Tatooed and defiant, he is every inch the unacceptable face of the hatred which continues to mar football.
But the diehard Manchester City fan holding the burning flag of their bitter rival outside a high-stakes Wembley derby is an off-duty policeman, the Daily Mail can reveal.
While his colleagues were working hard to keep order at the crucial FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City, Stuart Niven was pictured committing an act calculated to rile opposition fans.
The 25-year-old's day job sees him responsible for helping guard some of the UK's most sensitive military installations as an officer with the Ministry of Defence police force. Now his career is in the balance after his force began an investigation into his behaviour earlier this month.
Niven, who has the club's motto 'Superbia in proelia' ('Pride in battle') tattooed on his arm, admitted his actions had been 'stupid'.
In addition to being photographed holding the burning flag, his Facebook profile picture shows him wearing a Manchester City shirt, holding a pint of lager and shouting.
Had he been seen by officers policing the match, on April 16, he could have been arrested for a public order offence.
As it was, a total of 34 arrests were made in and around Wembley, although officers praised the vast majority of fans for their good behaviour as City won 1-0.
Speaking at his parents' home in Altrincham, Cheshire, Niven confessed he had been drunk and said he regretted the stunt.
'I'd had a few drinks obviously as City were at Wembley,' he told the Mail. 'Sometimes people do stupid things when they're drunk. I'm now worried I'm going to lose my job.'
He added: 'I didn't start the fire, I was handed the flag. It was just a prank to do with your mates.'
Niven joined the MoD police in 2006 and was based in Scotland at Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, where his responsibilities would have included guarding nuclear submarines at the Faslane base as well as warheads stored nearby. He has since moved to the force's base at Stafford.
A spokesman for the MoD police said: 'The professional standards department is making inquiries to establish the facts surrounding the picture and whether any breach of regulations has occurred.'
The issue of thuggishness in football was highlighted last week when Bury's goalkeeper was set upon by young fans including a pony-tailed girl apparently not even in her teens after letting in a goal when his team was playing at Chesterfield.
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Sun May 01, 2011 9:56 am
257 arrests as Old Firm hit new record - 29/04/2011
A RECORD number of arrests were made during last weekend's Old Firm game, prompting renewed calls for the contentious fixture to be played during midweek dates to minimise violence and disorder in Glasgow. More than 250 arrests were made in the Strathclyde area on Easter Sunday, with hundreds of on-the-spot fines also issued in the worst day for offences out of the recent sequence of meetings between Rangers and Celtic.
Reports of domestic abuse incidents also reached a record high for the season, despite high-profile attempts on the part of police and the Scottish Government to address the issue in recent months.
On the pitch, the seventh and final fixture between the two Glasgow rivals was largely free from the controversy which marred their previous encounters this year.
Six arrests were made in Ibrox Stadium, with another three immediately outside. All the arrests were for "minor offences", such as breach of the peace.
However, the Strathclyde Police statistics released yesterday detailed a plethora of crimes across Glasgow and its surrounding areas on the day.
The force made 257 arrests for violence, disorder and antisocial behaviour, 62 of which were for incidents of domestic abuse.
Officers also issued offenders with 442 fixed penalty notices (FPNs).
While historic figures of arrests on the days of Old Firm matches were not available yesterday, the spate of arrests and fines on Sunday was significantly higher than during earlier meetings of the Glasgow clubs this year.
When the sides met to contest the Co-operative Insurance League Cup final on Sunday 20 March, some 146 arrests were made - 52 for domestic abuse offences - and 307 FPNs were handed out.
A Scottish Cup replay between the teams on Wednesday 2 March saw 187 arrests made - 40 for domestic abuse - with 139 FPNs issued, while a league match between the sides on Sunday 20 February saw 229 people arrested - 51 for domestic abuse - and 350 FPNs issued.
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said the "unacceptable" figures underlined the importance of a joint action group established by the Scottish Government last month to tackle such problems.
Pledging to "intensify" such efforts if the SNP is re-elected, he said: "All violence is to be condemned, particularly the appalling cases of domestic abuse revealed in these figures."
Labour's justice spokesman, Richard Baker, congratulated the "proactive" approach of police.
He said: "If individuals break the law then they nned to be dealt with firmly. However, it must be pointed out that, thanks to the SNP's decision to scrap short sentences, the vast majority of those committing domestic abuse offences will not receive jail sentences."
Former first minister Henry McLeish said: "These are deeply disappointing and depressing figures.
"You just wonder at times when people will get the message that Scotland totally disapproves of such behaviour, particularly domestic violence, one of the most horrible forms of crime."
Lily Greenan, manager of Scottish Women's Aid, said: "Looking at the statistics, there isn't any doubt weekend matches have higher arrest rates in terms of domestic abuse. We need to start looking at what needs to change, and we would support moves away from weekend games towards midweek matches."
Strathclyde Police declined to comment on the statistics.
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Sun May 01, 2011 10:03 am
Egypt: Al Masry - Al Ahly - 29/04/2011
Source : https://www.youtube.com
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:41 pm
Argentina : Alta Córdoba - Almirante Brown - 10/04/2011
Source : Diaadia.com.ar
Several fights erupted in the south stand, opposing two mobs of Alta Cordoba supporters. Fifteen of them were arrested and 5 will stay in jail for 28 days and received a 14 games’ stadium ban.
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:44 pm
FC Sochaux - AS Nancy - 30/04/2011
Source : Le Pays BHM
Situation became tense at Bonal stadium at the end of the game, especially with Nancy supporters, angry about the defeat of their team. Firecrackers used, troubles, gate smashed up, detonators threw at police… Police used pepper sprays to calm them down.
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:46 pm
Argentina: Racing Club - River Plate - 30/04/2011
Source : http://playfutbol.infobae.com
One hour before the game, supporters from both teams fronted near the Cilindro stadium, in Avallaneda, throwing rocks before police intervened with flash balls.
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:47 pm
Chile: Universidad de Chile - Colo Colo - 30/04/2011
Source : http://elgrafico.grupopublimetro.cl
SOME TROUBLES AT NATIONAL STADIUM
Troubles occurred when Colo Colo supporters arrived near the local stand. A fight erupted, opposing barristas from both teams so police intervened.
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:49 pm
Colombia: Villavicencio - Atlético Bucaramanga - 30/04/2011
Source : http://www.caracol.com.co
Police intervened as Atletico Bucaramanga caused troubles when they tried to attack players at the end of the game. Their team lost the game 3-0
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:53 pm
Argentina : Atlético Palmira - Huracán Las Heras - 30/04/2011
Source : Elsolonline.com + Losandes.com.ar
The referee stopped the game because a real intifada took place inside the stadium after 48 minutes of playing. Police was attacked by supporters and responded using flash balls and pepper sprays. Big detonators were threw from the stands as supporters entered the pitch. Players from both teams also fought and situation was totally out of control. Then, troubles continued outside the stadium where 170 policemen tried to control the situation. Dozens of wounded people were transferred at St Martin hospital. The house of one Palmira players, Cristian Mortes, was burned.
Last edited by UFW Maltchickers on Tue May 03, 2011 5:18 pm; edited 1 time in total
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 02, 2011 6:54 pm
Switzerland : Young Boys Berne - FC Thoune - 30/04/2011
Source : Romandie News
Saturday at around 11pm, about thirty unknown masked men and attacked, near Ostermundigen (BE) the special train which brought back the supporters of the FC Thoune to home. Several travellers were wounded and the damage rises with several tens of thousands of francs.
The masked people succeeded in fleeing after the attack. According to the first investigations, it could be a question of supporters of Young Boys, communicated the Bern-Mittelland legal authorities and the Bernese cantonal police.
The attack started with stone jets and blows breaking several windows of the train. Railway staff ordered with the supporters FC Thoune on the ground to lie down. Thanks to the intervention of the security service of the BLS, the train could set out again after 5 minutes.
An ambulance transported two people to the hospital for a control. Several other people, slightly wounded, have says to go by their own means in a doctor. The FC Thoune had gained the Bernese derby 1-0. Skirmishes between supporters had already burst at the station of Wankdorf, located in suburbs of Bern, close to the stadium of Switzerland, where the match had proceeded.
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Sun May 08, 2011 5:29 pm
Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) - Fluminense (Brazil) - Copa Libertadores - 21/04/2011
Source : AP
Protected by police officers, Brazil's Fluminense's players leave the field at the end of the game.
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Sun May 15, 2011 2:24 pm
Sheffield United - Barnsley FC - 30/04/2011
Source : Thestar.co.uk
Fans ‘stoned’ rival youths
TEENAGE Blades supporters are being hunted by police after they attacked rival football fans with stones at Sheffield railway station.
The Barnsley fans were pelted with stones by around 15 youths while waiting on platform three.
One needed hospital treatment for a head injury.
The youths, believed to be Sheffield United supporters, were aged just 13 to 18 and wore casual clothing. They picked up the stones from the nearby tram track.
One of the Barnsley fans received a cut to his head after being struck with a sharp stone. PC Tim Shellcock, from British Transport Police, said: “Behaviour such as this will not be tolerated.”
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 16, 2011 8:32 am
Germany : Erzgebirge Aue - FC Energie Cottbus - 21/04/2011
Source : Bild.de
This derby game was stopped for 10 minutes as many missiles, like flares and detonators, were threw from the Cottbus supporters to the pitch. Police intervened and 14 people were arrested. Cottbus was fined with 22.500 €.
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 16, 2011 8:35 am
Germany : Goslarer SC - SV Meppen - 29/04/2011
Source : Nachrichten.t-online.de
Meppen hooligans provoked troubles during and at the end of the game. When Goslar scored its 1st goal, some supporters invaded the pitch and attacked policemen. Two hooligans were identified; one of them was already know for hooliganism. After the game, these hooligans attacked police, throwing firecrackers, trashbins and bottles. Police restored order using truncheons and pepper sprays. Five hooligans were wounded and a 3rd supporter was arrested.
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 16, 2011 8:36 am
Salvador : Santanecos FA - Metapán - 30/04/2011
Source : que.es
Fights opposed supporters from both teams. Two supporters were arrested, nine others wounded and 6 vehicles damaged.
Translation Underground Fans (c)
UFW Maltchickers Leader
Number of posts : 56493 Registration date : 2007-05-21
Subject: Re: Season 10/11 - April Mon May 16, 2011 8:39 am
Germany : Germania Walsrode - TuS Celle - 29/04/2011
Source : ndr.de
Serious troubles erupted in Walsrode, opposing ultras to local security. It seems that was the 1st game that the local team used a private security, all members from the Hell's Angels. These last ones responded to Celle ultras who started so police intervened with 30 men to calm both sides down. Twenty people were arrested, including 6 Hell's Angels.
Yesterday at 4:24 pm by UFW Maltchickers
