A Reminder of Soccer’s Intensity: DaMarcus Beasley’s Car Bombed in Scotland

It’s easy to think that some American fans go a little overboard in supporting their team or tearing down others. Inevitably, and frequently, a soccer story breaks that shatters that misconception. Exhibit A: Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley’s BMW getting firebombed Monday night.

⇥⇥⇥⇥THUGS have firebombed Rangers star DaMarcus Beasley’s £50,000 BMW outside his luxury home.⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥A neighbour of the American winger saw a hooded figure plant a crude petrol bomb under the blue 6 Series.⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥

⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥The witness said: “The guy put something under the car then walked backwards crouching down, making a line of petrol for about five metres. He lit it with what looked like a lighter and the car went up.”⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥

Police are treating the attack as “willful,” and while there is no motive at the moment, the word “sectarian” is mentioned and the dark cloud of racism in European soccer will loom over the attack until it is solved.

It’s a striking contrast to American sports. I don’t recall anyone being so incensed by Michael Vick that they took it upon themselves to torch one of his cars, and Vick was one of sports’ most hated recent figures because of criminal and inhumane activity. Beasley, who will likely be part of the U.S. World Cup team come summer, is just a good player for his club. And now he has to try to find humor in his car being destroyed.

We, as American sports fans, may paint our chests, stage Internet flame wars, and do absolutely ridiculous things in the name of our sporting allegiances. But we usually stop well short of firebombing players’ cars. I am, for once, glad that our passions have limits.

(HT: SB Nation.)

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