Unruly Sports Fans: An International Epidemic

If the pandemic taught us one thing, it is that empty stadiums take some excitement out of the games. However, if we want to avoid empty stadiums again, a different kind of virus needs to be taken care of. The virus is called unruly fans. Call them hooligans, drunks, or whatever you'd like, they need to be handled asap.

One of the biggest eruptions came from the Nice VS. Marseille French soccer match.

The Sporting News on Twitter: "Fans ran on to the pitch to fight players during the Nice and Marseille match.The incident started after a fan threw a bottle at Dimitri Payet and he threw it back into the crowd.pic.twitter.com/kUzp8I52gY / Twitter"

Fans ran on to the pitch to fight players during the Nice and Marseille match.The incident started after a fan threw a bottle at Dimitri Payet and he threw it back into the crowd.pic.twitter.com/kUzp8I52gY

Here is a fan angle video:

ABC News on Twitter: "Fan video shows chaotic scene in stadium as a French soccer match was abandoned after home supporters threw projectiles and invaded the field. https://t.co/dZYqB5GUIG pic.twitter.com/QscVHGiODA / Twitter"

Fan video shows chaotic scene in stadium as a French soccer match was abandoned after home supporters threw projectiles and invaded the field. https://t.co/dZYqB5GUIG pic.twitter.com/QscVHGiODA

According to TMZ (2021), "Ligue de Football Professionnel announced Monday the two teams have now been summoned for a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday over the melee" (para. 3).