Identifying football fans

[David]

Petra Pan wrote:

> In other words, how would the 
> rescuing Scots know that a fellow 
> Scottish football fan is being 
> attacked if the attacked is Asian in 
> appearance?  I'm assuming that your 
> example is implying that the rescue 
> is prompted by the desire to defend 
> a fellow SCOTTish football fan from 
> the supporters of the rival English 
> team, and not because of anything 
> else.  Heck, in the midst of the 
> melee, how would the Scots and the 
> Anglos know who's friend and who's 
> foe?

By physical appearance, of course!

If a fan has a blue face, with a white St Andrews cross on it, that 
is usually understood to imply an allegiance to the Scottish team.  
A white face with a red cross would, on the other hand, indicate 
identification with the English team.

Other indicators for the *particularly* observant might include 
articles of clothing in the team colours, flags being waved, etc.

Finally, there are cultural indicators: shouts and gestures of 
support or opposition, songs sung, and so on.

David