The dawn of hooliganism

Some of the first incidents of hooliganism recorded in connection with modern football took place in the 1880s in England. For example, the supporters present at an 1885 match between Preston and Aston Villa ended up attacking both football teams, beating players and throwing stones and sticks at them, until one of the Preston players lost consciousness. In the following years, Preston fans would be involved in several other violent conflicts with rival supporters, this time in the city, leading to some of the first instances of football hooliganism outside of a football field.

An infamous riot took place in Glasgow in 1909, at a football game between Celtic and the Glasgow Rangers. Reports of the violent outbreak claimed that the conflict involved over 6,000 spectators, leading to the serious injury of both ...