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Football, the world’s most popular sport, has long been plagued by crowd violence. From heated local derbies to high-stakes international clashes, fan aggression has sometimes escalated into dangerous riots, injuries, and even fatalities. Rooted in passion, rivalry, and sometimes political or social tensions, football hooliganism (yes, they even have a name for it) remains a challenge despite efforts to curb it.

Notable Incidents of Football Crowd Violence

Over the years, several tragic incidents have highlighted the dangers of crowd violence in football.

1964: May 24 - More than 300 fans died and about 500 were injured in a riot at Estadio Nacional in Lima at an Olympic qualifying match between Peru and Argentina. It all started when the referee canceled a goal in the last minute, and a fan ran onto the pitch in protest. After the police aggressively beat him down, angered fans in the stands led to rioting. It is the worst recorded stadium disaster in history.

1967: September 17. There were 43 deaths and at least 300 injuries from crowd violence during a football match between the clubs of Kayserispor and Sivasspor at the Atatürk Stadium of Kayseri in Türkiye.

1985: May 29 - 39 fans, most of them Italians, were crushed or trampled to death in rioting involving supporters of the Liverpool and Juventus teams before the 1985 European Cup final at Heysel stadium in Brussels. More than 400 people were injured. Although the match continued to get played, the incident led to a 5-year ban of English teams in Europe.

1991: 13 Jan: There were 42 deaths in a stampede at South Africa's Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney. The football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Panicking fans trying to escape fighting between rival teams were trampled or crushed to death against riot-control fences.

2001: May 9. In a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 129 fans as a result of a stampede at the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana. A controversial call at the end of a league match between Accra Hearts and Asante Kotoko, which had the police fire tear gas into the stands. The resulting stampede and crushes led to the death of 127 fans.

2012: Following the final whistle of a league match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly at Port Said Stadium, Port Said, hundreds of Al-Masry fans entered the pitch, attacked the Al-Ahly players, and next the Al-Ahly fans. In the subsequent chase and fights an estimated 79 Al-Ahly fans were killed. One player said it was "like a war." The players only escaped after the arrival of military planes and riot police.

2014: May 11. A stampede occurred in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the Stade Tata Raphaël, resulting in the death of 15 people and at least 24 other people injured. During the match between football clubs TP Mazembe and Vita Club, missiles were thrown on to the pitch and the referee chose to delay play. Police launched tear gas into the stands causing a stampede.

2022: Oct 1. At least 125 football fans died and 320 were injured following a stampede towards an exit after police use tear gas in a stadium in Malang, East Java. Police officers fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse agitated supporters of the losing home side who had invaded the pitch after the final whistle.

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What Has Been Done to Address It

Authorities and governing bodies have taken significant steps to reduce crowd violence. The introduction of all-seater stadiums, improved surveillance, and banning orders for known hooligans have been effective in many countries, especially in England, where crowd violence was rampant in the 1980s. Stricter policing, enhanced stadium security, and harsher legal penalties for violent fans have also helped mitigate the issue. FIFA and UEFA have promoted campaigns against hooliganism, urging clubs and fans to embrace a more positive sporting culture.

The Future: Preventing Further Violence

Despite progress, more work remains. Improved crowd management techniques, better fan education, and strict enforcement of laws are key to preventing future violence. Technology such as facial recognition cameras and real-time monitoring of social media can help identify and prevent potential troublemakers from causing chaos. Encouraging stronger community engagement between clubs and supporters, as well as promoting anti-violence initiatives, can foster a more peaceful football culture. The sport thrives on passion, but steps such as these are required so that the passion doesn't turn into violence.

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Related Pages

• Stadium Disasters
• Injuries in Soccer
• Ensuring stadium safety — Tips to reduce risks and enjoy the game
• Fallen Heroes — sporting heroes who have been taken from us before their time though war, accidents or acts of violence.