The Madness That Is Scottish Football

Last Saturday, a whole gang of us went to the Easter Road Hibs stadium to catch our first live football game between one of Edinburgh's two teams, Hibernian (usually shortened to Hibs) and Dundee (just northeast of here). We didn't have advance tickets, so we went through the turnstiles into the East section (which is apparently the "rowdy" section).


It was sheer madness. Even an NHL playoff game when the home team wins is tame compared to this. They have songs made up for all the players, they yell constantly, heckle the away team's supporters (who are segregated in their own section surrounded by security), shout insults at the referees, and nearly tackle each other in the stands when their team scores. And one of our friends who goes to every game said this was a "tame one". Seriously? They don't serve alcohol there either. Granted, I'm sure a lot of them drink plenty beforehand. But still - their intense support for their club puts us Canadians to shame.


For the record, the final score was 2-1 Hibs.