Beer, banter and banners feature in new British-style hooliganism craze
AMERICA's new generation of "soccer" fans have been trying to bring British-style hooliganism and banter to the MLS — with often comical results.
Football's popularity in the USA has been growing ever since Major League Soccer was founded in the 90's, but it exploded when David Beckham moved to LA Galaxy in 2007.
And when he arrived, so did the idea of British football culture — think boozy banter and tribal fan-chants.
After a slew of clubs — including Manchester City-owned NYCFC — were founded, crops of new American fans sprang up too and looked across the atlantic for inspiration.
They have been hopping aboard the band-wagon ever since, but some suggest their efforts are not proving too successful...
Wannabes have formed into 'hooligan' groups, such as the 'St. Louligans' supporting St Louis Football Club.
On their website, they say anybody can become a hooligan, but they discourage "potty breaks" and women painting their nails during matches.
Despite calling themselves hooligans, however, they state a strict no-swearing policy on their site: "Swearing won’t be allowed in organized chants or tolerated in a yelling/obnoxious fashion."
Before warning: "If you hear a bad word you’ll just have to suck it up."
Fans don't give a crud about being called hooligans
Similarly, NYCFC also do not allow swearing in the stands during matches.
Their chants are written on song-sheets and passed around in order to generate a 'British-style' atmosphere.
One chant, titled 'Some History', goes: "You might have some history,
"But we don't give a crud,
"Your team will always be a joke until they have a cup
"(Shout the opposing team's name)!!!!!"
NYCFC's song-sheets feature a "traditional clapping" song
Another set of NYCFC lyrics reminds supporters to shout the surname of a goal-scorer after a goal.
It also describes a 'traditional clapping chant': "A) Clap, Clap - clapclapclap - Clapclapclapclap - New York City!"
In New Jersey, scuffles broke out recently between rival sets of hooligans, reportedly representing NYCFC and NY Red Bulls.
They were filmed sporting fake English accents and chanting "who are ya?" at each other.
Armed with rubbish bags and sandwich boards, they attempted to emulate the bloody scenes that blighted Britain in the 80's and 90's.
Millwall FC, who have a notorious past of hooliganism and fan violence, have also garnered a cult following across the pond.
In a video by 'Philadelphia Union' fans, mustachioed menaces sneer at a camera while copying Milwall's chant "No One Likes Us".
The caption says: "Philadelphia Union's Sons of Ben supporters club has taken a chant first made famous by Millwall FC in south London and adapted it to reflect the very essence of Philadelphia sports fandom."
Bohemian and middle-class, the young fans are shown chanting and making obscene gestures — even to their own fans.
And despite being one of the MLS' lowlier outfits, Seattle Sounders are keeping their spirits up by employing a European style 'capo' who leads fan songs.
In an interview with American channel KING5, one such fan spoke of his admiration for British football culture.
When asked what his inspiration was during a 'pub fuel', he said: "I go to Europe just about every summer to experience atmosphere over there."
The pastiche of British football culture extends to banter and banners, too.
In an American twist, they often contain references to popular culture.
One such banner insulted another teams fans with the quip: "Plastic fans, plastic pitch,
"Your team has more plastic than Pam Anderson."
The American take on British banter includes pop culture references
But despite the few domestic fans who tarnish America's image, followers of the US national team tend to be better behaved.
Thousands of fans emblazoned in the famous stars and stripes made the trip south to Brazil during the 2014 World Cup, seeing their side take Belgium to extra-time in the Round of 16 while England ducked out in the group stages.
"USMNT" fans at international tournaments do not adopt European approaches like their domestic counter-parts
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