Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism dates all the way back to the Middle Ages in England. Fights between groups of youths often occurred during football matches organised between neighbouring towns and villages on Shrove Tuesdays and other Holy Days. Merchants concerned over the effect of such disturbance on trade called for the control of football as early as the 14th century. King Edward II banned football in 1314, and then King Edward III in 1349 because he felt the disorder and violence that accompanied matches led to civil unrest and distracted his subjects. A number of other monarchs and various authorities also tried to ban football through the centuries in England and Scotland but they were largely ineffective.