As to the football hooligans surely part of the problem is that the TV highlights are of near misses. In said decent codes generally the losing team still gets to score a few trys or toucdowns and field goals where the supporters can cheer and carry on to release their emotions but not so in soccer where in the UK they pile onto the train home and vent their frustrations on the carriages.

Also the goal area is still the same size as a century ago but players are now taller so the goalies can stop more balls getting to the net. The goal area needs to be bigger. Or have weight / size limits on goalies, as per jockeys.

Now THAT is a sport I can watch and believe in!!!