Hooligans & Thugs: Soccer's Most Violent Fans

This DVD has some of the most extreme brutal crowd violence I've ever seen which is a blast to watch. You won't see this footage on a court tv special. I've been interested in football hooligans for quite some time now. I've read Bill Bufford's book Among the Thugs and it was something else to see events described in the book taking place before my eyes. Being a yank who doesn't see this sort of sports violence very often, watching thousands of people swarm a football pitch gave me quite a rush.

I do wish they wouldn't have included the techno soundtrack. It rarely lets up and I found it annoying and distracting. It would have been so much better if they had included the audio from the riots and fights.

Also I would have appreciated a little more narration from Steve Jones. While it's funny to watch him commentate from a toilet, he remains silent for the majority of the DVD. Many times I was confused as to where the riots were taking place and who was involved.

Overrall though, this is a great DVD. I've been in a riot myself once (San Bernardino, March '06) and while it's impossible to convey on the television the sheer adrenaline high you get while being part of a mob, this DVD comes very close. I hope they release a second one, hopefully with footage from the 2006 World Cup.

A startling documentary looking at the darker side of soccer, narrated by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols.

Spanning the globe from the 1960s through to the present day, Hooligans & Thugs documents the gratuitous violence that occurs in the stands and around the stadiums of the world's most popular sport.

You will be amazed at the level of violence orchestrated by these fans as they battle each other and the police forces that attempt to control them and see first hand how these fans organize their violent clashes for maximum effect.

Hooligans & Thugs features action from games at the World and European Cups and games from all across Europe including England, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic as well as a special South American segment focusing on Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

The DVD also features a special Spanish language track and pounding electronic music from Pete Lorimer / 29 Palms (Perfecto Records). You can watch the trailer at www.hooligansandthugs.com

The content is good, but the quality of the production is not the best. Every soccer fan needs to see this DVD though. I hope they release more footage and they make the next one of better quality.