Blackburn Rovers slam hooligan computer game (From Blackburn Citizen)

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Blackburn Rovers slam hooligan computer game

7:00am Wednesday 29th October 2008 in News Photograph of the Author By David Watkinson, Deputy news editor

VIRTUAL VIOLENCE: The home page of the Little Hooliganz game website where participants can join a gang called ‘Blackburn Bluebird Bruisers’

A NEW computer game where players are encouraged to join a Blackburn hooligan gang and attack rivals has been slammed by bosses at Rovers.

The Little Hooliganz online game sees players able to win points by beating up other fans and even attack pensioners using weapons including a samurai sword.

In the game, which is aimed at children, players can join a gang called Blackburn Bluebird Bruisers, which those behind the website say is a “firm that supports Blackburn Rovers”.

It is designed by Blouzar Ltd, the firm behind female fashion game Miss Bimbo which caused outrage earlier this year by enticing its players to buy boob jobs for its virtual world characters.

The new game has already attracted 22,000 members in the UK.

A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers said: “We find it quite staggering that a product of this type can even get to market.

“We condemn it in the strongest possible sense and wish to make it absolutely clear that it is in no way officially connected to the club.”

Police Constable Martin Crook, a police football intelligence officer who works with Rovers, said: “There is a lot of work going on to minimise football related disorder and this game does not send the right message out to younger people.”

Duncan Gardiner, from the Blackburn Rovers Supporters’ Association, said: “As fans we have a very good name and a computer game like this just encourages irresponsible behaviour.”

Lawyers for the FA Premier League are studying the game to see whether it infringes its or Premiership clubs' intellectual property rights.

Blouzar Ltd’s Chris Evans said the point of Little Hooliganz was to show football violence in a ridiculous light.

He said: “We are not condoning violence. Just because we are giving our members the chance to buy a baseball bat or nunchucka and beat up their rivals’ characters doesn’t mean they are going to do it in real life.

“People understand the difference between cartoon violence on an internet game and the horrific results of violence in real life.

“This will not encourage copycat attacks.”

A spokesman for the Football Association said: “We strongly object to the promotion and glamorisation of any instance of anti-social or violent behaviour.

“We are working hard to eradicate such behaviour within grassroots football via the implementation of the FA Respect programme, and any such activity could be seriously detrimental to the overall success of the scheme.”

In the game, players design their own virtual Little Hooligan to live in Hooligancity.

The characters must steal money to buy the essential items every hooligan needs: food, beer, colours and weapons.

Weapons available to be purchased by players include Samurai swords, guns and knuckledusters.

Each character joins a firm that supports a football team and can beat up players that support rival teams.

One challenge reads: “You go to leave the pub when you and your new friends are set upon by some hoodlums from an opposing team.

"Where are your hooligan guts young man?”

Another says: “You decide to become a mugger and mug the old lady who lives across the road from you.”

A large part of the game is the social networking element, with message boards and chat facilities enabling players to communicate in addition to the gameplay.

What do you think of the game? Add your comments below.

Comments(25)

DarwenRover says...
10:47am Wed 29 Oct 08

Way to go BRFC for giving the game more publicity *shakes head in disbelief*