Is It Really Safe To Take Your Kids To A Football Match?

crowd kid Looking back over 2012, it has been somewhat of a turbulent year for football. On one hand, we've seen Gerd Muller's goal tally broken by the ever impressive Lionel Messi, Chelsea crowned champions of Europe for the first time and Spain entering the record books for their record breaking trio of international successes. On the flip side, the Premier League has been marred by a series of racist allegations, countless fines issued by UEFA to a number of nations during Euro 2012 and more recently, the stabbing of Tottenham fans in Rome. This begs the question, is it really safe to take your kid to a football match? Lets look at the facts, starting with stadium security. Consider the actual type of young fans that currently fill the stadiums in the modern football game around Britain. You'll often see kids walking around the streets of the country dressed in the attire of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, glory support clubs, most of which maybe located some 70 miles away from any of the home stadiums of said clubs itself. Most kids in attendance of match days will therefore be supporters of local clubs. So let's analyse clubs from the lower leagues. As a AFC Bournemouth fan, we have a whole stand dedicated entirely to families. On match day, the majority of kids in attendance at Dean Court would be located here. This is not too dissimilar to the majority of footballing stadiums up and down the country. Most, if not all, would have a designated area for families and young kids. This is aimed at providing a 'family friendly' atmosphere. It must be said, it has created that to a degree. With compulsory seating fixtures introduced in stadiums, its changed the way fans view the games. This, added with the no alcohol on touchline policy, has created a much more structured, sober experience for all, eliminating the view of alcoholic beverages from sight of kids, who could easier mistake passion for drunkenness. One problem that will never be eradicated is the use of 'bad language' from the fans. This is understandable, as the majority of fowl language stems more from frustration than mindless aimless abuse. It's just human instinct to vent emotion when passion runs high. But in the modern world, how damaging is it on a child's mind to hear fowl language? What difference would it be from hearing this at a football game, and say, a movie on tv? Hardly any. In regards to the claims of the influx of racist abuse from supporters, cited by the media, is quite simply nonsense. England, as a footballing nation, has no doubt had a dark past in regards to racism in football. However, its one of the most tolerant nations in the world when it comes to multiculturalism. In fact, British fans love foreign players. If you can play the game, you're most welcome to play in England. Needless to say, there have been one or two mindless thugs (they do not in my mind deserve the title of a 'fan') who damages the already unstable image of football fans around the country. Is racism/racist language a problem on the pitch? Maybe. In the stand? Not a chance. So, after taking into consideration the fans in attendance, stadiums and match day experiences, its pretty safe to say that yes - of course its safe to take your kids to a football game. I'm sick of people questioning whether football has returned to its 'dark days'. We see spats between managers, players, referees and fans plastered on the back page of the news, but this is widely blown out of proportion It's a shame that the sports coverage is no longer on the game, but focused on nonchalant lazy reporting without much substance (the whole Andy Marriner fiasco? The media hardly did anything to dispel the wild accusation, which were found to be unsubstantial may I add). A sport once marred by violence and hooliganism, is now targeted at families. You'll always get one or two mindless idiots who will add fuel to the fire in damaging the name of football fans, but is it safe to take your kids to a football match? 100% yes.
Contributor
Contributor

Sports Journalist and Law Graduate from Bournemouth University. Avid fan of AFC Bournemouth and a strong follower of Athletic Bilbao. Video game fanatic and will listen to any music this is somehow affiliated with the electro/house genre. Follow me on Twitter @NeikoGarcia