Season 10/11 - September

Huge security operation as Man Utd take on Rangers - 01/09/2010

Source : thefirstpost.co.uk



Police and FA anxious to avoid repeat of trouble in Manchester, which could harm 2018 bid

Manchester United's Champions League clash with Rangers this month is predictably being billed as the 'Battle of Britain', but the police and both clubs are going to great lengths to ensure that it doesn't become just that.

Unprecedented security measures will be in place when the Scottish champions visit Old Trafford on September 14 to try and prevent a repetition of the events that marred Rangers' last appearance in Manchester, in the 2008 Uefa Cup final.

This time round fans of the Scottish club will have to travel on official coaches from Glasgow, which will deliver them to the DW Stadium in Wigan. Food and toilet facilities will be available at the stadium and official buses will then shuttle the fans to Old Trafford.

Tickets will only be handed out once the fans are aboard the coaches taking them to United's ground, and anyone deemed to be under the influence of alcohol will be refused entry to Old Trafford.

Two years ago, when Rangers made it to the Uefa Cup final and took on Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium, there was carnage. Up to 150,000 Rangers fans, mostly without tickets, descended on the city and ran amok when a giant screen that was supposed to show the game failed to work.

Although the situation will be somewhat different when Rangers play United in the Champions League group stages there are concerns that ticketless away fans will arrive en masse in the city.

The FA are anxious to prevent any chance of violence erupting as a high profile outbreak of hooliganism would not help England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Police and clubs in Britain have worked long and hard to try and rid domestic football of its violent image and improve safety at football grounds.

A recent report suggested that it was working, at least in the Premier League, where crowds are growing increasingly diverse. There were no instances of hooliganism involving England fans at the World Cup in South Africa this summer and the Fifa delegation inspecting England's 2018 bid said it had no concerns about safety and security.

Anti-hooligan law comes into force - 01/09/2010

Source : dutchnews.nl

New legislation aimed at giving mayors greater powers to deal with football hooligans and other troublemakers comes into force on Wednesday.

The law means officials can impose stadium bans, a ban on congregating in certain areas and a ban on forming groups. And the parents of children aged under 12 who cause a nuisance can also be required by law to stop their offspring going out without supervision.

The law will focus on repeat offenders.

Millwall football hooligans on the run after pre-match brawl - 01/09/2010

Source : metro.co.uk

Two Millwall hooligans are on the run after a vicious pre-match fight in which thugs attacked each other with bricks and brought chaos to a town centre.

The 20-minute brawl started when three busloads of Millwall fans pulled up outside a pub in Huddersfield shortly before the fixture between the two sides.

Bricks were hurled at the coaches, men and women attacked each other in the road and five lanes of traffic were blocked – with innocent supporters’ cars and coaches damaged.

Twenty-four people have been charged with violence and disorder offences following the incident on April 16 but four of the most wanted – two Millwall fans and two Huddersfield supporters – are still on the loose.

A woman is among the people police are hunting. ‘This lady is the most unlady-like woman I’ve ever seen,’ said Det Con Nick Doyle, from Huddersfield CID. He said the violence, near Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium, was ‘obviously pre-organised’.

He added: ‘We rounded up plenty of people. Now I’m hoping that people might recognise these people and at least give me their real names so we can track them down.’

Court hears of derby day clash between Rovers and Clarets fans - 03/09/2010

Source : lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

Blackburn Rovers and Burnley fans clashed outside a pub after 20 Clarets supporters 'looking for a fight' got off a mini bus chanting 'Su-Su-Suicide'.

Six Blackburn fans have pleaded guilty to affray over the incident around the Station Hotel, Cherry Tree, on derby day, and another man has gone on trial.

Prosecutor Francis McIntee told the jury police had been 'fearful' that 'animosity, hatred and simmering rivalry' would spill over into violence.

A huge operation had kept supporters apart during, and immediately after, the lunchtime derby clash at Ewood Park.

But at 6pm on Sunday, October 18, officers received a call from a woman who had seen a minibus pull up in the Feniscowles area.

She told officers 22 Burnley fans got out, urinated on her wall, and then set off down Preston Old Road, chanting songs related to the 'notorious hooligan element' of the club.

They were met by a police cordon preventing them from reaching the Station Hotel, which was packed with Blackburn Rovers fans.

But up to 50 people stood outside the pub and in the beer garden 'responded by joining in the disorder', the court heard.

Mr McIntee said: “The Burnley fans came looking for a fight. Equally a number of Blackburn fans were keen to oblige but that was prevented by police.

“That caused Blackburn fans to divert their aggression, aimed at Burnley, and turn it on the police."

Officers came under attack from pint glasses and bottles from the pub's beer garden, with a group of around 30 Rovers supporters chanting 'Youth, Youth'.

Police eventually got the crowd back inside the premises and officers used their batons to smash the remaining pint glasses and bottles so they couldn't be thrown as weapons.

Preston Crown Court heard Ian Mitchell, 45, of Caltha Drive, Blackburn, is alleged to have tried to push past the police cordon to get to the Burnley fans, shouting: “Come on, we've been waiting for this all day.”

He was forced back with a baton and his pint glass smashed.

Mitchell denies a charge of affray, claiming the police have mistakenly identified him as the man trying to push past Chief Inspector Kevin Evans.

At the start of the trial, the crown offered no evidence against his co-accused, Kenneth Lysons, 21, of Selborne Street, Blackburn, and Judge Graham Knowles QC directed the jury to find him not guilty.

Six other men pleaded guilty to affray.

They are: David Comberbach, 41, of Bank Hey View, Paul Rushton, 46, of Boxwood Drive, Joshua Riley, 21, of Solway Avenue, Jordan Hoyle, 19, of Park Farm, and Samuel Hindle, 18, of Shadsworth Road, all Blackburn, and Christopher Sutton, 23, of Meadow Gardens, Rishton, all admitted a charge of affray.

Mr McIntee said: "The prosecution do not suggest the people arrested (Blackburn fans) were acting together in any pre-arranged manner.

“The behaviour of each of the persons simply served to add to the volatility of the situation.”

Francis McIntee, prosecuting, said Riley was 'shouting, gesticulating and using aggressive body language', Comberbach was 'pushing and pulling an officer' while they were carrying out an arrest, while Hindle and Rushton were said to be progressing towards the group of Burnley fans 'gesticulating in an inflammatory way'.

Their cases were adjourned for sentencing at a later date.

They will be joined by Samuel Bowen, 26, of Melville Drive, Blackburn, who pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier date.

A statement were read to the court from Station landlord of eight years John Southworth.

Mr Southworth said he had been open since 10am for home supporters only, but felt the atmosphere change at 6pm and sensed 'there was going to be trouble'. He said he had 'never experienced anything like it in my life' and that the incident was 'overwhelming'.

Avon and Somerset police target Euro football hooligans - 03/09/2010

Source : BBC News

Known football hooligans will be targeted by Avon and Somerset police ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifying game in Switzerland next week.

Sixty local fans who hold football banning orders (FBOs) must hand their passports into a police station by 3 September.

Police will be at Bristol Airport to stop "risk" fans flying to Switzerland on Saturday for Tuesday's match.

Special passport scanning machines will be used to spot potential hooligans.

Force football officer Roger Thayer said: "Sometimes, 'risk fans' from outside this force area may try to fly from Bristol but we will be ready.

"Anyone with a FBO who does not surrender their passport or obtain an exemption could be arrested under the conditions of their banning orders and may face fines or even a custodial sentence.

Belgium - Germany - 03/09/2010

Source : AFP

German police swoop on Belgium-bound hooligans

German police have stopped dozens of violent fans from travelling to Brussels in a crackdown on hooliganism ahead of Friday's Euro 2012 clash against Belgium.

According to a police spokesman in Aachen, 42 "violent fans" had been prevented from travelling by Friday evening with police confiscating numerous weapons, including baseball bats, during checks on the Belgium-Germany border.

Around 1,500 fans were stopped in total and two arrests were made for inciting violence and a breach of the Explosives Act.

Belgium take on Germany in the Group A qualifier at Brussels' Stade Roi Baudouin and the authorities have searched trains at the border between the neighbouring countries to ensure the game passes off without incident.

Convicted German hooligans are required to sign in at their local police station on match days when the national side are playing, but police are concerned some known violent supporters may still make it to Brussels for the match.

"We regularly conduct border monitoring activities at international sporting events in neighbouring countries," federal police spokesman Ludger Introp told SID, a subsidiary of AFP.

"In cooperation with Belgian colleagues, we are specifically looking for known violent criminals.

"After each inspection, we bar some people from travelling, which we have already done."

Belgian authorities are concerned some 6,500 tickets, which went on general sale in Belgium, could have been bought by German fans.

The German Football Federation has sold 2,500 tickets to their fans for the match at the 50,000-seater stadium.

The current Stade Roi Baudouin stadium in Brussels has been renamed and renovated since it was the scene of one of football's worst disasters 25 years ago.

Thirty-nine fans were killed during the Heysel Stadium disaster in May 1985 when a wall collapsed after rioting before the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus fans.

English clubs were banned from European competition for five years while 14 Liverpool supporters were found guilty of involuntary-manslaughter.



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Source : DPA

280 arrested in Brussels violence

Around 280 fans were arrested amid violence around Friday evening's Euro 2012 qualifying match between Belgium and Germany, the German football federation DFB said. DFB general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach said clashes broke out between police and supporters in the centre of Brussels.

Between 500 and 700 German football hooligans who had travelled to Belgium had been stopped by police outside the stadium.

Around 9,000 German fans had tickets for the match. But German officials had criticised the direct sales by Belgium of some 6,500 tickets to German supporters. Around 2,500 tickets were sold via the official DFB channels and supporters' clubs.

RIOT YOBS JAILED - 04/09/2010

Source : mirror.co.uk

Eleven football hooligans were jailed yesterday for the "worst destruction" in a city since the Second World War.

Rangers supporters rioted in Manchester after the Glasgow team was beaten by Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final two years ago. Police were attacked and property damaged in two hours of violence. Judge Andrew Blake said at Manchester crown court: "What followed was the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the Blitz."

One fan, Scott McSeveney, was jailed for three and a half years for violent disorder and assaulting PC John Goodwin, who was kicked and stamped on by the gang.

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Source : Herald Scotland

Rangers fans jailed for Uefa cup final riot in Manchester

Eleven football hooligans have been jailed for their part in the drunken riots involving Rangers fans that trashed Manchester city centre after the Uefa Cup final more than two years ago.

Judge Andrew Blake described the violent scenes as the worst destruction the city had suffered since the Blitz, and warned that many more offenders have escaped justice.

The men sentenced yesterday were among hundreds of travelling supporters who caused chaos in the city’s centre. Property was destroyed and police attacked, including constables Mick Regan and John Goodwin who suffered terrible beatings.

As the sentences were passed, Scottish voices from the public gallery shouted abuse, whose target was the city of Manchester and the two officers.

Some fans gave thumbs up to weeping relatives as they were led to the cells.

Judge Blake said specialist police in full riot gear had struggled early on to contain the trouble. He said: “What followed was the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the blitz.

“What came afterwards, the damage, the filth and litter, was apparent to all who arrived in Manchester the following day.

“Many more than these 12 were involved. It had nothing to do with football rivalries but everything to do with drink.

“The anger of the mob was directed at the police doing their best to restore order.”

As many as 125,000 Rangers fans had descended on the city, most without tickets, and bars and supermarkets were drunk dry before the match.

Fighting first broke out in Picadilly Gardens after a big screen showing the match, which Rangers lost 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg, malfunctioned, and repair men were pelted with bottles.

Scott McSeveney received three-and-half years for violent disorder and the assault on PC Goodwin, who was cut off from his colleagues and knocked to the ground, beaten and stamped on by more than a dozen rampaging Rangers fans.

He was only saved when one supporter, Sharon Gibson, lay across him and her boyfriend shouted to the attackers that they were letting their team down.

McSeveney, 22, from Shotts, was also given an eight-year ban from attending football matches.

Mark Stoddart, 27, from Glasgow, received a two-and-a half year sentence for the assault on PC Mick Regan, and banned from football for eight years.

John Saunders, 32, from Cumbernauld, attacked a police van and threw a bottle at officers. He was already serving a sentence for carrying an offensive weapon, and was due to be released next week. He was sentenced to a further 15 months and given a six-year football banning order.

Gordon Forrest, 36, from Bearsden, fought with police and incited others, earning him a 14-month sentence for violent disorder

Thomas Murphy, 28, of Greenock, threw bottles at police. He already has convictions for violence and was jailed for 14 months for violent disorder.

Brian McVicar, 20, of East Kilbride, who threw two bottles at police, was sent to a young offenders’ institution for 21 months for violent disorder. His brother-in-law, Greg McKenna, 23, also threw a bottle at police and was jailed for 18 months.

David McCullough, 21, of Burnage, Manchester, also threw a bottle at police and was jailed for six months for violent disorder.

Michael Hindle, 22, from Leyland, was jailed for eight months for the same offence.

James Bell, 43, of Cumbernauld, threw four or five missiles at police and was sentenced to 12 months.

William McSporran, 18, of Glasgow, was sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders’ institution for violent disorder after throwing bottles at police.

The eight of them face six-year football banning orders.

David Annette, 35, of Chorley, Lancashire, was given a six-month term, suspended for 12 months, 180 hours’ community service and ordered pay £500 costs.

In a statement, Rangers FC, which has banned the men for life from Ibrox Stadium, said: “Rangers’ view of people who engaged in violent disorder in Manchester at the Uefa Cup Final in 2008 was made abundantly clear at the time and nothing has changed. The club deplores such behaviour as it does unacceptable conduct at any sporting occasion.”

Chief Superintendent Gerry Donnellan of Greater Manchester Police, match commander on the day, hailed the sentences as a victory for “the people of Manchester and for genuine football fans everywhere.”

Fans show support for Stanley ‘Ultra’ - 03/09/2010

Source : menmedia.co.uk

Accrington Stanley’s ‘Ultras’ group leader could be banned from the ground for up to 10 years if he is found guilty of public order offences.

Jason Graham, 36, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer following Stanley’s televised game with Newcastle last Wednesday.

The charges relate to an incident at the end of the cup match where Graham is alleged to have assaulted an officer as police arrested another fan for allegedly throwing a till roll.

The end of the game saw five arrests as Reds fans clashed with police.

The club’s website has been full of messages of support for Graham, who organises away trips for Stanley fans.

Stanley safety officer Mick Schultz said: "I wouldn’t like to comment on this case because it’s subject to an ongoing police investigation.

"If the ground regulations are broken, then it results in a banning order. If the police demand a banning order then our hands are tied."

According to the Home Office, banning orders can range from between three and 10 years.

Daniel Cruickshank, 18, of Church Street, Accrington was also charged with throwing a missile onto the pitch.

Two 33-year-olds were given penalty notices for being drunk and disorderly and a 15-year-old boy was reprimanded for using insulting words or threatening behaviour. Three Newcastle fans were also charged with invading the Crown Ground pitch. All are due to appear before Hyndburn Magistrates on September 8.

France: free-fight - ??/09/2010

Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

Metz vs Lyon: 8 vs 8 (U-22)

Lyon won.

E2012Q : Serbia - Slovenia - 07/09/2010

Source: Press










VIDEO: http://tvslo.si/predvajaj/divjanje-navijacev-ob-zacetku-tekme/ava2.81355026/

Sweden : free-fight in Arboga - 04/09/2010

Source : Mail + YouTube

250 Firman Boys (AIK) vs 170 DFG (Djurgarden IF).

Four banned from football matches - 08/09/2010

Source : Peterborough Today

West Yorkshire Police have secured four-year football banning orders on four men from the Bradford area.

Ricky Whiteley, 20, of Southmere Crescent in Bradford, 18-year-old Anthony Brown of Cloudsdale Avenue in Bradford, and two 170-year-olds were summonsed under the Football Spectators Act 1989.

All the men were caught on CCTV cameras at the front of a crowd of Bradford City FC fans which invaded the pitch at Valley Parade to confront away supporters after their final match of last season, against Northampton.

Each was further filmed by police involved in disorderly acts at Bradford games against Barnsley and Bury.

Two of the four were in a group that attended the Huddersfield versus Leeds United game last season in an attempt to engage in disorder with supporters of both Huddersfield and Leeds.

Under the terms of the football banning order all four are prohibited from attending Bradford City games home and away and have to stay away from Bradford city centre and its railways stations on match days.

The men are also prohibited from approaching both, Leeds United FC and Leeds Railway Station, as well as Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Railway Station.

They must also report to a police station and hand in their passports when the national football team plays an away fixture.

Switzerland - England - 09/09/2010

Source : World Radio Switzerland

British football fan arrested in Basel

Basel police have revealed they arrested an English football fan prior to the England-Switzerland Euro 2012 qualifying match on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old man was acting aggressively towards Swiss fans, throwing glass bottles on the street and later lobbed a bottle out of the first floor window of a Starbucks—hitting a woman on the head.

Police are now looking for the woman.

Extra police in Burnley for PNE derby - 09/09/2010

Source : Lancashire Telegraph

EXTRA police officers have been drafted in to deal with any potential crowd trouble during tomorrow’s first Lancashire derby of the season.

A near full house is expected at Turf Moor to see the Clarets take on Preston North End in a 5.15pm kick off.

While arrangements are not as severe as last season’s East Lancashire derby with Blackburn Rovers, when fans were bused in and out of the towns, police are warning fans to be on their best behaviour.

Inspector Andy Carter, match commander in Burnley, said: “Football is very much about families and this is a really big game for the two teams and both sets of fans and we want everyone to enjoy the game.

“We hope that both sets of supporters behave and the game is a great advert for football in Lancashire.

“Our message is for everyone to enjoy the match but be warned that anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with firmly.

“It is also worth reminding people that it is a criminal offence to attempt to enter a sports ground whilst drunk or to enter a sports ground drunk.

“We will not let a small minority of people ruin it for the vast majority of decent supporters.”

Supporters are being asked to arrive at the ground well before kick-off to avoid crowd congestion.

Car parks at the ground will also remain closed for 25 minutes after the match while coaches and other spectators leave the ground.

Insp Carter also warned fans to beware of thieves operating in the area.

He said: “We would urge those people who are attending to lock their cars securely and make sure nothing is left on show.

“People should also keep their keys, wallets and mobile phones safe and secure.”

Dortmund fans plan protest at rivals' rising prices - 11/09/2010

Source : AFP

Borussia Dortmund fans plan a boycott of their Bundesliga derby against bitter rivals Schalke on September 19 in protest over rising ticket prices.

The match is one of four Bundesliga games this season at Schalke's Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen where top prices will be charged and a standing-room only seat will cost 22 euros, almost eight euros more than last year.

A seat for Dortmund fans in the visitors section will cost 50 euros.

Almost 200 supporters clubs and fan groups of Dortmund have joined the protest so far and are urging their members to give back any tickets they have bought in a mass protest.

Cash-strapped Schalke signed Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Spain midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado recently and Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said he was happy with the fans' standpoint.

"I think it's good that our people will not fund the transfer of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar," Klopp told German daily Bild.

But over in Gelsenkirchen, there is confusion about why the fans are protesting.

"We have adopted the standard pricing in the league system for the top games. And we have not complained when Dortmund raised their prices for their derby matches," said Schalke's Chief Financial Officer Peter Peters.

Argentina : Patronato de Paraná - Rosario Central - 05/09/2010

Source : lagaceta.com.ar + clarin.com

The game was suspended for 6 minutes in second half after violent riots broke out, opposing supporters to policemen.
At the end of 1st half, a generous penalty kick was given by the referee to Rosario so local fans became angry and attacked Rosario rivals so police intervened.
During half-time several troubles broke out and continued in 2nd half, opposing police to Parana supporters who attacked them with rocks and flares so police reacted with flash balls an tear gas.
The situation became worse so the referee stopped the game.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

SC Bastia - RC STrasbourg - 05/09/2010

Source : Mail

The coach of Strasbourg players was pelted with bricks by local supporters before the game.

Colombia : Junior Barranquilla - Independiente Medellin - 05/09/2010

Source : elcolombiano.com

As they were on their way back Medellin supporters, who were by coaches, fronted National rivals.
Knives, machetes, rocks and bottles were used during this violent fight.
Eight people were injured and four others arrested.
Seven windows were smashed up.
After they saw a dozen of National fans inside a restaurant, Medellin supporters stopped their coach to attack their rivals.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Chile : Rangers - Deportes Concepción - 06/09/2010

Source : lacuarta.cl

Two policemen were sacked after they were seen on TV attacking Rangers supporters.
Two policemen were injured and five supporters arrested after these troubles.



Translation Underground Fans (c)

Brindisi - Avellino - 05/09/2010

Source: www.brundisium.net/sport/shownotiziaonline.asp?id=11193 (thanks to the sender)

A few troubles occured in the terraces, opposing some of the 150 Avellino supporters who made the trip and locals.
Police intervened to separate both sides.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Italy : Cavese - Cosenza - 05/09/2010

Source : corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it

Before the game, about fifty local supporters attacked twenty Cosenza supporters (without any ticket for the game) with bricks. These twenty were escorted to the stadium by police who separate both sides to avoid any toe-to-toe.
Two policemen and one away fan were injured.
Two Cavese supporters were also hospitalized after these troubles.
Finally, three locals were arrested and police will try to identify others.

Away fans bought tickets for the game but tension was also high inside the stadium, especially when Cosenza fans exposed their banners, so police intervened immediately between both sides.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

RC Lens - Lille OSC - 11/09/2010

Source : Foot01 + 20Minutes.fr

After the referee of the game sent off a local player, situation became angry in the stands and one man threw a missile in direction of one of the linesmen who was injured.
The game was stopped for several minutes.

Paris SG - Arles-Avignon - 11/09/2010

Source : L'Equipe + mail

Police have arrested eight supporters outside the stadium after skirmishes and some as they were drunk.

Argentina : San Lorenzo - Velez Sarsfield - 11/09/2010

Source : losandes.com.ar

At the end of the game, San Lorenzo supporters threw missiles (seats, batons and rocks) in direction of Velez rivals who reacted.
Situation became worse outside the stadium so police used flash balls and using tear gas to restore order.
One supporter and one policeman were hospitalized.
Eight people were arrested.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Újpest - Ferencváros - 11/09/2010

Source : Mail + YouTube

This 207th derby game was stopped several times as flares were threw into the pitch.
Outside the stadium police charged supporters. At least one Ujpest fan was serioulsy injured by knive. 14 fans were arrested.