Terrorism was the big fear facing the European Championships. Which is why the governments of the U.S., England and Germany, among others, warned its citizens about traveling to France for the monthlong soccer tournament.
Sadly, two weeks into the Euros those warnings have proven prescient. Even more sadly, however, is the fact those warnings misidentified the perpetrators of the attacks.
This time the violence was not the handiwork of individuals inspired by Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State but soccer hooligans inspired by nationalism. What was supposed to be a sporting competition has dissolved into anarchy.
While fans in this country were observing a moment of silence for the victims of the Orlando nightclub attack before Copa America Centenario games, “fans” in France were literally attacking nightclubs before Euro 2016 games.