Foul Play: Riots After Sporting Events

Fans go berserk for their favorite teams.

Pure Pandemonium  - While the rush of adrenaline that comes from watching your favorite sports team play is certainly thrilling, it has also fueled some of the most infamous riots in sports history. Here’s a look at sporting scenes that turned ugly.—Britt Middleton(Photo: AP Photo/The Lexington Herald-Leader, Jonathan Palmer)

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Pure Pandemonium  - While the rush of adrenaline that comes from watching your favorite sports team play is certainly thrilling, it has also fueled some of the most infamous riots in sports history. Here’s a look at sporting scenes that turned ugly.—Britt Middleton(Photo: AP Photo/The Lexington Herald-Leader, Jonathan Palmer)

May 21, 2012 - Following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 106-90 playoff win over the Los Angeles Lakers, eight people were shot, one critically as fans poured out from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Police haven’t yet made any arrests, but did detain two people for questioning.  (Photo: AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Sarah Phipps)

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May 21, 2012 - Following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 106-90 playoff win over the Los Angeles Lakers, eight people were shot, one critically as fans poured out from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Police haven’t yet made any arrests, but did detain two people for questioning.  (Photo: AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Sarah Phipps)

March 31, 2012 - Following the University of Kentucky’s win of the NCAA championship title on Monday, thousands of Big Blue fans erupted outside the school’s Lexington campus. In the frenzy, two men reportedly got into an argument and one shot the other; he was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  (Photo: AP Photo/Christian Randolph)

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March 31, 2012 - Following the University of Kentucky’s win of the NCAA championship title on Monday, thousands of Big Blue fans erupted outside the school’s Lexington campus. In the frenzy, two men reportedly got into an argument and one shot the other; he was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  (Photo: AP Photo/Christian Randolph)

Feb. 1, 2012 - Fans of Egypt’s Al-Masry soccer team interrupted a match between the rival Al Ahly team and caused the worst sporting riot the country has ever seen. Seventy-four people were killed and at least 1,000 were injured in the melee. In the aftermath, the Port Said Stadium, the scene of the ugly riot, will remained closed for the next three years and the Al-Masry team was suspended from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) until the 2013-2014 season.  (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

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Feb. 1, 2012 - Fans of Egypt’s Al-Masry soccer team interrupted a match between the rival Al Ahly team and caused the worst sporting riot the country has ever seen. Seventy-four people were killed and at least 1,000 were injured in the melee. In the aftermath, the Port Said Stadium, the scene of the ugly riot, will remained closed for the next three years and the Al-Masry team was suspended from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) until the 2013-2014 season.  (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

June 15, 2011 - In this now-iconic image, a young couple shares a tender moment amid the chaos ensuing in Vancouver, Canada. Hockey fans lashed out after the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. At least 140 people were injured and dozens were arrested. (Photo: Rich Lam/Getty Images)

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June 15, 2011 - In this now-iconic image, a young couple shares a tender moment amid the chaos ensuing in Vancouver, Canada. Hockey fans lashed out after the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. At least 140 people were injured and dozens were arrested. (Photo: Rich Lam/Getty Images)

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Nov. 1, 2010 - Fans overcome with the San Francisco Giants’ World Series win — the team’s first title in 53 years — let out their long-held tensions on the city’s downtown streets. More than 7,000 people flooded the Market Street neighborhood, snarling traffic while police raced to contain small fires set by overzealous fans.(Photo: Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

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Nov. 1, 2010 - Fans overcome with the San Francisco Giants’ World Series win — the team’s first title in 53 years — let out their long-held tensions on the city’s downtown streets. More than 7,000 people flooded the Market Street neighborhood, snarling traffic while police raced to contain small fires set by overzealous fans.(Photo: Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

June 17, 2010 - For the second time in a decade, Lakers fans lashed out outside the Staples Center following the team’s NBA finals win over rivals the Boston Celtics. Police officers in riot gear worked to contain the ugly scene as fans lit cars on fire and destroyed property. Nearly 40 people were arrested.(Photo: EPA/MIKE NELSON/Landov)

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June 17, 2010 - For the second time in a decade, Lakers fans lashed out outside the Staples Center following the team’s NBA finals win over rivals the Boston Celtics. Police officers in riot gear worked to contain the ugly scene as fans lit cars on fire and destroyed property. Nearly 40 people were arrested.(Photo: EPA/MIKE NELSON/Landov)

Oct. 20, 2004 - After the Red Sox bested bitter rivals the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series, Boston fans were so unruly police used pepper-spray guns; one bystander died after a pellet struck her in the eye. In the photo above, a car parked near Fenway Park in Boston was set ablaze, reportedly because it had New York license plates.(Photo: Marc Andrew Deley/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Oct. 20, 2004 - After the Red Sox bested bitter rivals the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series, Boston fans were so unruly police used pepper-spray guns; one bystander died after a pellet struck her in the eye. In the photo above, a car parked near Fenway Park in Boston was set ablaze, reportedly because it had New York license plates.(Photo: Marc Andrew Deley/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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July 9, 2000 - In Harare, Zimbabwe, 12 people were killed in a stampede following a World Cup qualifier game between South Africa and Zimbabwe. In the photo above, two men wipe teargas off the face of a young boy separated from his parents.(Photo: Reuters)

June 19, 2000 - Would Kobe approve? Los Angeles Lakers fans set cars on fire, smashed windows and hurled rocks and bottles at police following the Lakers’ win over the Indiana Pacers in Game Six of the NBA Finals, the team’s first title in 12 years. Only 12 people were injured and none arrested.(Photo: Jason Kirk/Online USA/Getty Images)

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June 19, 2000 - Would Kobe approve? Los Angeles Lakers fans set cars on fire, smashed windows and hurled rocks and bottles at police following the Lakers’ win over the Indiana Pacers in Game Six of the NBA Finals, the team’s first title in 12 years. Only 12 people were injured and none arrested.(Photo: Jason Kirk/Online USA/Getty Images)

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Jan. 31, 1999 - Fans were so ecstatic over the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl XXXIII win — the team’s second consecutive NFL championship — that they took to the streets in a violent display of affection, overtaking Denver’s Larimer Square. After a crowd of 1,000 people began smashing store windows, overturning cars and setting fires, police unleashed tear gas and more than 20 people were arrested.(Photo: Kevin Moloney/Getty Images)

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Jan. 31, 1999 - Fans were so ecstatic over the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl XXXIII win — the team’s second consecutive NFL championship — that they took to the streets in a violent display of affection, overtaking Denver’s Larimer Square. After a crowd of 1,000 people began smashing store windows, overturning cars and setting fires, police unleashed tear gas and more than 20 people were arrested.(Photo: Kevin Moloney/Getty Images)

July 12, 1979 - With the cost of admission being just 98 cents and a vinyl record, thousands of Chicago White Sox fans packed inside Comiskey Park for the infamous doubleheader known as “Disco Demolition Night,” in which those records would be burned in a rally in between games. Some 10,000 people tried to push their way in after 50,000 were already packed inside, causing a riot and perhaps giving new meaning to the expression “disco is dead.”(Photo: Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov)

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July 12, 1979 - With the cost of admission being just 98 cents and a vinyl record, thousands of Chicago White Sox fans packed inside Comiskey Park for the infamous doubleheader known as “Disco Demolition Night,” in which those records would be burned in a rally in between games. Some 10,000 people tried to push their way in after 50,000 were already packed inside, causing a riot and perhaps giving new meaning to the expression “disco is dead.”(Photo: Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov)