Violence explodes around the world, as does Valencia

	Riot police are never a good sign during a match, as these ones were called in during the Man United-Lille game on Tuesday. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
	MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Jonah. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Click here to go straight to the Rankings.

The world's getting angry again. There has been some excellent action in the past few weeks on pitches across the globe, but the headlines have been forced elsewhere.

Lately, it seems as if in nearly every country where soccer is the top draw -- Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Mexico -- the biggest stories have been about brawls, riots, racism and other assorted hooliganism.

UEFA and CONMEBOL, naturally, say they're concerned and investigating from top to bottom. But so far, Italy is the only country that has taken drastic and effective steps, locking fans out of stadiums until security measures are adequately upgraded. (The Argentine government decided to close River Plate's Monumental Stadium for five games as punishment for fan violence there, which seems like a half-hearted attempt.)

Look, violence in the game is nothing new. For many fans, the opportunity to scream their brains out once a week in support of their club is their only chance to let off steam from rough weeks at crappy jobs, or in response to less-than-supportive governments. It's been an intrinsic part of soccer since a group of students first wrote out official rules at Eton College in 1815.

But as the uptick in violence grows, so do the chances of a huge, horrible disaster taking place in which scores of fans will get hurt or, worse, killed -- a repeat of the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies, which left a combined 135 dead.

It's just a game, folks. It's up to the sport's caretakers to make sure of that.

• OK, Liverpool fans -- that was an impressive rally your Reds put on Wednesday against Barcelona in the Champions League. Extra points to Craig Bellamy for his golf-swing celebration, a cheeky salute that rivals teammate Robbie Fowler's touch-line sniff celebration in '99.

But we're leaving Liverpool off this week. If Arsenal doesn't make it, neither can the 'Pool, which, despite being a point ahead of the Gunners in the English Premiership table, was unceremoniously dispatched from both the Carling and FA Cups by Arsène Wenger's crew. In fact, through three matches head-to-head this season, Arsenal holds a combined 12-4 advantage over Liverpool. Ouch. My promise to you, though, is that Rafa Benítez's gang will be here next time if they finish the job against Barça and keep pace in the EPL. Cue angry e-mails, and segue to ...

• In lighter news, this is for those of you who hate my guts based on my fair and balanced ranking system. (I've read all your hostile e-mails that range from, "I'm tired of looking at your retarded face," to "Go back to guessing weights at county fairs."). Friends, you have your revenge: I was on the business end of a hard shot on goal during my weekly pickup game Tuesday night -- right in the family jewels -- and I'm still paying the price as I write this.

For the rest of you who enjoy our bi-weekly exercise here in Rankings-ville, please, send ice packs. Let's get to it ...