Society in general may be at fault, football in general may be at fault, but English football and English society are not at fault. The showdowns in Brussels and Charleroi should bury these comforting myths. It's the only positive outcome of a shaming weekend. We are the experts in drunken violence, racist aggression, head-banging nationalism, copycat provocation, serial thuggery, and the snivelling whine about other people's policemen. History, culture and politics all make their contribution to this uniqueness.
History shows the English to be military people, always ready for a fight.
Also a belligerent people, defending what they conceive to be their national pride. They may be lots of other things too. The cliches attribute fairness, toleration, stoicism and a love of animals to the British, and even the English. These qualities exist, but are irrelevant to the present case. Not many of the football sots and oafs may read much history.