Legal Responses to Football ‘Hooliganism’ in Europe—Introduction

Abstract

In this introduction, the authors explain the subject and the motivations behind this collection. They explain the methodology used, the rationale for the jurisdictions chosen and the value of this contribution to the existing literature on the subject of football crowd regulation and management. They consider the transnational responses to football-related disorder: for example, the European Convention in Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events, and in Particular Football Matches 1985, and the relevant legislative instruments as well as the role of the European Union in the regulation of football-related disorder. The authors explain how the legal regulation of football-related disorder relates to civil rights/liberties and human rights law. Finally, the authors explain the difficulties attached to the use of the term ‘football hooliganism’.