LOVE learning from history

I grew up with soccer cause my late dad was a Die hard soccer fan. He was really a man utd fan. Back in the 80s I used to accompany him to watch the games. We will wake up in the wee hours to watch live games be it world cup, fa cup replay, European cup. The most memorable was the 1984 European Cup which the French won, Platini was back then the important player and in 1986 when the world witness Argentina won the world cup due to one man dominant the field, its Dieogo Amando Maradona. Soccer was more than sports to me . I could say it is a form of religion back then. Despite the games were marred by violence caused by the English hooligans, there was not much of racial abuse or chanting. Everyone remembered the tragedy of Heysel and Hillsborough which cause lots of life's as we realize there is more important things in life than just a soccer game. As the games slowly progressing from a decade to another, we thought finally there will be no such horrendous violence negative issues anymore in the sport.

However, I realize in the past few years, the increase number of racism  involving during the games are very alarming especially from the European leagues. Those horror years of world war 2 are completely forgotten now. Teams with 'ultra' supporters having Nazi slogan and salute during games. To make it worst some players are involved in it too. The monkey chanting, the racial slurs becoming louder in the stadium. Suddenly, the beautiful game, is losing its identity that once dubbed uniting people across the border, has more becoming a dangerous ground. Before the Euro 2012, the UEFA president Michel Platini had threatened  many times to cancel it due to his fear this negative issue will be blown out of propulsion but the games had to move on and the organizers (host) had promised to clamp down on these negative issues before it became the headline. Alas! Violence already began on the 1st day of the tournament itself. With teams involving had various darkest history and disputes among them like the host Poland and the Russian. Then there was this Czech Republic who was also at the central issue of controversial. All these former communist countries and regimes somehow got entangled between past political history and being nationalistic. It rages on till outside the stadium rather than accepting friendship and fair play on the field. So whats going on here?

I am wondering whats on the mind of our youth today watching the games live and witnessing racial abuse been done openly with monkey chanting and racial slur and violence erupting before and after the games due to the past political history and national issues. And why is it today, the increase number of racism happened in Europe? Does it cause huge concern among them? Did they forgot about the stories of the world war 2 which they wont want to face it again? What bother me the most is that, soccer is one of the most popular games in the world and these negative issues will have huge impact to the soccer fans where ever they could be. When you ponder upon the situation,  you gotta take one step back and reflect how things could be getting nastier than ever before. You tend to realize the political climate on some of the European countries had change from time to time due to economic crisis. More and more left wing fascist are coming into power brought by the people as they wanted to make changes and getting tired of the old political system.

Perhaps we didn't learn about the old mistakes and thus such horrendous tragedy repeated it again and again. This is why history play an important role in a society. Its time to reflect on the past to build the future. We need to understand the need to live together as Allah said in the Quran Surah al Hujurat 49:13  O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).The only reason for this is because the hearts develop hatred that sparks the outrage in the outlook. People tend to think when they react violently they are strong but in actual facts, they are sign of articulate. The whole missing link is love. Prophet sallahu alaihi wa salam came to this world when it was in the age of ignorance (jahiliyah) He sallahu alaihi wa salam came to bring the light as he erase the darkness with his presence of love for humanity. It change the whole society. The selfless thought was gone and was replace with love that bond brotherhood and friendship. There was no animosity, no hatred, revenge, it was forgiveness and etiquette (adab) If only we understand the true meaning of love, such tragedy wont happen but then again man will never learn from their history.