Football fans were MUGGED

"The proposal comes as France seeks to avoid a repeat of the chaos of last year’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France, where fans including children were teargassed, and many supporters complained they were mugged around the stadium."


Did you think of this when you read the word mugged?


I don't blame you because yes, what you see in the photo is a mug. But then you probably asked yourself, what has a mug got to do with chaos and teargassing? Although a mug of calming tea might have come in useful after such a frightening experience, this is clearly not the meaning here.

If someone ever came up to you while you were walking on the street, pulled out a gun or knife, and asked you for your smartphone, purse or jewellery, then you were mugged. In this context, mug is a verb, with past and 3rd forms of mugged and mugged. In the news report above, they were mugged is a passive structure. They refers to the supporters, not the muggers (the name for these types of criminals). Another way of saying it is: criminals mugged the supporters. 

Have you ever been in this unfortunate situation? Where and when were you mugged? What did the mugger steal? Share your story in the comments section below.

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