ABSTRACT
In many parts of the world, few things ignite more passion and patriotism than a World Cup football match (soccer to Americans). France’s victory in the 1998 World Cup championship led to the largest popular celebration in that country since the liberation of Paris in 1944. Postwar Germany used its World Cup victory in 1954 to help heal the wounds from World War II and reestablish pride in its country. But perhaps the most enthusiastic fans come from Britain. While the British people are often described as being among the most polite in the Western world, the same cannot be said about their football fans. British fans are notorious for their lack of civility toward foreign opponents, and street fights are common wherever UK teams play. This unruly behavior has even led some European cities to ban UK fans during match days. It is somewhat ironic that in an increasingly integrated European Union that officially and actively opposes rampant nationalism, football is the lone exception. Hurling insults at foreign opponents is widely accepted as a legitimate, if awkward, demonstration of national pride and patriotism. 1
