22 May 2008(Thu)

May 21, 2008: Those were disturbing scenes at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Saturday.

Objects flying between two sets of fans; fences to segregate them being torn down; 800 away fans being kept in the ground for safety reasons before 10,000 home supporters waiting for them outside could be dispersed, finally, after three and a half hours.

It took me back to the bad old days of the Eighties, where these scenes were commonplace at football in England and wherever the England national team played.

But it is too early to talk of a major hooligan problem in Japan just yet, and the authorities have the opportunity to act quickly.

Whatever sanctions are imposed, and surely Urawa will be fined for failing to control the situation, a vital role must be played by the fans themselves.

Just like in the fight against racism at stadiums in England, supporters are urged to identify people who racially abuse players to security guards.

Hopefully this can apply in the J.League, as when children are hit by missiles thrown by other fans they will stop coming to matches and so will their mothers -- and that would be a massive blow for the reputation and the future of the J.League.

Japanese football prides itself on its family appeal, and quite rightly, too, as I still find the atmosphere refreshing at J.League games after the dangers of attending matches around England in the 70s and 80s.

So if responsible Gamba fans see an irresponsible Gamba fan throw a water balloon, give him (or her) a ticking-off. (I say "her" because at the height of hooliganism in England, the ring leader of Wolverhampton Wanderers was famously a woman).

Give the trouble-maker a piece of your mind, turn him (or her!) over to the authorities if necessary. Do something -- because this self-policing can play a major role in stemming the problem.

The J.League could do worse than bring together representatives of the official fan groups and advise them what action is necessary to avoid an escalation; Reds at Kashima for example, or Reds at Gamba?

Let's hope the scenes at Saitama were not the start of hooliganism in Japan, but the end.

Somehow, though, I don't think it is over yet.

ends