COMMENTARY: Dougie Brimson On Houston Rioting

Acclaimed British author, Dougie Brimson, author of several books on football hooliganism including March of The Hooligans, a US aimed book, which among other things examines the potential for organized or spontaneous violence at MLS matches sent us the following regarding the Houston riot.

This is very, very bad news.

Coming on the back of the incidents involving Toronto fans, I suspect that we are approaching the 'I hate to say I told you so' stage.

What concerns me the most is that there is apparently so little being done to nip this in the bud. Where are the pro-fan drives established by the MLS? Where is the independent supporters union? And most importantly, where is the anti-violence campaign?

All of these things should have been set up as a matter of urgency yet there is still no sign of them. That means that things can only get worse before they get better. If they get better!

Dougie

Dougie is widely considered an authority on fan violence having at one time been a hooligan himself.

Indeed, prior to this season there was much talk about an independent supporter's union but nothing seems to have come of it. If you know what the status of this organization is please feel free to email us or leave a comment.

Brimson was interviewed on NPR in November of last year just two days before this incident occurred at another Dynamo match.

Additionally someone posted this disturbing eyewitness account of events in the comments section of our story.

"k, after the game...My wife, son mother in law and I waited a few minutes for the crow to clear and proceeded to our car. We walked out got in the car. Right before we went in our car, a bunch of chivas fans were walking out. We got in our car...all of the sudden, we see a fight break out, and another and another...security guards or cops started coming from the stadium trying to stop the people from fighting. We watched in awe as the people were beating each other...we had pulled out of our spot and decided just to stay still, stopped for a minute. Three minutes later people start running towards us and a two cops and two strangers were fighting right on the hood of the car. By this time the whole deal had scalated to near a riot. My wife was screaming scared telling me to leave, my son was terrified and my mother in law was quoting Jesus and trying to pray. I was scared but I was still just looking around to see where the bullets were going to originate from. I told my son to get down as the fights intesified, he then was really scared a pushed his head down behind the passengers right seat, I was trying to keep every one calm, but the violence just kept scalating. They were fighting like animals hitting each other with the flags and what ever they can find. Finally one of the cops had to pepper spray one of the guys that was right on our car hood, the pepper spray went into our car through the AC. The cops had their metal sticks or what ever you call them out, and ready to start beating on people. They looked scared...there were too many people fighting and being ignorant. I could not leave as there was a guy laying down on the floor right on the path of my front tires, and my wife kept yelling" go gog go please just go" But I could move, I was afraid for my family....We finally were able to pull out but the massive congestion outside was horrible. I saw cops cursing out people on the streets, and kids challenging the cops. The saddest thing I saw was that in the mist of the fighters or idiots fighting there were people with small children. It was horrible and my wife swor to never again bring my kid and she's also considering not going back herself. As for me, i know I can take care of myself but I would not put my family in that predicament."

It should also be noted that there have been rumors of a film version of Brimson's "March of the Hooligans" book.