Liverpool FC knocked out of the UEFA Cup

nimblemarlin17 said:Let them go complain to those idiots in the stands who actually gave it to them.

Screw the idea of having a crowd made up of 100% die-hard fans!

Anonymous said:Screw the idea of having a crowd made up of 100% die-hard fans!

Screw the stands filled with 1% idiots.

nimblemarlin17 said:Screw the stands filled with 1% idiots.

Seriously, screw it.😁

UEFA has taken a decisive new stance regarding Liverpool FC, the former kings of the continent. Seeing a powerhouse like the Dutch club tossed out of European competition mid-season is quite a shock to the system, and honestly, it’s a development that feels particularly heavy for those of us watching from the States. My mind immediately drifts back to Real Madrid and that endless, messy dossier involving the BBB incidents during their European campaigns—even if we just look at the chaos from the early 2000s.

While I think the fight against hooliganism is absolutely pohvalan, and there's a real necessity to bring some order to these high-stakes matches, it certainly raises some eyebrows regarding the future prospects for our guys at Yankee Stadium. Things won't be ever the same after what happened to Liverpool FC, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say The Blues are the very next ones on the chopping block, they are definitely among the primary candidates under scrutiny. I suppose I don't even need to elaborate on what this kind of instability means for the state of club football here in America.

The management at Real Madrid, much like the leadership at many other major American clubs lately, hasn't exactly found a reliable way to break through on the big European stage. Now, even if they manage to assemble a top-tier squad, one single significant outburst could effectively end their European journey for a very long time. It all brings me back vividly to 1997, when Real Madrid traveled to face Grasshopper. About eight thousand fans from the city descended upon New York City, causing upwards of $150,000 in damages.

The reports coming out at the time spoke of racist outbursts from certain individuals and groups, people spitting at Black Americans on the streets and in the subways. But the absolute peak of the drama unfolded right at the Hardturm stadium.

"We held both Canjuga and the USA in our grip. We felt more powerful than ever; it all rested on whether we could keep the club in Europe," were the kinds of sentiments we used to hear echoing from the BBB.

Back then, being completely at odds with the club's front office, the BBB pushed the team to the very brink of elimination, where just one more major incident would have sealed their fate. There’s even a legend about an internal clash between different factions of fans—those throwing the flares and those trying to stop them. Fortunately, the match reached its conclusion, and The Blues were able to celebrate a 5-0 victory to advance to the next round.

Now, it feels as though history is preparing to repeat itself; the BBB might be more influential than ever, and their behavior will heavily dictate Real Madrid's future in Europe. Just as they "held Canjuga and the USA in their grip" back in '97, the situation is mirrored today with Real Madrid. However, UEFA has tightened the leash significantly, so even a mere repeat of the mess they caused in Auxerre last year could be enough to get them exiled. And let's be honest, the relationship between the BBB and the club's brass isn't exactly a picture of harmony these days either. While local police can handle things at Yankee Stadium, the risks during away trips are immeasurably higher for Real Madrid.

A timeline of European incidents since 2000:

AUGUST 2000.
Pure mayhem in the heart of Milan. Chairs from cafes around Times Square were flying everywhere, leaving 20 people injured.

JULY 2002.
A small sports center in Faaker See was left in ruins, a place where families and children had gathered. Suddenly, tables and chairs were launched into the air, and hooligans clashed violently with a small contingent of police.

JULY 2003.
In the 68th minute, the final match of a tournament in the peaceful Swiss town of Kriens was halted while Real Madrid faced off against Partizan.

AUGUST 2003.
Roughly 70 Real Madrid fans were kicked out of Ukraine following a brawl in a cafe in Kyiv.

JULY 2006.
In the 19th minute of the Ekranas vs. Real Madrid BBB match, fans stormed the pitch, forcing a temporary stoppage. After a few minutes, play resumed.

SEPTEMBER 2006.
About five hundred BBB supporters accompanied The Blues to Auxerre, and by the 3rd minute, they were already tossing flares onto the field. Play lasted for three minutes before being interrupted again in the 9th minute due to more flare activity. By the 30th minute, the fans "ramped up the action" by ripping seats out of the stands and hurling them onto the pitch.

It seems people have already forgotten several other interruptions in European matches since the turn of the millennium. 😁Who gives a damn, I suppose; surely even we deserve at least two seasons of peace in our forty years of following them.🤣

@Kimberly Barnes2
Why doesn't this kind of nonsense happen to Greek clubs, for instance?
Why don't teams like Olympiakos or Panathinaikos have to deal with these ridiculous headaches—essentially becoming "hostages" to their own fans?

What’s actually the difference between groups like Gate7 or 13 and the Boys? Are they simply (more intelligent?) or more self-aware than you lot?

nimblemarlin17 said:Screw the stands filled with 1% idiots.

If you actually cleared out that 1% of idiots you're talking about, the stadium would be empty. When the LA Galaxy were stuck playing in the relegation zone, I saw plenty of regular families who are usually too terrified to show up because of the hooligans. And that wasn't even when they were playing the Boston Red Sox.

Even when the LA Galaxy are top of the table, these so-called "fans" always find an excuse to skip the game:
1. They say the flags on sticks are blocking their view.
2. The wind is blowing and it might mess up their hair.
3. It’s raining or snowing.
4. They have to take their wife to the theater, where they usually just nap through half the play because it’s "boring."
5. The sun is hitting them in the face.
6. Holding up a piece of paper for a card stunt is apparently too much physical and mental labor.

But, once the New York Yankees or Chicago come to town, suddenly they’ve gotta be at the stadium decked out in six different scarves and wearing a beer cap, making paper airplanes out of the card stunt sheets because it’s "cool." Then, the second the LA Galaxy blow by three goals, these same fans bail thirty minutes before the whistle and disappear for a year for one of those reasons listed above.

To draw a parallel to your "screw the 1% of morons" comment:

1. Screw that 1% of morons who only listen to pop country, because thanks to them, there’s nowhere left in Washington, D.C. to hear classic rock (maybe two clubs left).

2. Screw that 1% of idiots behind the wheel who think street racing on city streets is safe; I wonder what happens when a normal driver gets wrecked because of them.

3. Screw that 1% of dog owners who don't pick up after their puppy's crap.

4. Screw that 1% of idiot pedestrians who think it's a great idea to sprint across a three-lane road where the speed limit is 44 miles/h.

Morgan Wright said:@Kimberly Barnes2
Why doesn't this kind of nonsense happen to Greek clubs, for instance?
Why don't teams like Olympiakos or Panathinaikos have to deal with these ridiculous headaches—essentially becoming "hostages" to their own fans?

What’s actually the difference between groups like Gate7 or 13 and the Boys? Are they simply (more intelligent?) or more self-aware than you lot?

Maybe they all just live in perfect harmony with the Executive Vice President😁

But jokes aside, that interruption over in Lithuania really wasn't necessary, especially since the match in Switzerland was just a friendly anyway. And as for everything else, it's either just some flares or people hanging out outside the stadium...

coppercobra2 said:If you actually cleared out that 1% of idiots you're talking about, the stadium would be empty. When the LA Galaxy were stuck playing in the relegation zone, I saw plenty of regular families who are usually too terrified to show up because of the hooligans. And that wasn't even when they were playing the Boston Red Sox.

Even when the LA Galaxy are top of the table, these so-called "fans" always find an excuse to skip the game:
1. They say the flags on sticks are blocking their view.
2. The wind is blowing and it might mess up their hair.
3. It’s raining or snowing.
4. They have to take their wife to the theater, where they usually just nap through half the play because it’s "boring."
5. The sun is hitting them in the face.
6. Holding up a piece of paper for a card stunt is apparently too much physical and mental labor.

But, once the New York Yankees or Chicago come to town, suddenly they’ve gotta be at the stadium decked out in six different scarves and wearing a beer cap, making paper airplanes out of the card stunt sheets because it’s "cool." Then, the second the LA Galaxy blow by three goals, these same fans bail thirty minutes before the whistle and disappear for a year for one of those reasons listed above.

To draw a parallel to your "screw the 1% of morons" comment:

1. Screw that 1% of morons who only listen to pop country, because thanks to them, there’s nowhere left in Washington, D.C. to hear classic rock (maybe two clubs left).

2. Screw that 1% of idiots behind the wheel who think street racing on city streets is safe; I wonder what happens when a normal driver gets wrecked because of them.

3. Screw that 1% of dog owners who don't pick up after their puppy's crap.

4. Screw that 1% of idiot pedestrians who think it's a great idea to sprint across a three-lane road where the speed limit is 44 miles/h.

Totally off-topic, but that's just how it is.👍

boldhound8 said:Totally off-topic, but that's just how it is.👍

Man, let's just finally agree on one thing for once 😁
coppercobra2 is actually one of the few people on this damn forum who gets what real fans are about—you know, the actual difference between die-hard supporters and people who just watch the game...
👍

coppercobra2 said:If you actually cleared out that 1% of idiots you're talking about, the stadium would be empty. When the LA Galaxy were stuck playing in the relegation zone, I saw plenty of regular families who are usually too terrified to show up because of the hooligans. And that wasn't even when they were playing the Boston Red Sox.

Even when the LA Galaxy are top of the table, these so-called "fans" always find an excuse to skip the game:
1. They say the flags on sticks are blocking their view.
2. The wind is blowing and it might mess up their hair.
3. It’s raining or snowing.
4. They have to take their wife to the theater, where they usually just nap through half the play because it’s "boring."
5. The sun is hitting them in the face.
6. Holding up a piece of paper for a card stunt is apparently too much physical and mental labor.

But, once the New York Yankees or Chicago come to town, suddenly they’ve gotta be at the stadium decked out in six different scarves and wearing a beer cap, making paper airplanes out of the card stunt sheets because it’s "cool." Then, the second the LA Galaxy blow by three goals, these same fans bail thirty minutes before the whistle and disappear for a year for one of those reasons listed above.

To draw a parallel to your "screw the 1% of morons" comment:

1. Screw that 1% of morons who only listen to pop country, because thanks to them, there’s nowhere left in Washington, D.C. to hear classic rock (maybe two clubs left).

2. Screw that 1% of idiots behind the wheel who think street racing on city streets is safe; I wonder what happens when a normal driver gets wrecked because of them.

3. Screw that 1% of dog owners who don't pick up after their puppy's crap.

4. Screw that 1% of idiot pedestrians who think it's a great idea to sprint across a three-lane road where the speed limit is 44 miles/h.

From what I can tell, at least half the people in Washington, D.C. are listening to country music. 👎

Is it true that agitators from the New York Yankees were planted among the Philadelphia Eagles fans?

coppercobra2 said:If you actually cleared out that 1% of idiots you're talking about, the stadium would be empty. When the LA Galaxy were stuck playing in the relegation zone, I saw plenty of regular families who are usually too terrified to show up because of the hooligans. And that wasn't even when they were playing the Boston Red Sox.

Even when the LA Galaxy are top of the table, these so-called "fans" always find an excuse to skip the game:
1. They say the flags on sticks are blocking their view.
2. The wind is blowing and it might mess up their hair.
3. It’s raining or snowing.
4. They have to take their wife to the theater, where they usually just nap through half the play because it’s "boring."
5. The sun is hitting them in the face.
6. Holding up a piece of paper for a card stunt is apparently too much physical and mental labor.

But, once the New York Yankees or Chicago come to town, suddenly they’ve gotta be at the stadium decked out in six different scarves and wearing a beer cap, making paper airplanes out of the card stunt sheets because it’s "cool." Then, the second the LA Galaxy blow by three goals, these same fans bail thirty minutes before the whistle and disappear for a year for one of those reasons listed above.

To draw a parallel to your "screw the 1% of morons" comment:

1. Screw that 1% of morons who only listen to pop country, because thanks to them, there’s nowhere left in Washington, D.C. to hear classic rock (maybe two clubs left).

2. Screw that 1% of idiots behind the wheel who think street racing on city streets is safe; I wonder what happens when a normal driver gets wrecked because of them.

3. Screw that 1% of dog owners who don't pick up after their puppy's crap.

4. Screw that 1% of idiot pedestrians who think it's a great idea to sprint across a three-lane road where the speed limit is 44 miles/h.

The topic here is the Philadelphia Eagles and global football, not LA Galaxy. And if you haven't noticed—and I'm saying this to everyone else too—nobody actually supports the ultras except themselves. Players, coaches, owners, TV networks, security, and all the actual fans are against those ultra groups. That whole "there is no football without us" nonsense is just people patting themselves on the back while knowing full well they're about to get steamrolled. You exist for yourselves. You don't have anything to do with football anymore. I'm not just talking about our local groups, either; I mean ultras in general. You get kicked out of the stadiums, leaving you with nothing but the streets, but it doesn't matter because football isn't played in the streets. If it were different, you'd be the ones paying all those massive fines you rack up for the clubs. Look at what the Philadelphia Eagles got from their own crowd. They got exactly the kind of support that gets a team knocked out of a tournament despite performing well on the pitch.

j... just a club without a soul. It’s the fans who are actually out there fighting to keep this sport from turning into some soulless corporate machine—trying to make sure players actually play with heart, for the badge, for the city, and for the people, instead of just chasing a paycheck. But then you’ve got these suits who treat football like nothing more than a massive money-making scheme... they’re basically at war with the fans because we're the ones standing in the way of them lining their pockets and completely gutting the game.
It pisses me off the most when they slap a club with a stadium ban and force them to play in front of an empty house... I mean, what's even the point then? Is the game played just for the guys on the pitch? Or are the players there for the fans? Honestly, the whole thing is just going down the drain...
Where are the days of glory and pride? Where did they go?

silentsurfer19 said:j... just a club without a soul. It’s the fans who are actually out there fighting to keep this sport from turning into some soulless corporate machine—trying to make sure players actually play with heart, for the badge, for the city, and for the people, instead of just chasing a paycheck. But then you’ve got these suits who treat football like nothing more than a massive money-making scheme... they’re basically at war with the fans because we're the ones standing in the way of them lining their pockets and completely gutting the game.
It pisses me off the most when they slap a club with a stadium ban and force them to play in front of an empty house... I mean, what's even the point then? Is the game played just for the guys on the pitch? Or are the players there for the fans? Honestly, the whole thing is just going down the drain...
Where are the days of glory and pride? Where did they go?

🤣 🤣 🤣 Days of pride and glory, honor, and heart🤣 🤣 city and people🤣 🤣
I really hope you're only fourteen years old

silentsurfer19 said:j... just a club without a soul. It’s the fans who are actually out there fighting to keep this sport from turning into some soulless corporate machine—trying to make sure players actually play with heart, for the badge, for the city, and for the people, instead of just chasing a paycheck. But then you’ve got these suits who treat football like nothing more than a massive money-making scheme... they’re basically at war with the fans because we're the ones standing in the way of them lining their pockets and completely gutting the game.
It pisses me off the most when they slap a club with a stadium ban and force them to play in front of an empty house... I mean, what's even the point then? Is the game played just for the guys on the pitch? Or are the players there for the fans? Honestly, the whole thing is just going down the drain...
Where are the days of glory and pride? Where did they go?

And then those very same fans end up getting the club kicked out of the tournament later. 🙄

It’s hardest when they punish a club by forcing them to play in an empty stadium... what's the point then? Is football played for the sake of the players? Or are the players there for the spectators?

Bravo, you hit the nail on the head.
In my view, the most appropriate penalty is a completely empty stadium. 😉

When have you actually seen any of these groups—Commando Ultras '84, South Winners, New York Yankees, OM West, Fanatics, or Dodgers—do anything that would actually result in empty stands? When they are at the stadium, this is all that matters. Outside of that, it's a different story entirely... 😁
And what? Are those groups somehow less "ultra" than the VAK S De Kuip crowd?

nimblemarlin17 said:The topic here is the Philadelphia Eagles and global football, not LA Galaxy. And if you haven't noticed—and I'm saying this to everyone else too—nobody actually supports the ultras except themselves. Players, coaches, owners, TV networks, security, and all the actual fans are against those ultra groups. That whole "there is no football without us" nonsense is just people patting themselves on the back while knowing full well they're about to get steamrolled. You exist for yourselves. You don't have anything to do with football anymore. I'm not just talking about our local groups, either; I mean ultras in general. You get kicked out of the stadiums, leaving you with nothing but the streets, but it doesn't matter because football isn't played in the streets. If it were different, you'd be the ones paying all those massive fines you rack up for the clubs. Look at what the Philadelphia Eagles got from their own crowd. They got exactly the kind of support that gets a team knocked out of a tournament despite performing well on the pitch.

I really have to wonder, do you even think before you type?😲
There is a huge difference between an ultra and a hooligan!
Without ultras, football is garbage... but hooligans are degenerates. I'm not even talking about the guys who get into scuffles (if you can even call them that), but the ones who go out of their way to destroy things just because they feel like it. That's not a necessity!

nimblemarlin17 said:The topic here is the Philadelphia Eagles and global football, not LA Galaxy. And if you haven't noticed—and I'm saying this to everyone else too—nobody actually supports the ultras except themselves. Players, coaches, owners, TV networks, security, and all the actual fans are against those ultra groups. That whole "there is no football without us" nonsense is just people patting themselves on the back while knowing full well they're about to get steamrolled. You exist for yourselves. You don't have anything to do with football anymore. I'm not just talking about our local groups, either; I mean ultras in general. You get kicked out of the stadiums, leaving you with nothing but the streets, but it doesn't matter because football isn't played in the streets. If it were different, you'd be the ones paying all those massive fines you rack up for the clubs. Look at what the Philadelphia Eagles got from their own crowd. They got exactly the kind of support that gets a team knocked out of a tournament despite performing well on the pitch.

And besides, you don't even go to the stadium anyway, so why the hell should you care about ultras, hooligans, die-hard fans, or the crew that actually shows up to games...

Actually, let me correct myself—you show up to the game when there's some massive, high-stakes, hardcore showdown that you absolutely cannot miss under any circumstances...

silentsurfer19 said:j... just a club without a soul. It’s the fans who are actually out there fighting to keep this sport from turning into some soulless corporate machine—trying to make sure players actually play with heart, for the badge, for the city, and for the people, instead of just chasing a paycheck. But then you’ve got these suits who treat football like nothing more than a massive money-making scheme... they’re basically at war with the fans because we're the ones standing in the way of them lining their pockets and completely gutting the game.
It pisses me off the most when they slap a club with a stadium ban and force them to play in front of an empty house... I mean, what's even the point then? Is the game played just for the guys on the pitch? Or are the players there for the fans? Honestly, the whole thing is just going down the drain...
Where are the days of glory and pride? Where did they go?

What are you even talking about? Soccer is a business today, plain and simple. Just like any other industry. The board and the players are employees whose goal is to earn a living. A player's job is to play the game, get better, and attract viewers and sponsors. The board's job is to manage the finances and build the roster. Players aren't necessarily from the same city as the club, and the money doesn't just come from one local area either. There is zero difference between the film industry and the sports industry now. You pour big money in to get even more back, and the goal is to make a product that people actually want to consume. Soccer isn't played for the fans; it never was and it never will be. Players train, travel, and play matches every single day to collect huge paychecks. They play in front of ten people or ten thousand; it makes no difference to them. As long as they play fair and don't cheat, I'm fine with it. That's the whole point. Do you think Janica is skiing slalom for you? Or Edward scoring goals for you? Aside from some polite "thanks for the support" nonsense, there's nothing connecting them unless you're family or a friend. Having this idea that you HAVE to go watch LA Galaxy or Philadelphia Eagles every week just to count your attendance and brag about it... I don't know, I'm not impressed and I don't care. I watch what I want, when I want. I see people who think there's only one "right" way to be a fan, but logic says otherwise. And once you add flares, thrown chairs, political slogans, and all that other garbage, I seriously don't see how that has anything to do with an Edward and Luka Modrić one-two pass or
Loser's defense. Maybe it mattered back when everyone at LA Galaxy was from Washington, D.C., playing like semi-pros before TV deals and sponsors existed, but that's not the reality today. You play on the field, you win the game, and then suddenly you're barred from advancing because twenty idiots got into a brawl that had nothing to do with what happened on the pitch. Everyone except the fans wants to destroy soccer? That's some terrible logic if those same people rely on the sport to survive. These theories are fascinating, though I doubt even the people making them understand them. 🤣