Why do football fans react so violently when their team loses? A new book looks for answers

Football is a carefully regulated sport, especially at the highest levels. The penalties for violent conduct can be significant. But this was not always the case, and from the beginning, football was a rough game. Shoulder barges, hard tackling, and kicking shins were common ways to break up opponents’ rushes. Fights and other violent events can be routine among players or fans.

In 1927, Uruguayan club Nacional toured the United States. The team featured several of Uruguay’s recent gold medal-winning side, including José Leandro Andrade. In several cities, violence among players broke out on the pitch, triggering pitch invasions by fans. On April 19, the Uruguayans were in Massachusetts to face the Boston Wonder Workers. It was a close game on a hot day when a fight broke out between players. A Wonder Workers player fell to the ground. Enraged fans rushed the field and attacked the visitors. Local police restored order, but the game was called off. In this case the violence was unplanned, but in other times and places, people have gone to games with the intent to commit violence. Broadly, this type of behaviour is known as hooliganism.

Violence and disorder have been a part of football in England since...

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