San Siro is burning

San Siro is burning

Anyone catch the action from last night UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match from Italy between AC Milan and Inter Milan? Me either! But I think the story of the fan violence and accompying shocking photos merit some discussion of cultural differences.

As the story goes, with AC Milan destroying host Inter 3-0 in the 73rd minutes, flares, bottles, canoli and anything else the 83,000 fans could get a hold off, regined down on the pitch. Pretty standard Italiano misbehavior - kinda like gross old Italian men grabbing the asses of young ladies on Roma buses - until a flare hits the AC Milan goalie - the man named simply "Dida" - on the shoulder, just missing his head. Refs noted that the local cops made no effort to quel the violence, and therefore they had no choice but to cancel the match.

This is just the latest incident in an major increase in Italian football violence, though violence surrounding the sport seems to be on the rise across the globe everywhere except the UK, the US and Canada. I think its important to note, that while many liberal Europeans will be anxious to critize the US for its global misbehavior (something that, as a very Liberal guy, I usually agree with), I find it VERY hypocrtitical that the local Eurotrash sink to primitive-like cavman violence over a football match - an event that ultimately simply doesn't matter. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the US global war on terror, at least its something that matters - lives are on the line! I just don't get the Italians - they can master subjects like art and engineering, but are so emotional that, at times, are unable to exercies self control and baffled the concept of hot showers.

I hope UEFA bans them for life! It will make all the more sweet when DeMarcus Beasley and the US kick their ass in Germany next summer!