Battle of the Feet or Fists? A Historical Narrative on Hooliganism in Ghanaian Soccer, 1957-2007

Abstract

This work recounts, chronologically, acts of vandalism and violence committed by some players, officials and spectators in the game of football (soccer) in the history of the sport in Ghana. The history of sports in general and football in particular has not received much attention by historians and researchers within the historiography of Ghana. It is against this background that this paper, using newspaper publications and interviews, attempts an exposition on the causes and effects of hooliganism in Ghanaian soccer from 1957 to 2007. The paper shows that the beauty of the sport (both locally and on the international scene) had been blighted by acts of hooliganism arising from wide and varied issues including ignorance of the laws governing the sport and corrupt practices among some match officials and administrators which mostly infuriated spectators to cause violence hence destroying properties and causing harm to people.