red Patch Boys characterized the incident as a black eye on what has been the sweetest sports story in Toronto for a couple of years.
The team didn't beef up security ahead of yesterday's home game, but it did opt to use more experienced Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment security staff.
"We're excited," said Richard, one of the new security deployment. "This is a totally different atmosphere from (Air Canada Centre)."
It certainly was, though a biting wind kept most supporters in a heat-preserving crouch.
Much has been written about the atmosphere at BMO Field. It is the loudest and most involved in Toronto. Many fans stand for 90 minutes. Most have something to say.
In the eastern and western stands, the crowd is mixed – young and old, women and children. But toward the south end it grows more uniformly young and male.
Those 2,000 or 3,000 – who model themselves on European fan associations or "firms" – make it a point of pride to sing and shout throughout. They keep the beat for all 20,000 fans out on game day. They also cause most of the trouble.
Experienced police officers working the south end seemed resigned to a certain amount of bad behaviour, annoyed rather than deeply concerned. As is customary, none of the officers would give their names.
"`Over-refreshed' is the word for it. They're throwing things at you, at the players," said one officer.
Police say they eject anywhere from five to 10 supporters a game. As they escort ousted fans out through the seam in the stands, they often get a beer shower from the spectators, another officer said.
"Ninety-something per cent of the people here are great. Then we have some spots" – and here he gestured to the southeast end – "that give us a headache. When there is a problem, it's drunken stupidity."
Most misbehaviour is tacitly tolerated. Though the league now bans throwing streamers if it interferes with play, officers said streamers are "pretty much okay."
But they don't look so kindly on cups or bottles or, as has happened, firecrackers and flares. Fans running onto the pitch is a recurring problem. There have also been isolated post-game punch-ups.
"We talk to (other officers) on the job, coppers from over there who've worked games in the U.K. and work here now. They say that half the stuff that happens here would never happen there," an officer said.
In fact, nothing like the behaviour of Toronto FC fans would be tolerated in England. That laxity has drawn quiet concern from Maple Leaf Sports executives, especially following incidents like last weekend's in Columbus and the racial abuse of a player last season.
Deeply sensitive to the mere mention of hooliganism, MLS has tried to clamp down while not suffocating the atmosphere that has made Toronto FC such a success.
"We have some fans who get a little fuelled up before they get here," vice-president Tom Anselmi said. "But we haven't had an enormous amount of alcohol-related evictions, no more than at the ACC."
He couldn't say exactly how much beer is sold at games, but said "per-capita consumption is high. Higher than the Raptors (games) and on a par or higher than the Leafs."
The difference may be that Leafs fans don't do a lot of drinking before they arrive at the game. Toronto FC's firms gather at taverns near BMO Field, unofficial clubhouses of sorts, where they drink for several hours before weekend games. Then they march en masse to the field, singing and chanting.
Anselmi said no change to current alcohol policies is being considered.
Lingering behind all this is the question: what happens when games start mattering? Toronto FC has been awful for two years, but what if this team gets good and a big game goes bad?
"That's the ticking time bomb here," an officer said.

FluSH
04-05-2009, 11:46 AM
Oooh yeah.. there are Canadian NFL hooligans as well:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/ontarioniagara/story/510815.html



"Whatever the reason, 21 of the 33 people arrested by deputized security officers and Orchard Park police Sunday at the Bills-49ers game hail from Ontario."

We had what? 1 arrest... and the poor guy was clearly a victim ( I was there, I talked to the man and I didn't have to get my info from '10-12 reliable sources')

and the best quote on that Bills article is:



“I think it was a pretty typical Sunday afternoon game,” Orchard Park Police Chief Andrew D. Benz said Monday, noting that the 34 arrests — one man was arrested twice — were down a bit from previous games.

Sonny Cheeba
04-05-2009, 11:56 AM
preaching to the choir flushie.

TFC Via Buffalo
04-05-2009, 12:04 PM
Rogers Center to close down Liquor sales at 3 sporting events this year

http://www.rivercitysportsblog.com/





Wait... that's not Cathal's trash article... it's this one against soccer and Toronto Supporters:


Gotta love that if some lay person was reading that, it looks like we were the one's yelling racial things, not Crew fans.

Jack
04-05-2009, 12:12 PM
Cathal Kelly's not worth our time. Shouldn't these people be writing about the team?

dal524
04-05-2009, 12:13 PM
i think its safe to say we should write off anything cathal (what kind of retarded name is that anyway) kelly says for the rest of his time as a "sports" writer.

Nerepis
04-05-2009, 12:20 PM
That laxity has drawn quiet concern from Maple Leaf Sports executives, especially following incidents like last weekend's in Columbus and the racial abuse of a player last season.:



Am I missing something or is he blaming TFC supporters for what the KKKrew Idiots did. :noidea:

graeme117
04-05-2009, 12:44 PM
I can't believe the star put this on the front page of the paper (not just the sport section, beside the article about the afghan rape law). he's printing fiction and getting kudos from the paper for doing it, its just grating. or the star is being cynical and trying to elicit a response

Marc"2L"
04-05-2009, 12:48 PM
I like what the cop said...

"We're in Canada guys..."

Ok now, in an essay format, 8 pages or more... explain to me what exactly that means..

billyfly
04-05-2009, 12:52 PM
Someone had asked earlier in the week with all the Gareth Wheeler non-sense - "Hey where's Cathal Kelly in all this?"

Here he is.

Fort York Redcoat
04-05-2009, 12:55 PM
So this is the article that my dad felt the need to phone me about.

" it's says you and your friends were drunk.":smilielol5:

...and in real news, We wear red and we're louder than you.

Darlofletch
04-05-2009, 12:55 PM
It's a bullshit article, but i hope anyone complaining about it here aren't the same people in the Drew Carey thread who were wishing they were close enough to be able to throw shit at him.

Keyman
04-05-2009, 12:55 PM
Why don't we just invite Cathal to watch a game in 112. Put out a public invitation to him to experience what it's like to sit with us.

Fort York Redcoat
04-05-2009, 12:57 PM
Why don't we just invite Cathal to watch a game in 112. Put out a public invitation to him to experience what it's like to sit with us.

He'd lose his monocle.

graeme117
04-05-2009, 01:04 PM
He'd lose his monocle.

and manage to twist it into the consequences of hooliganism upon the innocent

those monocle smashing men in red

MartinUtd
04-05-2009, 01:21 PM
Am I missing something or is he blaming TFC supporters for what the KKKrew Idiots did. :noidea:

That's what I took from that.

Anyone have his editor's email? I'm not one to write letters of complaint, but this might be the right time to start.

Darlofletch
04-05-2009, 01:30 PM
Am I missing something or is he blaming TFC supporters for what the KKKrew Idiots did. :noidea:

I was wondering what he was getting at with that comment, i presumed he couldn't be stupid enough to be referring to something the crew supporters did.

Maybe I'm giving him too much credit, after all he thinks MLS is going to die now that Beckham's given up, so he clearly knows what he's talking about.

Pigfynn
04-05-2009, 02:04 PM
I like what the cop said...

"We're in Canada guys..."

Ok now, in an essay format, 8 pages or more... explain to me what exactly that means..

Exactly!

This is the attitude of some of the police and media that truly scares me. What is this image of Canada that some people have?

BMO field on Saturdays from April to November IS what Canada looks like and sounds like. There are hundreds of people in those stands from England as well as tons of other football loving nations of the world.

A comment like "We're in Canada guys" seems like a small, insignificant quote, but it says so much about the real underlying perception of all things soccer related in the media.

Hooligan69
04-05-2009, 02:51 PM
No one likes us... we don't care!

Canary Canuck
04-05-2009, 03:09 PM
The whole "we're in Canada guys" comment is the crap you see all over the comments section of the Cathal article. There's this hardcore conservative sentiment that "real Canadians" only play hockey and soccer is a foreign import that should be feared like Al Qaeda

J .
04-05-2009, 03:23 PM
Cathal is writing to the anti-soccer and all that crowd which wants to hear shit like that. I hardly see a ticking time bomb... Aside from overzealous cops and security. Ive seen one fight outside BMO in three years, which I tried to break up, then got beat by the cops.... Yeah... really...violent...place... oink.

Dirk Diggler
04-05-2009, 04:24 PM
Why don't we just invite Cathal to watch a game in 112. Put out a public invitation to him to experience what it's like to sit with us.

No. Reaching out to people who clearly do not want to be rational is an exercise in futility. We should just stop worrying about whatever Kelley and other randoms like Bill Archer are doing. I still don't understand why the later was invited on It's Called Football. He's a nobody.

FluSH
04-05-2009, 04:27 PM
hasn't the Blue Jays home opener been notoriusly known for fights??? Where are the front page coverage of such hooligan events??!

The Kingpin
04-05-2009, 04:31 PM
^ I wouldn't say notorious..... I've been to many.

I'd say - it happened once........

Dirk Diggler
04-05-2009, 04:33 PM
The fights in the Skydome were covered quite well by the media. I remember most people who do not care about baseball discussing it last season.

FluSH
04-05-2009, 04:39 PM
^ I wouldn't say notorious..... I've been to many.

I'd say - it happened once........

Well in that case... I'm not sure why AM640 called us "the now notorious Red Patch Boys" 3 days ago... trash journalism I guess.

T_Mizz
04-05-2009, 04:44 PM
Yeah I remember that on toonie tuesdays (I went to two last season) there were at least 4 fights each, which caused them to stop serving alcohol on toonie tuesdays.
But I'm not sure doing our best ostrich impression is the best way to go about business at this point. I mean we can't have this type of ignorance spread to the point that we start getting arrested for marching and chanting before gameday, its a disgrace to the star to have this guy on staff and I think we should let them know that

The Kingpin
04-05-2009, 04:50 PM
Well in that case... I'm not sure why AM640 called us "the now notorious Red Patch Boys" 3 days ago... trash journalism I guess.

I guess the issue I have with all of these comparisons whether it be the NFL, NHL, CFL or alternate is that it's a slightly desperate ploy. Why gain credence by comparison? Why not be proactive - there is numerous ways to help this issue. I suggest looking around these boards to discover what they are. I'n not attempting to be trite, I just think the abrasive reaction (though warranted) is counteractive.

Stryker
04-05-2009, 04:54 PM
My hooligan side says FUCK YOU CATHAL KELLY !!!!

Redcoe15
04-05-2009, 04:56 PM
Either Cathal Kelly is ironic in his coverage of soccer or he is a Eurosnob who only likes the European leagues and shits all over MLS and TFC. The problem is that his opinions about MLS and TFC only give fuel to the soccer haters who'll do anything to trash the game. That's how he got on Bobo McClown's show a few weeks ago. That's why you've got retarted hockeypucks chiming in on how soccer sucks and hockey is the only sport that matters. Does Kelly even realise how his trashing only hurts the sport in Canada. Or does he even care?

FluSH
04-05-2009, 05:00 PM
I guess the issue I have with all of these comparisons whether it be the NFL, NHL, CFL or alternate is that it's a slightly desperate ploy. Why gain credence by comparison? Why not be proactive - there is numerous ways to help this issue. I suggest looking around these boards to discover what they are. I'n not attempting to be trite, I just think the abrasive reaction (though warranted) is counteractive.

I suggest looking around these boards to discover what they are.

Kingpin? are you fucking serious? really? Your view of desperation is my view of a war.

H Bomb
04-05-2009, 05:02 PM
the biggest frustration for me is the burden of proof. They quite literally make shit up, and now it's up to US to disprove their lies. It's grossly irresponsible and hopefully they will all lose their jobs and houses

twistedchinaman
04-05-2009, 05:10 PM
Dear Cathal,

By 7 April I will have flown 6,400 km to and from Calgary, Alberta to attend a game. You are within driving distance, yet you have the audacity to write such garbage when clearly you have never been to a game.

I flew six thousand miles. You can't even be bothered to even take the TTC to the waterfront. Stop talking and go to a game, then start again. Maybe then you will have something more interesting to say.

Peace.

The Kingpin
04-05-2009, 05:13 PM
I suggest looking around these boards to discover what they are.

Kingpin? are you fucking serious? really? Your view of desperation is my view of a war.

I'm certain you are speaking for yourself here. This is a situation that needs a calm and calculated response. Check the members section - there are some opportunities for anyone who would like to be constructive. The fact that I got calls from Canada telling me about what was happening says it all - so I understand. They are friends who knew I was involved with this group and asked what was happening.. and "did you hear about the tasering?"

I get it. But by seeing this as "war", you are buying in - getting sucked in. Be methodical and calculated. If you don't take heed, things will get worse.

Thinking that any legal action or anything of the like will work is sheer naiveté. A well planned long term projection of the true message is the only path I see here. Anything else will prove to be a failure in my estimation. Just some immediate thoughts anyway...

twistedchinaman
04-05-2009, 05:19 PM
I'm certain you are speaking for yourself here. This is a situation that needs a calm and calculated response. Check the members section - there are some opportunities for anyone who would like to be constructive. The fact that I got calls from Canada telling me about what was happening says it all - so I understand. They are friends who knew I was involved with this group and asked what was happening.. and "did you hear about the tasering?"

I get it. But by seeing this as "war", you are buying in - getting sucked in. Be methodical and calculated. If you don't take heed, things will get worse.

Thinking that any legal action or anything of the like will work is sheer naiveté. A well planned long term projection of the true message is the only path I see here. Anything else will prove to be a failure in my estimation. Just some immediate thoughts anyway...

Despite my anger, I think you've got a point Pat. We cannot let this escalate into war, or whatever good we can and will do, will be tarred some way somehow. While the whole idea of guilty until proven innocent is how the court of public opinion works, we can win this battle somehow...there has to be a way.

Isn't there...?

T_Mizz
04-05-2009, 05:22 PM
I think Kingpin is right the way to prove we aren't like they think we are isn't by being the way they think we need to cool our tits and let the truth come out

FluSH
04-05-2009, 05:30 PM
I'm certain you are speaking for yourself here. This is a situation that needs a calm and calculated response. Check the members section - there are some opportunities for anyone who would like to be constructive. The fact that I got calls from Canada telling me about what was happening says it all - so I understand. They are friends who knew I was involved with this group and asked what was happening.. and "did you hear about the tasering?"

I get it. But by seeing this as "war", you are buying in - getting sucked in. Be methodical and calculated. If you don't take heed, things will get worse.

Thinking that any legal action or anything of the like will work is sheer naiveté. A well planned long term projection of the true message is the only path I see here. Anything else will prove to be a failure in my estimation. Just some immediate thoughts anyway...

I got calls from El Salvador telling me about what was happening so I understand.

Listen, Pat... you don't need to tell me to check other sections of the boards because I have... and I do. You can't say "calm and calculated response" when time is of the essence... calm and calculated should have occurred before these events took place... we knew people from Columbus were trying to stir the pot and cause trouble... where we that naive that we thought this day would never come? There are forces out there that have been anti-supporter and anti-soccer since day 1 of Toronto FC... it ain't news.

Stryker
04-05-2009, 05:30 PM
If you think you can convince the other supporter groups to go along with a hand holding session you're going to be sadly disappointed.
Even if the Red Patch Boys acted nothing sort of angelic the rest of the season it would only take one heated altercation from a U Sector member for Kelly to paint us with the same brush and shout I told you so from his soap box.

Heathen
04-05-2009, 05:33 PM
Kelly is a douche the best you can do is put pressure on TFC to try and get a retraction from him, I'm sure his lies don't please the FO either.

Jack
04-05-2009, 05:35 PM
Nonetheless, Stryker, we can only control ourselves and what we do. I think all of the groups realize the seriousness of the situation and unfortunately we are the easily recognizable targets here because we are organized groups with names and identities.

The fact that in most of the videos I've seen from Columbus the involved parties are not wearing a supporters group scarf is a distinction these reporters don't seem to want to make, since they don't seem to want the truth to get in the way of a good story.

No one is suggesting we act "angelic" or anything of the sort. We just have to make sure the distinction between a member of one of our groups and a drunk asshole hiding behind the crowd are made. The only way to do that is by acting in a positive and constructive manner in the future.

jloome
04-05-2009, 06:00 PM
It's a bullshit article, but i hope anyone complaining about it here aren't the same people in the Drew Carey thread who were wishing they were close enough to be able to throw shit at him.

Even worse, it's pedantic and poorly written with predictable turn-of-phrase. At some point, some twit in Star management obviously saw Kelly as his Great Metropolitan Daily (tm)'s Hitchens or Martin Amis or something, because he writes with a certain dry British insoucience, as taught to every private school kid there over the age of 10.

Sad. Put him on the politics of socializing or even the social side of politics, where he can rub elbows with other wankers. He'll be happier, we'll be happier, they'll be happier.

BRed
04-05-2009, 06:30 PM
Appearenlty we need to look for someone who knows how to dismantle a ticking time bomb.

sully
04-05-2009, 06:33 PM
Just cancelled my Star subscription.

FluSH
04-05-2009, 06:34 PM
Just cancelled my Star subscription.


salute to you!

weeskunner57
04-05-2009, 06:45 PM
A football firm (also known as a hooligan firm) is a gang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang) formed to fight with members supporters from other clubs. While some firms, especially in southern and eastern Europe, have been linked with far right (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_right) politics or racism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism), other firms have been associated with leftist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics) or anti-racist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-racism) views. The firms' political views are not representative of all supporters of the teams.

SO based on that definition Miss Catheter Kelly which TFC supporters group are you calling a "firm"??.....

Red CB Toronto
04-05-2009, 06:48 PM
I saw Cathal at the game, he came out of Gate 4, the media entrance about 5 minutes after the game, so he I know he was there, that is not to judge what he is writing but he does attend the games.

Workie
04-05-2009, 06:58 PM
My hooligan side says FUCK YOU CATHAL KELLY !!!!


100% Agree but this is what he wants.

Poor bastard gets off on it...


Wow some of these responses however are so calm, collected and eloquent you'd think it was election time again... :rolleyes:

T.Reis
04-05-2009, 07:33 PM
What was that part about the racial abuse?
Was he talking about TFC fans or did I just read that wrong?

Can't remeber an inncident where TFC fans were accused of racial abuse.

DOMIN8R
04-05-2009, 07:50 PM
So much time wasted on the CP media. Honestly, we have to let our irrational fascination with these "sports reporters" evaporate. For our own sanity and to deny them the spotlight we seem to want to keep shining on them.

There is so much more interesting stuff to talk about than the Canadian sports reporting machine, FFS.

Kooper
04-05-2009, 09:00 PM
We spend way to much time writing about him and reading his stories. Why are we boosting his readership at torstar.com?

Blizzard
04-05-2009, 09:07 PM
He'd lose his monocle.

http://symonsez.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/klink.jpg

Blizzard
04-05-2009, 09:29 PM
Just cancelled my Star subscription.

I'll be doing the same.

Blizzard
04-05-2009, 09:30 PM
What was that part about the racial abuse?
Was he talking about TFC fans or did I just read that wrong?

Can't remeber an inncident where TFC fans were accused of racial abuse.

He doesn't know what he's talking about. If he did, he'd know that the racial abuse ugliness took place in Columbus from one idiot in their supporter's section.

DILEAS
04-05-2009, 09:32 PM
cathal Kelly

olegunnar
04-05-2009, 09:44 PM
This BS has to be addressed by someone, probably the FO.

There are people new to support, and the message they get from these articles is that throwing stuff and fighting is the norm....what you do to be like everyone else.

We now is not true, but someone who's never been to a game wouldn't know that. So they show up thinking it's okay to throw stuff etc. etc....afterall the media told them that's what's normal behaviour at games.

CretanBull
04-05-2009, 09:47 PM
The fact that in most of the videos I've seen from Columbus the involved parties are not wearing a supporters group scarf is a distinction these reporters don't seem to want to make, since they don't seem to want the truth to get in the way of a good story.


Isn't that almost always the case? I was talking to my friend and my cousin about this on our way to the game yesterday. Whenever I see someone doing something stupid they're almost always wearing a generic Adidas scarf. I can honestly say that whether it was pre-game, in the stands or post game I've never seen anyone wearing a RPB, Usec or NEE scarf doing any of the stupid stuff that the media want to tie us to.

nfitz
04-05-2009, 10:23 PM
If you don't think the article was factually correct - http://www.ontpress.com/complaints/index.asp

TFC07
04-05-2009, 10:37 PM
No one likes us... we don't care!

T-4ce7bfvIk

Arnie Knows
04-05-2009, 10:43 PM
hasn't the Blue Jays home opener been notoriusly known for fights??? Where are the front page coverage of such hooligan events??!


yes when they played at exhibition stadium .. hahhaha
it was a drunken hayday ..mickeys gone wild
true !!!

that was while ago , back then u were allowed to drink and drive home too

Rhapido
04-05-2009, 10:52 PM
"The funny thing is you get these wannabe British hooligans over here," one police officer said in exasperation. "C'mon, we're in Canada, guys."

This is an annoying ignorant comment I tend to hear time and again from the non-soccer fan. These people have no f'in clue what the term "hooligan" means in England, or anywhere else in Europe or South America, for that matter. They see supporters standing and chanting at at TFC game and the scene is so foreign to them, they label it alcohol-fueled "hooligan" behaviour. They see 20-something male soccer fans drinking copious amounts of beer in the stands at a game and they label it irresponsible "hooligan-style" drinking. They hear the mere mention of a fight or a shoving match at a TFC game and they again trot out the "hooligan" moniker. Ignorant asses, all of them. Two guys fighting in the stands or outside the stadium at a Bills or Argos or Jays game gets reported as simply two guys fightingbut the same two guys do it at a TFC game and they're hooligans. Most of the media is guilty of this. There seems to be some sizzle when it comes to reporting about these incidents at a TFC game, but this sh*t can go down at other sporting events and no one gives a f*ck.

Rhapido
04-05-2009, 11:07 PM
Oooh yeah.. there are Canadian NFL hooligans as well:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/ontarioniagara/story/510815.html




We had what? 1 arrest... and the poor guy was clearly a victim ( I was there, I talked to the man and I didn't have to get my info from '10-12 reliable sources')

and the best quote on that Bills article is:

This post and its linked article in the Buffalo News should be required reading for all those ponces out there that like to paint us as alcohol-imbibing, fist-throwing, foul-mouthed soccer "hooligans". I went down to Buffalo this year to watch the Bills and I swear I saw everyone that was making their way to the stadium with at least one beer in their hands. Cops are directing pedestrian traffic across an intersection and everyone's guzzling down a MGD or some other American beer (Canadians were easy to spot with their Labatts Blue tall cans!).

nfitz
04-05-2009, 11:25 PM
"noting that the 34 arrests — one man was arrested twice — were down a bit from previous games." You'd think our media would be up in arms that a sport with such hooliganism would be trying to get a toehold in Toronto! :)

FluSH
04-06-2009, 12:02 AM
anti-soccer
anti-supporter

Canary Canuck
04-06-2009, 12:51 AM
ckelly@thestar.ca

I've e-mailed him before to call him out on factual inaccuracies and he usually replies (without fact checking of course)

RedWookie
04-06-2009, 01:01 AM
In the end, I think all this shit boils down to this:

Toronto and the majority of Canada is a Hockey and "football" country. Soccer is the underdog sport and anytime people can get in a shot at the MLS and the SG's they will take it. The hockey jocks want us out for whatever reason (most likely because we give 100x more support than leafs fans)

Will this change? maybe, maybe not. I don't know what it would take, perhaps a win and a few games where we sit nicely and cheer when told (like that would ever happen) But strap yourselves in for a long and bumpy ride until the MLS establishes itself in this city as a force to be reckoned with.

MUFC_Niagara
04-06-2009, 01:28 AM
We are not a "firm." A football firm (also known as a hooligan firm) is a group formed to fight with members "supporters" from other clubs. Of course, having studied football hooliganism in university I would know this. Cathal, not so much. I wonder if Cathal and all these other "experts" on hooliganism know that these weekend warriors are in trouble with the law 7 days a week and use the football as an excuse to fight. Cathal also knows that top boys of the "firms" of opposing clubs have prearranged areas where they will fight. Finally, Cathal will know that the "firms" have been pushed away from the stadiums and the fighting takes place in city streets, allyways, and empty fields. Of course, Cathal did his research before he wrote the article so of course he knows this.

Jack, did you setup a meet with the Columbus firm top boy before the crew game for us to fight?

Is anyone in our group a habitual offender that sees going to TFC as a way to fuel their need to get their adrenaline rush by pounding on someone?

Wow, we are a really big firm. Manchester United's Inner City Jib, Chelsea's The Chelsea Headhunters, West Ham's Inner City Firm, Spurs' Yid Army.....and last but not least.....Toronto FC's Red Patch Boys. Some of the finest football hooligans you'll ever see!

Tell you what Cathal, do some in depth work like a real journalist and maybe you'll see what REAL hooliganism is. Bill Buford's book is a good start....i'd love to see Cathal go under cover like Buford did.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099416344?tag=aveit-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0099416344&adid=0JZG8YASVB8RR7EGT747&

Oh and just for the record Cathal, i'm also in law enforcement and myself and the 5 other officers I know that go to Toronto FC games have never said "C'mon guys this is Canada." If you want an in depth lesson into the world of Hooliganism i'd be more than happy to educate you further. I have numerous essays, journal articles, and books that you are more than welcome to reference and I can also put you in touch with some very good professors that could explain to you further why we are not a firm and how it is highly unlikely that hooliganism will ever flourish in Canada.

Pookie
04-06-2009, 07:30 AM
I think when the cop says "c'mon, we're in Canada, guys" he must mean "Canada, in the summer"

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fetajr
04-06-2009, 09:33 AM
fuck...and we never hear of the Leafs blue collar fan hooligans that go down to buffalo and stir up a drunken shit storm at hsbc arena..... which by the way, is the only way to see a leafs game...fuck the ACC

Pookie
04-06-2009, 09:40 AM
^ best part of this video... the 1:16 mark where a guy throws another guy's beer at a player. That's just not right :)

Ivan
04-06-2009, 10:17 AM
If you're going to email to complain - and you should - about that poorly written sentence in which Cathal implied Red Patch and not Crew supporters shouted racist abuse, then I suggest you cc his editor.

Sports
Editor: Mike Simpson
Phone: 416-869-4355
Fax: 416-865-3999
Email: sports@thestar.ca (sports@thestar.ca)

There absolutely needs to be a retraction or clarification.

nfitz
04-06-2009, 11:27 AM
That's the Sports editor. As the story appeared at the top of the front page of the newspaper, I'd think that the Sports editor may not have seen it.

eustacchio
04-06-2009, 11:37 AM
^ sure he would have because the Sports Editor is his boss.

Commie Red
04-06-2009, 12:06 PM
You should also address concerns to the Star's "Bureau of Accuracy and Public Editor" by email at publiced@thestar.ca; or by phone at 416-869-4949; or by fax at 416-869-4322.

FluSH
04-06-2009, 03:27 PM
^^^
That's it, We will now be commie hooligans in his next article!

Anything to Sell that story Cathal, dignity you have none.

james
04-06-2009, 04:59 PM
We are not a "firm." A football firm (also known as a hooligan firm) is a group formed to fight with members "supporters" from other clubs. Of course, having studied football hooliganism in university I would know this. Cathal, not so much. I wonder if Cathal and all these other "experts" on hooliganism know that these weekend warriors are in trouble with the law 7 days a week and use the football as an excuse to fight. Cathal also knows that top boys of the "firms" of opposing clubs have prearranged areas where they will fight. Finally, Cathal will know that the "firms" have been pushed away from the stadiums and the fighting takes place in city streets, allyways, and empty fields. Of course, Cathal did his research before he wrote the article so of course he knows this.

Jack, did you setup a meet with the Columbus firm top boy before the crew game for us to fight?

Is anyone in our group a habitual offender that sees going to TFC as a way to fuel their need to get their adrenaline rush by pounding on someone?

Wow, we are a really big firm. Manchester United's Inner City Jib, Chelsea's The Chelsea Headhunters, West Ham's Inner City Firm, Spurs' Yid Army.....and last but not least.....Toronto FC's Red Patch Boys. Some of the finest football hooligans you'll ever see!

Tell you what Cathal, do some in depth work like a real journalist and maybe you'll see what REAL hooliganism is. Bill Buford's book is a good start....i'd love to see Cathal go under cover like Buford did.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099416344?tag=aveit-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0099416344&adid=0JZG8YASVB8RR7EGT747&

Oh and just for the record Cathal, i'm also in law enforcement and myself and the 5 other officers I know that go to Toronto FC games have never said "C'mon guys this is Canada." If you want an in depth lesson into the world of Hooliganism i'd be more than happy to educate you further. I have numerous essays, journal articles, and books that you are more than welcome to reference and I can also put you in touch with some very good professors that could explain to you further why we are not a firm and how it is highly unlikely that hooliganism will ever flourish in Canada.


well just readding what you said, and tho what you say describes many hooligans, exspecially ones in the UK but this doesn't describe all. Some countries hooligans dont pre-arrange fights and in some countries they still do fight in the stadium on a regualr basis. Some countries hooligan gangs are more violent then others and as a hooligan you can get jumped or beat up anytime, not just on match day. In some countries being a hooligan is like being in a street gang and its a way of life and very dangerous at that. You may already know this but countries like Argentina, brazil, Poland, Italy, UK all got hooligans, but they also are organized and do things in different ways. And just for note, today UK matches are much more safe then going to any of these other countries. Hooligans just dont seem to be a huge problem anymore in UK compared to many other countries now since England matches are a bit more family friendly now and police are well organized for any violence.

But end of it all, as you said TFC has no hooligans, that is for sure. Drunken fans??? ya TFC has loads of them. And to much drinking leads to shit happens!!! hahaha