Cleaning up soccer
From the point of view of public order the new soccer season has not got off to an auspicious start: both on and off the field there has clearly been a deterioration of intent and behaviour since the last season. Now there is talk of a further committee of inquiry into the future of soccer, much bleating and wringing of hands, and much loud deploring of the state of things. Yet the football clubs themselves have it easily in their hands to discipline the players, and police and magistrates alike can curb the violence and brutality of young supporters. Both should be encouraged to impose savage punishments. For players of the seniority of Mr Bremner and Mr Keegan to behave as they did on the sacred turf of Wembley the other weekend should invite, at least, a month's or even three months' suspension without pay, to which might be added a substantial fine. During this period they should not be allowed near an FA ground for training or relaxation. Deprived thus of their means to wealth and stardom, the game's professionals would quickly come to heel. Likewise, magistrates should be allowed resort to far more severe punishments than are at present available to them, and a season spent reporting each Saturday at match time to a police station would not be an unjustified punishment for the bully-boys now extending their reign of terror from the terraces to the streets. Only the utmost determination to take such steps can begin the clean-up of soccer.
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