I am requesting comments from readers of this web site as to why they believe British soccer fans behave the way they do. Is all that we read in America about soccer violence just bad reporting? If not, why do these fights go on, year after year? <BR>What say you? On a recent trip to Europe, TV news showed fights between British and Tunisian fans in Marseille. It looked as if the fights had been choreographed for TV. The British lads seemed too full of beer to do much damage -- but they sure gave it all they had!

It really is a small percentage of British who are the violent ones. The hooligans you see are not indicative of British soccer fans as a whole. A lot of the violence that does occur is alcohol induced. Unfortunately, when there is soccer violence, it can be bad. What you saw on tv was the real thing.

Please note that it was English NOT British soccer fans who were responsible for the violence and appalling behavour in France. The Scottish team also played in the World Cup and, as usual, their supporters very much behaved themselves and were wonderful ambassadors for their country. Some of the French cities where the Scotland games were played have taken out newspaper adverts in the Scottish press thanking the supporters for their good behaviour, friendliness and advising that they would be very welcome guests anytime in the future.

I guess there a lot of people who are asking questions about fan outlaw behavior. The latest is a stabbing death, said in the paper to have been caused by an English soccer fan. <BR> <BR>And having a grandmother whose maiden name was <BR>Barr, I appreciate the remark that English soccer fans and Scottish soccer fans are two different <BR>brees.

Small world department: my middle name is Barr. That was my mother's family name. Old Dave Barr came over in about 1840 from somewhere in Scotland. Do you suppose he was a soccer rowdy? How long has this kind of behavior been going on?

LOL - I'm sure Old Dave wasn't a soccer rowdy. Even in those day's the Scots preferred to be friendly <BR> <BR>If it's any interest I checked out the surname Barr years ago and found that its earliest record in Scotland was 14th century Ayrshire (a district in south west Scotland) There are towns in Scotland called Barr, Barrmill, Barrhead. As far as I recall the name is thought to have it's origins in Ireland. <BR>Regards <BR> <BR>Bill