LOFTUS ROAD STADIUM — QUEEN PARK RANGERS
Stepping into a football stadium is like stepping into another world. Football teams are like states with their own flags, colours, anthems, coat of arms and population. The rules of the game in this other world are nevertheless different. I order to gain supremacy over another state, they have to win a 90 minute battle on a football pitch.
Queen Park Rangers (QPR) is one of these states located in west London, England, and their coliseum is Loftus Road Stadium with 112 years of history. Last Saturday, they hosted their 28th Championship League battle of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (The Wolves).
Satisfying their rituals, the encounter starts even before the kick off. Players and supporters get dressed with the blue and white colours of the state. Once people arrive at the stadium, players are already warming up for the fight and the fans are starting to commune around a customary pint of beer to face the cold of the winter.
A varied population of all generations, gender and ethnicity arrive at the stadium. Unlike the real world, this no does not care who you are or where you come from. All that matters is who you support.
A few minutes before the kick off, the intensity of the noise produced by the supporters rings in your ears. The big screens in the stadium begin to distribute hope by showing videos of the greatest moments in QPR’s history. Looking around, people are having goosebumps and the excitement increases.
It does not matter how well you are doing during the season or if the fight is against someone better than you, football is unpredictable and you could see it in people’s faces.
Whenever the whistle resounded in the stadium, the whole atmosphere shifted to a permanent tension and fans could only let go of their stress by yelling at the referee or swearing at the opponents. Any event of the pitch is good enough to be recriminated and any excuse given to support your arguments. However, the whole fight is not only about violence; it is also about suffering when your team is losing, enjoy when it is winning, biting your nails when the game is not decided or feeling the sadness when you lose.
Particularly in this game, the general satisfaction went from absolute joy at the 1–0 lead to disappointment at the 1–1 equalizer and ending up in complete frustration after one player hit the post with the ball at the last minute. But suddenly, the atmosphere calmed down with people leaving the stadium heading for home or for the pub in resignation.