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Swiss Soccer Fans Protest Esports by Throwing Tennis Balls and Game Controllers On the Field (variety.com)

Posted by msmash on from the out-of-hands dept.

Soccer fans in Switzerland protested against increased investment in esports by throwing tennis balls and game consoles on the field during a Swiss Super League match. From a report: The fans reportedly threw tennis balls and game controllers onto the field, forcing the referee to stop the game between Young Boys and FC Basel for two minutes while everything was cleared away. The Young Boys protesters then held up a giant banner with a pause button symbol, while Basel fans also raised their own sign supporting the protest. One of the banners read "Scheiss esports," which roughly translates to "esports are s---." European soccer clubs are increasingly getting involved in esports leagues. While Young Boys doesn't have any skin in professional gaming yet, Basel has its own "FIFA" team.

7 of 227 comments (clear)

  1. Okay, but why? by michiganbob · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The article is pretty light on details. Why exactly is an "increased investment in esports" a bad thing for these teams? I don't really care what my club invests in, as long as it makes money and helps the organization.

  2. Poorly informed outrage mob by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... is poorly informed outrage mob.

    This almost sounds like a stunt 4chan would pull. Not the protest itself, but getting people to do it.

  3. My issue with e-sports by TeknoHog · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You can play soccer with any vague spheroid, at least when you're a beginner. Even at the highest levels, there are multiple vendors for the necessary equipment. In essence, traditional sports are open source. I will accept e-sports as sports when the games and the requisite operating systems are Free software.

    --
    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    1. Re:My issue with e-sports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Weird definition of sports. try playing Polo for free

  4. Re:The funniest thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is that people who play video games got the name "esports" to stick.

    Well, when bridge, chess, and Go are sports ... what did you expect?

    The answer is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recognised the World Bridge Federation as a sport organisation, and as such, bridge is subject to the same regulatory environment as any other Olympic sport.

    Recognized by the IOC ... and apparently they have to do drug testing:

    It is the semi-final of the World Bridge Championships and, after a gruelling nine hours of intense concentration for the 12th day in a row, I am greeted by the news that I may not wind down over some food and drink with my team, but must instead report to the World Anti- Doping Agency offices for a random drugs test.

    So, in the sense that bridge is now recognised as a "mind sport", how is competitive video gaming any different?

  5. Re:Because Socialism by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've heard people slander Switzerland in many ways. Calling it "socialist" is new, though.

    Considering that it's one of the richest countries on the planet despite having pretty much ZERO resources, you might want to rethink that claim. Else you're basically saying socialism can make you rich even if you're not sitting on a sea of oil.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. Under what law? by tepples · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They can't stop someone from playing the game... but they sure as hell can stop anyone playing under whatever they are governing.

    Once FIFA expels a league, that league can no longer claim affiliation with FIFA. But so long as that league doesn't claim such affiliation, what right under the law of any developed country does FIFA have to keep that league from playing matches by the same rules, using a pitch and ball with the same specifications as those used by FIFA members?