Azteca, post game [R]

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I think it's safe to say most US traveling supporters are on the "learning curve". Considering what was @ stake that day in the Azteca IMHO the MEX response was what I personally expected - beer showers and insults.

Now when we show up in 2013 with 10X the amount of supporters and the result is not favorable to the home side -well - that may be an entirely different adventure.

 

You are very tiresome.

 

boo hoo

 

Comparing the ¨class¨ between USNat fans and MNT fans is not a balanced comparison. Soccer in the US does not have nearly the same importance and is not followed with the same passion as soccer in Mexico. People in all cultures follow certain sports with a lot of passion and, unfortunately, this sometimes leads to inappropriate behavior. But if you were to analyze how US fans behave in other sports, rivalry or not, then there would not be that much difference. Hell, every time the Lakers win a championship their fans go out and destroy everything in their path. This does not only lack class but it is downright stupid.

 

When I watched Mexico play Costa Rica at Saprissa, not only did I see a lot of Mexican fans sprinkled throughout the crowd, but I saw Mexican players taking corner kicks without anything but colorful language being lobbed at them. Gio Dos Santos took corner kicks and not only did no one throw anything, but CR riot police didn't have to try to shield the player. This thread is rife with examples about how visitors were treated without similar civility at Azteca.

Of course, I wasn't there and couldn't see with detail, so perhaps there was a great deal of trouble, but from the scenes on TV the Mexicans were treated with a great deal more civility in San Jose than Americans (and possibly others) were in Azteca.

Only the most moronic are saying all Mexicans are classless. They are saying that some Mexicans fans and players acted very poorly. When other fans, who may or may not act civilly themselves, don't say "you're right -- that 1% are jerks, they don't speak for Mexico" then you're casting your lot with them to some extent. Instead you're saying "yeah, we acted poorly. You don't like it? So what."

 

Playing 2 home World Cup Qualifiers in an empty stadium forced a change in Costa Rican behaviour. And still the US couldn't win there.

 

What a novel idea. Perhaps it should be used anywhere a country cannot provide safety to the opposing team and fans.

 

According to those who were at Azteca, they never feared for their lives.

You think Mexican fans are "rowdy"? Just wait until your team goes to San Pedro Sula.

 

I never felt unsafe at all; I had a great time.

Having been to MANY football matchs around the world, the least safe I have felt was leaving an Galaxy v. Chivas USA and Club America v. Chivas Mexico match at the Los Angeles Coliseum. There were a couple shooting in the surrounding area that night.

 

LOL... you guys sure those tacos had "beef"??

 

5 tacos for 20 is alright, not too cheap and no too expensive, i know some places where there give you 8 tacos for 10 pesos (metro taxqueña anyone??), and some other where you have to pay like 20 pesos for a single taco (copacabana, never take your girlfriend to that place $$), it all depends =)

 

Red herring. The point isn't that US fans "feared for their lives," only that they were treated poorly. And I got the feeling that some didn't feel terribly safe.

And yes, perhaps it'll be worse in San Pedro Sula, though perhaps not. As said, it doesn't appear as if CR stooped to the levels of Azteca.

And, of course, that's hardly the point. As I've said a few times in this thread, saying "it's worse elsewhere" doesn't justify bad behavior.

Wonder if you would've felt any different if you had been with the US fans. I doubt it, but possible.

 

I was at both games.

Costa Ricans were friendly and gracious hosts. US fans didn't even need a police escort. There were no problems at all.

In Azteca, hmmm, well...

 

You were able to decipher how other people felt at Azteca from the comfort of your own couch?

Who woulda thought?

Perhaps you don't remember certain incidents at Saprissa that earned CR a ban.

Right. The point is that that kind of "behaviour" happens in US sports too.

The holier than thou attitude some people are employing is pretty funny though.

Maybe the soccer culture in the US doesn't encite that kind of "passion" just yet but if you go to a Dodgers game wearing an Angels jersey, people aren't going to give you a standing ovation.

Matter of fact, I was doused in beer and debris for doing that very same thing not too long ago.

I wasn't crying about lack of class.

What's funny to me is that most people who went to Mexico had a great time.

It's the ones who weren't there that are up in arms about it.

 

That is almost always the case. I was there, I had a great time. Most of the people I was with had a great time. Its all part of the experience.

 

It's a rivalry match in Latin America...how did you think we were going to be treated? The away fans and team aren't supposed to feel comfortable in the Azteca,that's the whole point.

 

Look, the thing is, that match was dangerous. It wasn't just beer and other liquids-of-unknown origin. There were dangerous missiles such as rocks, coins and other objects that could really do serious damage to people.

On the way out, huge bricks of Ice were being thrown as we were making our way through the crowd. The Mexican fans were doing everything to provoke a first strike - one grabbed the hat (well Tom Fina's hat) off of my head. All it would have taken was one US fan to make any sort of mildly aggressive reaction to the taunts and it would have set it off. The security did a bollocks job. But what do you expect, Mexican police are not known for being particularly useful (fact not flame).

All that said, after I broke off from the group of US fans, I grabbed a ride back into the city with some great mexican fans. So there were at least 5 Mexicans there who did not want to inflict bodily harm on americans.


I'm sorry but anyone here who does not acknowledge the danger that was involved is as much of an idiot as are those who are flaming all mexican fans.


BOTTOM LINE - IT WAS DANGEROUS AND CERTAIN MEXICAN FANS ARE INDEED CLASSLESS.

 

FYP

We got those type of fans here in LA. Chivas USA vs Galaxy I've gotten big bottles (smirnoff) chucked at me. At Laker gamesI've seen similar fights for fans of the opposing team. Same at dodger Stadium. The only problem is in Mexico soccer is the main sport so you get all the knuckleheads together in one spot.

Like I said, the people I talked to in Mexico told me only "pendejos" go to the stadium.

 

Perfect post and recap of the situation. The whole thing was a powder keg waiting to go off.

 

Finally someone on this thread who has some sense.
By the way, I met you at the T&T game in Hartford leading up to the 2006 World Cup, and can vouch that you have class -- and are a fan of Claudio Reyna

 

fyp

 

it should be noted that rksehga and I are among the few on this thread who were actually at the game and can comment on the actual circumstances

 

So you went all the way down to Mexico city for a crucial WCQ against your heated rival and expected what exactly?

Almost everyone else who went to the game that I've talked to had a great time.

It's a shame you didn't.

 

Many on this thread, myself included, were there. However, your point does seem valid that it SEEMS as if a lot of the people on this thread that are complaining were not there.

 

I'm not saying that I did not expect this nor am I saying that I did not have a great time. It was some of the most fun I've had yet.

all I was saying as that it was very dangerous. I'm a big dude. I was drunk as shit. I consider myself to a very calm, and reasonable person when situations get tense. But I was very close to taking the bait that many MEXICAN (not LA fans, not Philly fans - we're talking about one specific match here people) we're laying out. After thinking all that through, I don't think I will be drinking at any more away quallies.

The match was a great time (unless you were one of the unfortunate few who got pinged in the face with a hard missile and had your face ripped open).

It very easily could have been a disaster. And I'm not talking about a small fight that you see at every NFL match in the US. I'm talking about a full-fledged riot involving the 400 or so US fans that were there and the 1200 Mexicans that were immediately surrounding us.

I'm not one to cry wolf. I have been to matches everywhere. Go back and look at posts I've written where I have derided others for being a pu$sy in other circumstances. This was very close to being very very bad.

Anyway, just because a situation is bad elsewhere doesn't make it right. All you wonks who say "you should see how it is in south america." Do you think educated people in South America are proud of that? Do you think they like not being able to take their kids to matches because of the inherent danger? No. The passion is admirable. Hooliganism and violence is not. Grow up.