Sakai Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Seems BBC news is becoming more and more hilarious. I thought the logical answer was 'because British hooligans has no balls' but I was wrong. Charming Italy, but I suppose MU hooligans are just a few dickheads among others. Manchester United fans are in Rome for the Champions League final. When English teams have visited the Italian capital in recent years there have been a string of fans stabbed in the buttocks by hooligans. But why do they target the backside? Manchester United fan injured in clashes with police The police in Rome have been heavily criticised in the past It's called the Eternal City by many, but Rome also has the sobriquet "Stab City" among football fans because of the level of knife attacks in the Italian capital. There are fears tonight's Champions League final, being held in the city's Olympic Stadium, will be marred by such violence after several knife-related attacks on supporters from a number of English clubs over the last decade. What is marked about the attacks is that victims are often stabbed in the buttocks. The practice even has its own slang name in the local Roman dialect - "puncicate". But why is the backside targeted? THE ANSWER It is a painful, humiliating injury but not likely to be life threatening In medieval duels stabbing someone in the buttocks was considered the most skilful move According to those who have researched the subject, a stab wound in the buttocks may be chosen as it is seen as not likely to be life-threatening, but is humiliating and painful for the victim. Experts believe the cultural tradition may even be linked to medieval duelling where slashing an opponent's buttocks was supposedly considered very skilful. "Puncicate" is mainly about hurting rival fans but not killing them, says John Foot, a professor of modern Italian history at University College London and an author on Italian football. "They target the buttocks because the victim is not likely to die. These people don't want to kill and be known as murderers, they want to show they can hurt their rivals and get away with it." But being stabbed in the backside is still a serious injury, say medical professionals. Medieval practice "It can damage the main nerves to the leg and cripple someone for life," says Dr Don MacKechnie from the College of Emergency Medicine. There have been a string of incidents over the years in which English fans have been stabbed while in Rome to watch their team. LITANY OF STABBINGS 1984: Liverpool fans stabbed by Roma fans in aftermath of victorious European Cup final 2001: In both February and December Liverpool fans stabbed in buttocks after matches against Roma 2006: Three Middlesbrough fans stabbed, including one in buttocks 2007: In April and December matches, several Manchester United fans stabbed in buttocks 2009: Manchester United fans stabbed in buttocks near ground In March this year an Arsenal fan was stabbed on his way to the Olympic stadium. Two years ago 13 Manchester United fans were taken to hospital after a Champions League tie with Roma. Several had been stabbed in the backside. The practice has also been linked to medieval first-blood duels by some academics, says football writer Gabriele Marcotti. "In the duels the first person to draw blood from their opponent was the winner. Because they fought facing each other, drawing blood by stabbing your opponent's buttocks was considered a great skill. "But while it's difficult to stab someone in the backside with a sword in that context it's not difficult to do it with a knife from behind, which is what happens these days. 'Puncicate' is not about skill, whatever those who do it like to think." People are quick to point out the stabbings are done by a very small group of extreme supporters, known in Italy as "ultras". Most clubs have such fans, but "puncicate" is almost exclusively done in Rome and by followers of local team Roma, say experts. "It is their speciality," says Prof Foot. WHO, WHAT, WHY? Question mark floor plan of BBC Television Centre A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? Aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines He says it started to become their trademark back in the 1990s when "ultras" from Italy's other main football clubs agreed to stop using knives in fights after a Genoa supporter was killed. Roma fans continued. "The stabbings are now so frequently they are hardly reported in the Italian press," says Prof Foot. "A rival fan is stabbed at nearly every Roma game but it only hits the headlines when foreign fans are attacked at a game like the Champions League final." The city's reputation as "Stab City" among football supporters causes great offence among local people and police have been criticised for failing to deal with the problem, he adds. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8068088.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLeakHunt Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 I also heard a rumour that judicial redress was significantly less for wounds below the waist so the assailant would chose that method to disarm an opponent and remain at a lessor risk of incarceration. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Sounds gay to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 >Why is there buttock stabbing in Rome? ...goes on every day in San Francisco! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLeakHunt Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Sounds gay to me. There is that as well. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I heard Napolitanas were notorious for their backstabbing.....not sure about the buttocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamsandwich Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 Italian men like each others asses. Figures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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