Season 10/11 - January

Liverpool (Uruguay) - Gremio (Brazil) - Copa Libertadores played in Montevideo - 26/01/2011

Source : AP + observa.com.uy

Gremio fans vs police

Birmingham City - West Ham United - Carling Cup - 26/01/2011

Source : Mail (Thx to the sender)

before the game over 150 zulus attacked west hams escort on coventry rd
throwing bricks bottles flares at riot police, outside stadium in car park big fight between
about 70 west ham and about 80-100 zulus good toe-toe, more fighting in streets

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Source : AFP

14 arrested before Birmingham cup tie

Police made 14 arrests as officers battled to keep rival fans apart before Wednesday's League Cup semi-final second leg between Birmingham and West Ham at St Andrew's.

The arrests were made for a variety of offences during a "robust and large-scale" operation to ensure public safety.

Eyewitnesses said fans were seen standing on top of vehicles before the match as supporters attempted to confront each other in a car park at St Andrew's.

Officers from across West Midlands Police area, supported by specialist dog handlers and evidence gathering teams, have been drafted in to police the fixture.

Speaking before the match kicked off, Superintendent Steve Graham, who is in charge of the police operation, said: "We have been working with both clubs and the Football Association to ensure that the event takes place in a safe environment.

"While most people will come and enjoy the game, we recognise that there is a minority who may use the event as an opportunity to cause trouble."

Burnley 'Suicide Squad' hooligans jailed for 32 years over East Lancs derby clash - 19/01/2011

Source : Burnleycitizen.co.uk

TWELVE members of Burnley’s infamous hooligan firm the Suicide Squad have been jailed for a total of 32 years for their part in violence which erupted after the Clarets’ first Premier League clash with Blackburn.

Experienced officers described the derby day scenes outside The Station pub in Cherry Tree, Blackburn, as 'like something out of Braveheart' as Burnley fans came 'roaring, screaming and grunting'

up the hill to clash with rival Rovers supporters.

Police intercepted and Judge Graham Knowles QC admitted: “It was the closest of close run things that the police didn't find themselves sandwiched between two groups of drunken, violent and hostile men intent on confrontation'.

Judge Knowles said the Burnley gang's actions were about the 'glorification of violence' and that its ringleaders Andrew Porter, Daniel Tempest, Paul Hartley and Mark Hamer, got 'status and pleasure' from it.

He said evidence during four trials of ‘supporters’ showed that members of 'Blackburn Youth' had got wind of a 'planned confrontation' with the Suicide Squad hours after the game had finished.

Judge Knowles said the 'chosen battleground' was The Station pub in Preston Old Road with Burnley fans travelling there by taxi at around 5pm on October 18, 2009.

He said: “All these defendants gave their allegiance to it on this day.

"No-one leaving in a taxi was in the slightest doubt what they were doing and under what banner.”

Organiser Porter, 44, of Parliament Street, Burnley, who didn't even make it to the incident after his taxi got lost, was jailed for five years with a 10-year football banning order.

His right-hand man and fellow convicted football hooligan, Hartley, 27, of Church Street, Burnley, was jailed for four years with a 10-year banning order.

Tempest, 27, of Mitton Grove, Burnley, was told by the judge he was an 'intelligent, articulate man' with an 'extraordinary' flip side of enjoying violence.

His girlfriend had pleaded with him to behave before the derby.

He was jailed for four years and two months and given a 10-year banning order.

Hamer, 28, of Olivant Street, Burnley, was the fourth convicted hooligan with 30 previous offences and was jailed for three years and eight months.

Others convicted of conspiraring to commit violent disorder were Joshua Slade, 18, of Kittiwake Road, Chorley and Steven Ball, 18, of Crabtree Avenue, who were sent to young offenders institutes for 12 months and 14 months respectively, both with six-year banning orders.

Thomas McDonough, 23, of Valley Road, Barnoldswick, was jailed for 21 months with a seven-year order.

Stuart Craig, 23, of Haverholt Close, Colne, Ian Grice, 37, of Herbert Street, Padiham, and Scott Page, 26, of Huntroyde Close, Burnley, were all jailed for two years, with seven- and eight-year banning orders.

Page's mobile phone had pictures of Porter's book ‘Suicide Squad: The Inside Story of a Football Firm’ and a 'Suicide Youth' flag on it as 'badges of allegiance'.

Joshua Gornall, 22, of Northview, Eastburn, Yorkshire, kissed his pregnant wife in the public gallery before being sentenced to two years and three months jail, with an eight-year banning order.

He had been on his stag do on the day of the incident.

Sean Widdop, 24, of Hornbeam Way, Manchester, 'led a very different life to those in the dock' according to the Judge, but had armed himself with a snooker ball and padlock.

He was jailed for a total of three-and-a-half years, with an eight-year banning order.

Following the sentencing, senior officers who lead the operation and investigation spoke out.

In total 32 people were arrested immediately after the incident from both sides and a further 15 during the course of a five-month inquiry.

Mobile phones were seized, as was CCTV evidence, house to house inquiries were made and more than 160 statements taken.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke said the investigation into what police believed was 'pre-arranged disorder' between 'remnants of a bygone age' was given resources similar to a serious and organised crime inquiry 'because of how seriously we take this sort of violence'.

Mr Cooke said: “We've got more professional football grounds than anyone except the Met and GMP.

"It's a big responsibility for us. We have great relationships with the clubs.

“The fact this occurred some distance away, three hours after the game shows how well the grounds are policed by the police and clubs.”

“We will treat them as we treat other serious criminals.

"Those involved in it are halfwits, spoiling the reputation of football supporters.”

Superintendent Chris Bithell, who was the match commander on the day, praised officers' bravery, adding: “If the police weren't there, someone would have been seriously hurt.

"They are just thugs and criminals, it's people like that who spoil football.”

For the first time, Mr Bithell revealed that there were 400 officers and staff working on the East Lancashire derby operation throughout the day.

He said the tactics were right because of a minority 'hell-bent' on causing trouble.

Football legend’s grandson involved in Sheffield Wednesdy fan riot - 25/01/2011

Source : The Star

THE grandson of Sheffield football legend Derek Dooley has been convicted of threatening behaviour, after he joined a group of rioting Owls fans when Wednesday were relegated on the final day of last season.

Sheffield magistrates ruled that 22-year-old Dooley, named Derek after the man who scored 63 goals for Wednesday, made members of the public fear for their safety during a face-off with police on May 2 last year.

He denied threatening behaviour but was found guilty after a trial.

Unemployed Dooley - who plays for non-league Sheffield FC’s reserve side - was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work and pay £775 towards court costs.

But he was spared a football banning order after magistrates were handed a sheaf of glowing references - including one from the current Sheffield United chairman, a role his grandfather held until 1996.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard Dooley, of Meadowhead Road, Meadowhead, invaded the pitch with 150 other Wednesday fans after his team’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

He was not involved in a mass brawl which developed between rival fans on the pitch - and voluntarily left the field when ordered to do so by a steward.

But, later that afternoon, a police helicopter filmed Dooley on Middlewood Road with a large group of youths involved in a stand-off with police officers.

Roger Whitehouse, chairman of the bench, said: “The camera showed you at one stage on the front row, mouthing at the police. You were clearly indentified picking up a rock and smashing it onto the tram track. A member of the group, another fan, picked up the broken stone and threw it at the police.

“We find your conduct was threatening and abusive behaviour and caused other people to believe that an unlawful violence could be used against them.”

Defence lawyer Andrew Swaby argued smashing a rock on the ground did not constitute threatening behaviour.

He said Dooley was an “articulate young man” with an “impeccable” record, who has aspirations of coaching football full-time.

Dooley was one of 50 people charged in connection with criminal incidents after the match on May 2.

SK Lierse - RSC Charleroi - 29/01/2011

Source : forums

OGC Nice - Lyon - Cup - 23/01/2010

Source : Nice-Matin

Police forces were pelted with missiles. Four of them were wounded and four Nice supporters were arrested.

1. FC Köln - SV Werder Bremen - 22/01/2011

Source : Rundschau-online.de

Police forces have avoided a fight for this game. Forty-five Bremen hooligans mobbed up in a pub in Mulheim and had the idea to confront Koln rivals after the April 2010 events (19 wounded).

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Bordeaux - OGC Nice - 30/01/2011

Source : Sud Ouest

For this Sunday night game, a hundred of Nice supporters mobbed up in Libourne during the afternoon, with the aim to confront Bordeaux rivals.
But these last ones were not present and did not come so no fight occured but Nice supporters were arrested by police and escorted to the stadium.

Arles-Avignon - PSG - 29/01/2010

Source : RMC.fr

Thirty fans sent out of the stadium

As usual, this game was banned for PSG suporters but about thirty of them entered the stadium to watch the game opposing Arles-Avignon to PSG.
They had tickets in local stand. A few skirmishes erupted but stewards quickly intervened and sent these supporters to the away stand but before the game french CRS entered the stand and have expulsed them.

FC St.Pauli - 1. FC Köln - 29/01/2011

Source : abendblatt.de/hamburg/

Koln supporters created troubles when they arrived in Hamburg train station.
These troublemakers made their way to Hamburg inside a special train with 770 Koln supporters.
The fight was severe between them and police. Cans, flares against batons and pepper sprays.
Seven fans and policemen were wounded.
Other skirmishes erupted near the train station.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

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Source : fr-online.de

112 Koln supporters were arrested after troubles which occured at the train station but then they were all released.
Four policemen were wounded.
Angry about the defeat of their team, 250 supporters have attacked police with cans and flares.
Police made new arrests and escorted them back to the train station.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Lille OSC - RC Lens - 29/01/2011

Source : France Football

Skirmishes before this derby game

Skirmishes erupted before kick-off of this northern derby game (Lille won 1-0), Saturday night.
About sixty Lens supporters have charged Losc supporters in front of the stadium.
Police and stewards quickly intervened.
One steward and one policeman were wounded and transfered to hospital.
It seems five people were also arrested.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Birmingham City - Coventry City - Cup - 29/01/2011

Source : http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/01/31/six-arrests-after-coventry-city-fa-cup-defeat-to-birmingham-city-92746-28084586/

Six arrests after Coventry City FA Cup defeat to Birmingham City

THERE were six arrests following Coventry City’s FA Cup match against Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday.

It followed a huge police presence outside the ground and into the evening around Birmingham city centre.

There had also been a large number of officers based at Villa Park on Saturday for Aston Villa’s match against Blackburn.

In total six people were arrested during the Midlands derby.

Two were arrested for public order offences, one for breach of the peace, one for breaching an existing banning order.

One person was arrested for assault and one for being drunk and trying to enter a football ground.

Two fans were also ejected from the ground during the game.

Chief Inspector Debra Doyle, match day commander for West Midlands Police, said: “While most people will come and enjoy the game, we recognise that there is a minority who may use the event as an opportunity to cause trouble.

“Anyone arrested for football related matters will be subject of applications for football banning orders which will prevent them from attending future fixtures.”

Anyone with information on those involved in the match day crime should call officers on 0345 113 5000.

Soccer Fans Play Key Role in Egyptian Protests - ??/01/2011

Source : http://www.mideastpost.com

With Egypt entering its second day of unprecedented anti-government protests, soccer fans constitute a well-organized and feared pillar of the marshalling grassroots coalition determined to ensure that President Hosni Mubarak suffers the same fate as Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was toppled earlier this month by mass demonstrations.

The soccer fans, including the ultras of Cairo’s storied Al Ahly (The National) Sports Club, are part of an alliance of youth activists, Islamists, and workers protesting against the government’s failure to alleviate poverty, eradicate corruption and provide jobs as well as its employment of repression and torture to stymie opposition.

Protestor’s demands range from increased political freedoms, to dismissal of the hated interior minister to an end to Mubarak’s 30-year rule and guarantees that the 82-year old leader will not be succeeded by his son, Gamal.

“What we saw on the streets yesterday (Tuesday) are not just Muslim Brotherhood members or sympathizers but Egyptians at large; those are the Egyptians that you would see supporting the football national team – and their show of frustration was genuine and it had to be accommodated,” a prominent parliament member of Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party told Egypt’s government-controlled Al Ahram newspaper.

A Facebook statement by Al Ahly’s feared ultras said earlier this week that the group was determined to remain non-political, but that its members were free as individuals to participate in the protests. “The group emphasizes that its members are free in their political choices,” the statement said.

Established in 2007, the ultras — modelled on Italy’s autonomous, often violent fan clubs — have proven their metal in confrontations with the Egyptian police, who charge that criminals and terrorists populate their ranks.
“There is no competition in politics, so competition moved to the soccer pitch. We do what we have to do against the rules and regulations when we think they are wrong,” said an El Ahly ultra last year after his group overran a police barricade trying to prevent it from bringin flares, fireworks and banners into the stadium. “You don’t change things in Egypt talking about politics. We’re not political, the government knows that and has to deal with us,” he adds.

The involvement of organized soccer fans in Egypt’s anti-government protests constitutes every Arab government’s worst nightmare. Soccer, alongside Islam, offers a rare platform in the Middle East, a region populated by authoritarian regimes that control all public spaces, for the venting of pent-up anger and frustration.

Algeria earlier this month cancelled a weekend of association soccer matches in a bid to seal off a rallying point for demonstrations protesting rising commodity prices. Riots in Jordan late last year that left 250 people injured exposed a deepening rift between East Bankers of Bedouin origin and Jordanians of Palestinian origin.

“Soccer is bigger than politics. It’s about escapism. The average Ahly fan is a guy who lives in a one bedroom flat with his wife, mother-in-law and five kids. He is paid minimum wage and his life sucks. The only good thing about his life is that for two hours on a Friday he goes to the stadium and watches Ahly,” said Assad, a leader of Ahly’s ultras, “People suffer, but when Ahly wins they smile,” El Ahly board member Khaled Motagi, scion of the club’s first post-revolution chairman added in a BBC radio documentary, The Power and The Passion. Ahly has given its fans reason to smile, winning Egypt’s championship 34 and the African cup six times; rival Zamalek secured the Egyptian title 14 and the African one five times.

It’s no wonder that Al Ahly’s rivalry with fellow Cairo club Al Zamalek is the world’s most violent derby. Their vicious rivalry on and off the pitch has caused death, destruction and in at least one case in the early 70s, the entire league to be cancelled.

So deep-seated is their rivalry that the government insists that matches be played on neutral ground with foreign referees flown in to manage the game. Hundreds of black-clad riot police, soldiers and plainclothes security personnel, worried about what the teams’ ultras may have in store, surround the stadium on game day. Routes to and from stadiums are strictly managed so that opposing fans don’t come into contact with one another before or after the match.

Macedonia: Basketball: Rabotnicki Skopje- MZT Skopje - ??/01/2011

Source : mail (thanks to the sender)

http://www.netpress.com.mk/vest.asp?id=82076&kategorija=4

At least one person was injured with a knife in an incident that occurred between supporters of the basketball club workers and a group of Albanians in Skopje settlement Gorce Petrov.

According to statements by witnesses the trauma caused the Albanian group, the moment of the 300 fans from the neighborhood Petrov, called "team in 1060, entered the bus with number 2, to leave the match in the hall Boris Trajkovski, where their Club played with rival MZT Skopje. But the bus had been attacked by a group of Albanians who had knives. One of the fans were split on the head. After this razlutenite fans returned to the attack. Those who entered were outside the bus with metal rods and sticks and began to beat the attackers, who were frantic trying to escape. At the same time the bus was stoned and severely. And the driver fled the bus, and few passengers, among whom there were a pregnant woman to safety in January pulled fans.

VIDEO:
http://vesti.alfa.mk/default.aspx?mId=36&egId=6&eventId=33167

Hercules Alicante - FC Barcelona - 29/01/2011

Source : spanish press

Argentina: Brawl during tickets sale - 31/01/2011

Source : http://www.clarin.com/deportes/futbol/entradas-Superclasico-comenzo-incidentes-detenidos_0_418758318.html

Boca supporters fought with police as they waited for tickets for the game against River Plate.

Poland - Euro 2012: Surveillance bracelets for football hooligans - 30/01/2011

Source : http://www.thenews.pl/national/artykul148419_surveillance-bracelets-for-football-hooligans.html

The Justice Ministry plans to introduce electronic bracelets for convicted football hooligans in time for the Euro 2012 football championships in Poland and Ukraine.


“Football fans should not be scared that they will be spat on or beaten up by hooligans during a match,” says Justice Minister Krzysztof Kwiatkowski.


The new experiment is based on a similar system used by the probation service so as to be able to keep track on small scale offenders. Electronic bracelets for hooligans will enable authorities to enact stadium bans for those convicted of football related violence.

“Thanks to electronic bracelets, a convicted hooligan will be controlled during football matches to make sure he stays at home,” says Kwiatkowski.

Cyprus: High-profile accomplices of the hooligans - 31/01/2011

Source : http://www.cyprus-mail.com/opinions/high-profile-accomplices-hooligans/20110131

THERE IS something even more infuriating than the violent behaviour of hooligans at football grounds. It is the hypocrisy of all those who make a public show of their outrage at this behaviour, demanding tough action and the harsh punishment of the culprits.

Yet all these hypocrites - politicians, journalists, football club directors - are the real culprits. They are the moral instigators of this criminal behaviour. If they really wanted to help quash the violence, the situation would not be out of control today and we would not be witnessing knife attacks outside football grounds. With their tolerant stance, they are encouraging - perhaps without meaning to - the actions of the hooligans.

The people who today are beating their breasts about the violence which has reached a critical point, are the very same people who, a few weeks ago, were praising the hoodlums who attacked the players of the Turkish basketball team Karsiyaka in Nicosia. I did not hear any politician, any journalist or club official unequivocally condemn that despicable behaviour.

They may have said a couple of words condemning the episode as ‘unacceptable’ before uttering a couple of hundred words in accusing Turkey for the ‘propagandist’ exploitation of what had happened. The stance was such that it could very easily have been interpreted by the hoodlums as praise rather than condemnation of their actions.

This is the obvious conclusion after seeing the websites of the friends and guardians of the hoodlums. On these websites the attack on the basketball players was presented as an achievement and was justified on the grounds that Turkey had invaded Cyprus.

The media’s contribution should not be underestimated. For instance, in its December 21 edition – the day of the basketball match between Apoel and Karsiyaka – Phileleftheros published the following in a prominent position in its sports section:

“Information suggests that Turkish Cypriots have shown an interest in coming to the free areas to watch tonight’s encounter between Apoel and Karsiyaka at the Eleftheria stadium. Because in some other instances, some Turkish Cypriot fans (particularly in the football matches of Apoel and Anorthosis against Trabzonspor) were very provocative, the police should ensure there are no incidents.”

Of course, the police did not need Phileleftheros to tell them to take security measures, but its report could only be described as inflammatory. I do not know if any Turkish Cypriots went to the basketball match, but the truth is that they have never caused incidents at our grounds. During the matches mentioned above, they may have enthusiastically supported the Turkish side - although no more intensely than the Greek Cypriot fans - but they did not cause any ugly scenes.

But the way the above-mentioned report was written, it was certain to rouse the passions of supporters. It was perfectly logical for the hoodlums to think: if the newspaper says that the Turkish Cypriots are coming to provoke us, we will go and show them.... What other effect could this report have had?

Hypocrisy and populism dominate this aspect of our life as well. And the hooligans are not going to stop being violent, for as long as all those who should be publicly censuring them, send out mixed signals. And they are doing so to such an extent that they could actually be described as their accomplices.

AS Monaco - Marseille - 31/01/2011

Source : La Provence


Sunday, during the game Monaco-OM, the local speaker of the stadium said to the Marseille supporters it is forbidden to used firecrackers but these last ones did not care about it.

What it is funny if two minutes later, some Monaco counter parts also used firecrackers so police intervened and two supporters were arrested.

Indonesia: Persib Bandung - Arema Indonesia - 23/01/2011

Source: indonesian press

Football hooliganism reared its ugly head on Sunday when two Indonesian Super League matches were marred by fan riots.

The game between Persib Bandung and Arema Indonesia in Bandung, West Java, was halted for almost an hour when Persib supporters descended on the pitch in frustration over inconsistent refereeing.

Meanwhile, in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Persisam fans hurled bottles and stones at Bontang FC supporters following Persisam’s 2-1 loss to the last-placed visitors.

At Samarinda’s Segiri Stadium, Japanese striker Kenji Adachihara secured Bontang’s first win of the season with a 77th-minute score, enraging Persisam fans.

Police and soldiers arrived at the scene to defuse tension.

In Bandung, at least 19 fans as well as several Bandung Police officers were injured when two incidents of violence broke out during the Persib-Arema match that ended 1-1 at Siliwangi Stadium.

Toward the end of the match, Persib fans, who felt cheated in the game, chanted “time to quit the ISL, time to move to IPL,” referring to the controversial upstart Indonesian Premier League, not backed by the Indonesian Football League (PSSI).

West Java Deputy Governor Dede Yusuf said he sympathized with the fans’ frustration.

“If the IPL is a better option and if that’s what fans want, I think we should consider the idea,” said Dede, who also acts as the Persib team ambassador.

“The fans were emotional, but management has to start considering the [IPL] idea.”

The first violent incident was triggered when referee Najamuddin Aspiran failed to call a harsh tackle by Arema midfielder M. Ridhuan on Persib defender Wildansyah in the 67th minute.

Persib was a goal down at that point, after Arema’s Roman Chmelo put the visitors in front at 61 minutes.

Disappointed Persib supporters went on a rampage, tearing down stadium fences and

invading the pitch, before instigating a fight with police and stadium security officers.

It took police one hour to restore order before the match could continue. During the lull, Najamuddin conferred with a linesman before deciding to give Ridhuan a red card.

Persib’s Atep then scored the equalizer in the 77th.

Chaos again erupted when Persib fans decided Najamuddin had ended the match prematurely when they believed there was still time left in the match.

The mob descended on the referee and began to beat him. Najamuddin was rescued by police, who escorted him from the stadium.

Arema team members had to wait an additional hour before they could leave the stadium as more police officers arrived to help secure their exit. The team was escorted out of the stadium in armored vehicles.

Bandung Police Chief Sr. Comr. Jaya Subrianto on Monday said it would be much harder for Persib to secure a match permit following Sunday’s incident.

“We will think this matter over thoroughly and if we do issue another match permit, I think it would better to hold future matches to an empty stadium,” Jaya told reporters.

“[Sunday’s incident] would not have happened if the referee had called the match fairly,” said Persib team manager Umuh Muhtar. “It’s not the first time that match officials have been biased against us, so we are disappointed.”

Last week, Persib striker Cristian Gonzales was red-carded during the team’s 1-0 loss to Persisam, even though Persib officials denied Gonzales had done anything to warrant the penalty.

Umuh agreed with Dede’s view that Persib officials, led by the Persib Bandung Consortium, may soon be forced to heed the fans’ calls.

“We’re getting tired of this because this kind of uneven officiating keeps happening in almost every match,” Umuh said.

The PSSI refused to respond to Persib’s comments regarding the IPL.

France:Lorient - Brest - 29/01/2011

Source : http://www.lorient.maville.com

A fight erupted at the end of the afternoon, opposing 30 Brest fans to locals.
French CRS quickly intervened.
No one was injured.

Argentina: Gutierrez - Argentino - 31/01/2011

Source : http://www.diariouno.com.ar

After 44 minutes of playing, Argentino supporters tried to cause troubles inside the stands, causing damages with the aim to threw rocks in the pitch so police intervened, using pepper sprays so the referee stopped the game.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Paraguay: Guarani - Cerro Porteno - 30/01/2011

Source : http://www.paraguay.com/deportes/otra-actitud-violenta-de-la-barra-cerrista-deja-herido-a-aurrecochea-62554

The game was stopped due to the lack of security, especially after a rock injured a local player, Pablo Aurrecochea.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Sweden : Jönköpings Södra IF - IFK Göteborg - 19/01/2011

Source : jnytt.se

35 IFK supporters were sent out of the stadium after they used firecrackers, said police.

FC Zlín - Spartak Trnava - Friendly - 08/01/2011

Source : YouTube