Season 10/11 - June

Croatia : FC Tomislav - Hajduk Split – Friendly game - 22/06/2011

Source : Tomislavcity.com

Torcida members (Hajduk) provoked troubles inside the stadium and in the city so police itnervened.
Flares, bottles and rocks were threwn in direction of policemen and one ‘Hard Rock Café” was damaged.
Twelve supporters were arrested and several people arrested.

Translation Underground Fans ©

Argentina: Belgrano - River Plate - 24/06/2011

Source : Newsday.com

Police scatter demonstrators with water cannons

Police with shields marching behind water cannons scattered hundreds of demonstrators outside River Plate's stadium on Thursday as they called for the resignation of River Plate president Daniel Passarella and coach Juan Jose Lopez.
The situation surrounding one of Buenos Aires' most famous soccer teams threatens to be explosive with the club facing relegation to the second division.




***************************************

Source : Yahoo

Angry River Plate fans stage protest

Hundreds of furious River Plate fans tried to storm the Monumental, a day after their team moved to the brink of relegation for the first time in their 110-year existence.

River, record 33 times league champions, lost 2-0 against Nacional B (second division) side Belgrano in Cordoba in the first leg of a playoff. They need to finish level on aggregate to stay in the top flight.
Fans clad in River's red and white colours screamed insults at players and club president Daniel Passarella and demanded the head of coach JJ Lopez. They squared up to police outside the empty stadium and also hurled insults at reporters.
After flying back from Cordoba on Thursday, River headed straight for Hindu rugby club outside the capital looking for quiet to prepare for Sunday's home second leg.
About 500 fans also gathered outside Hindu to vent their anger at what they perceive to be a lack of commitment from the players. Some fans carried a banner that read: "Kill or die".
Wednesday's match was interrupted for 20 minutes after River fans broke through perimeter fencing and onto the pitch to remonstrate with their own team's players and demand more effort after they had fallen two goals behind.
River are paying for years of mismanagement on and off the pitch which has left them with a low three-season points average with which relegation is decided in Argentina's top flight.
Passarella, widely criticised for not going to Cordoba, was at Hindu with the squad while the club issued a statement saying he would give a news conference next week to explain how the administration his board succeeded 18 months ago was responsible for the club's disastrous state.

Croatia fined for fan violence, fascist flags - 23/06/2011

Source : USAToday

Croatia's football federation has been fined $80,000 (—56,000) for hooliganism from its fans at a European Championship qualifier after having been previously warned by UEFA that the country's teams face expulsion from international competitions.

UEFA says Croatia fans were responsible for "crowd disturbances, a pitch invasion, (and) the showing of illicit banners" during a 2-1 win against Georgia on June 3 in Split.
Media reports say fans chanted fascist slogans and displayed swastikas.
UEFA President Michel Platini visited Croatia in February and said fans would be monitored for one year after a series of violent incidents.
State president Ivo Josipovic committed his government to prepare new laws controlling hooligans.

Russia : Anzhi Machakla - Krylya Sovetov - ??/06/2011

Source : Dailymail.co.uk

Shame of Russian football as racist fans throw bananas at Brazilian superstar Roberto Carlos

Brazilian player Roberto Carlos has said he considered retiring after a banana was thrown at him during a match.
The World Cup winner was playing for Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala in the Caucasus region.
Carlos, 38, had just received a pass from the goalkeeper when a banana landed near him during a game in the city of Samara.
The defender picked it up and threw it to the side of the pitch, before walking off the field before the final whistle.
Carlos raised two fingers to the stands, indicating that this was the second such incident since he began playing for the team in February.
He appeared visibly shaken as he took his place on the bench, burying his head in a towel.
Team mates later said he had been in tears in the dressing room.
After the match he said: 'Stop playing was what went through my mind, yes.
'I have decided that I will stay, but if something like this happens again I will have to make a decision.
'You know when that sadness hits, that feeling of being powerless? I left there sad, hurt. So many kids there. That has to be banned from football.
'When I got to the locker rooms the guys hugged me and sang for me. It was a very interesting thing. The guys on the team really like me.'
He said his decision to walk off had nothing to do with his side's 3-0 lead at the time.
'I did it deliberately because I have suffered a bitter disappointment and I didn't want to continue to play in the match,' he said. 'Believe me, I would have done it at any scoreline.'
Russia is due to host the World Cup in 2018 after beating England in its bid.
The top organiser of the tournament says an anti-racism campaign will be launched in preparation for hosting the event.
The head of Russia’s 2018 World Cup Organising Committee, Alexei Sorokin, said the issue is 'very difficult to control,' but that the Russian Football Union is preparing to enact an anti-racism campaign memorandum.
Russian authorities, along with Carlos's team and their host - Krylya Sovetov - denounced the insult and said the spectator would be identified and punished.
In a statement, Carlos's club Anzhi said: 'The stadium is no place for racism.'
The attack follows an incident in March when a fan was pictured holding the fruit out to Carlos during a game against Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Zenit was fined 300,000 roubles (£6,700) and banned the fan from its games.
Carlos has proved a huge success after signing for the club in February in a late career move.
He has already proved inspiring at the previously marginalised team who are now fourth in the Russian Premier League.
He has charmed the Russian public, both on and off the park, and has taken an interest in the local culture.
Russia's Premier League appealed to fans not to ruin the reputation of the game.
It said: 'People allowing themselves such outbursts are sitting next to you at the stadiums.
'If you don't want your club to suffer, don't let them disgrace Russian football.'
Premier League spokesman Sergei Alekseyev said the league is ready to do everything to 'change the situation' with discrimination against players, but added that legal prosecution is not always possible.
He said: 'The stadium in itself is a democratic environment. The police can seize flares, but how can they seize fruit?'
Krylya Sovetov , the team that Carlos's side had been playing against said on its website that it will 'do everything to find and punish the scumbag who insulted the wonderful and respected footballer,' and announced a 50,000 rouble (£1,100) reward for information.
Russian Football Union head Sergei Fursenko said the union will also 'investigate the incident and punish it in the harshest way'.
Samara regional police spokesman Sergei Goldshtein said the fan is not likely to face any punishment from the police.
He said: 'We are trying to identify him due to the large public outcry. But there is no existing legal liability for throwing bananas or other objects on the field.'
Foreign players have previously complained of suffering from racist attacks in Russia.
Cameroonian Andre Bikey broke off his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2007 after alleging racial abuse.
Some of Russia's football fans are closely linked with far-right groups and often show up at nationalist rallies, the largest of which drew 5,000 near the Kremlin in December before turning violent.

Santos (Brazil) - Penarol (Uruguay) - Copa Libertadores final - 22/06/2011

Source : Dailyrecord.co.uk + Reuters + Latercera.com

Copa Libertadores final descends into violence as Santos and Penarol players battle on pitch

BRAZILIAN wonderkid Neymar showed he's nuts as well as bananas after being involved in scenes of mayhem as Santos lifted the Copa Libertadores.
The 19-year-old, who sparked outrage from the Tartan Army earlier this year my making accusations of racism, was in the thick of trouble during post-match celebrations in his side's win over Uruguay's Penarol on Wednesday night.
Punches and kicks were exchanged between the sets of warring players, with Neymar appearing to stamp on a grounded opposition player.
The £40million Chelsea target had made claims of racism against Scotland fans during a glamour friendly at the Emirates earlier this year by claiming he'd been booed and hit by a banana.
A German fan emerged as the offender but it was clear who the guilty party was on Wednesday night as Neymar helped Santos to their first ever Copa Libertadores since the golden era when Pele starred for the club.
The Brazilian side won 2-1 to lift the trophy as police had to intervene to separate feuding players and fans but Neymar couldn't hide his delight.
He said: "It's the happiest day of my life. I have made history. We deserved this title. It's time to celebrate."
Both clubs traded insults in the aftermath, with blazing Penarol frontman Alejandro Martinuccio pointing the finger at Santos.
He said: "A Santos supporter entered the field and provoked us. We had accepted the loss but they have to learn how to celebrate."
Brazilian legend Pele, who was moved to tears after the game, paid tribute to the current Santos stars who achieved the success.
He said: "We have to thank these young guys for giving us this title."

Chelsea Headhunters leader jailed and banned from grounds after mass brawl - 25/06/2011

Source : Daily Mirror

A NOTORIOUS football yob was yesterday jailed for 22 months and banned from all grounds for eight years.

Andy “Nightmare” Frain, 47 – exposed by the BBC as a “general” of the Chelsea Headhunters hooligans – was locked up for his role in a mass brawl last year.

Fans yelled “w*****” at judge Martin Edmunds as he sentenced Frain and six other Chelsea supporters.

All were involved in a drink and drug-fuelled riot outside their Stamford Bridge ground in February, 2010.

A Met policeman’s jaw was smashed during the fight in which CCTV footage showed Frain waving thugs towards rival Cardiff City fans.

Frain, of Chelmsford, Essex, had admitted violent disorder at Isleworth crown court.

So far, 64 supporters from both sides in the fifth round FA cup violence have been banned from grounds.

Judge Edmunds said Frain, who has 37 convictions, had a “dreadful record”.

Argentina : River Plate - Belgrano - 26/06/2011

Source : Sbnation.com + Reuters

River Plate relegated, fans riot

Reports Indicate One Fan Fatality And Violence Against Police After Relegation

Following their relegation from the Argentine Primera A, the first division of football in Argentina, fans of River Plate are rioting in the area of their stadium, the Monumental. According to reports, there has been violence and vandalism in and around the stadium, including reports of one fan fatality and attacks against police officers. Many of these reports have been corroborated on twitter by various fans and bloggers, including the fantastic Sebastian Garcia and Mundo Albiceleste, who have been on top of the story since the riots started with 30 seconds remaining in the match.

The police attempted to subdue the crowd inside the stadium with fire hoses, but their efforts did nothing to calm the crowd. In Argentina, to avoid incidents of this nature, away fans are supposed to be escorted out of the stadium and out of the area before the home supporters can leave to avoid clashes and to give home fans time to cool down in case of a contentious result. That procedure didn't work today, as many River fans rushed out of the stadium early, ahead of the Belgrano fans. So far, no reports of serious violence between the sets of fans have been reported.

Argentina: Police investigates River Plate stadium after yesterday's incidents - 28/06/2011

Source : Buenos Aires Herald

One day after River Plate’s relegation and its subsequent riots, the Federal Police conducted an investigation at the Monumental stadium. District Attorney Gustavo Galante ratified his decision to shut it down as a preventive measure and in order to run an investigation and collect evidence that might help identify those involved in the incidents.
He also warned that the Rive Plate club could be sanctioned with a 4 to 6-match ban in the next tournament.
“The stadium has been shut down as a preventive measure, while authorities serve the club’s directors with a warrant and collect any evidence related to yesterday’s riots,” Galante said.
Due to the serious incidents that took place yesterday inside and outside of the station after River Plate tied the second peg 1-1 against Belgrano de Córdoba, being relegated to the National B, the official ordered the premises to be shut down, except for the Educational Institute building.
Galante is also conducting an investigation on the alleged overbooking of the game, since authorities believe that the stadium was 12,000 people above its maximum capacity.
“We had begun investigating this before the game, since they never reported how many tickets they had sold,” the District Attorney said, adding that they will be investigating River’s “control systems and their entry logs at the turnstiles.”
He clarified, however, that a possible overbooking bears no relation to the incidents that took place. “They are two different situations,” he stated.
“What happened yesterday is a direct responsibility of those who reacted violently to the game’s result, but if we find any faults in the club’s security protocols, we have to investigate River Plate in order to evaluate their responsibility on this,” he warned.
After collecting the evidence, Galante will consider whether to reopen the stadium, which is scheduled to host the Copa America final, on July 24th.

Scotland: Hearts to go unpunished for fan assault on Neil Lennon - 28/06/2011

Source : BBC News

Hearts will not be punished for the assault by a supporter on Celtic manager Neil Lennon at the end of last season at Tynecastle.

A fan ran on to the pitch and attacked Lennon during a Scottish Premier League game with Celtic on 11 May.

An SPL report concluded that Hearts' stewarding and police arrangements were consistent with safety requirements.

The SPL board subsequently decided that no further action would be taken against the Edinburgh club.

The supporter in question has been charged with breach of the peace and assault exaggerated by religious prejudice and has been banned for life from Tynecastle Stadium by Hearts.

The SPL board noted that both Celtic and Hearts had implemented fully the guidance for clubs on unacceptable conduct issued in 2007 to aid full compliance with regulations.

A statement said that Hearts had identified the fixture as a high-risk game, and, in addition to the normal pre-operations meeting between the two clubs, Lothian and Borders Police and security firm G4S, the Edinburgh club had arranged an earlier meeting with Lothian and Borders police to specifically discuss safety and security aspects of the match.

The SPL board also considered reports from the match delegate and the match referee in reaching their conclusions.

Earlier this month, Hearts revealed they had taken steps to avoid a repeat of the scenes.

Celtic's ticket allocation will be reduced by around 400 for the next match at Tynecastle on 1 October to create two "clear" zones in the Roseburn Stand.

There will also be an increase in the number of stewards around both dug-out areas.

The measures were outlined in a letter which the Edinburgh club sent to supporters.

A Hearts spokesperson said at the time: "These plans will be put in place in advance of the next match versus Celtic at Tynecastle and have the support of both the police and the stewards.

"We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour of any sort by home or away fans."

Celtic were fined £45,000 after on-pitch disturbances which marred the Old Firm title decider against Rangers in May 1999 when referee Hugh Dallas was struck with a coin and some fans were led from the pitch.

And both Celtic and Rangers have been fined by Uefa for disturbances on the pitch in European competition.

The Parkhead club had to pay £25,000 to Uefa in 2007 when a fan confronted AC Milan keeper Dida during a Champions League match and received a £42,000 fine by Uefa in 2008 after a supporter ran on the pitch at their Champions League match against Manchester United.

Similarly, Rangers were fined £4,230 by Europe's governing body for a pitch invasion that interrupted their Uefa Cup tie with Maccabi Haifa in November 2006.

Polish police seek to extend away-fan ban - 29/06/2011

Source : AFP

Polish police have reportedly asked the nation's football association to extend a ban on away fans imposed in the dying days of last season, amid pressure to stamp out hooliganism before Euro 2012.
Poland's PAP news agency said Monday that national police chief Andrzej Matejuk had written to PZPN football association head Grzegorz Lato and league chiefs.
"Experience shows that away-fans' trips are marked by law-breaking, for example the destruction of property or organised fights," police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski was quoted as saying by PAP.
"On top of that, club chiefs have informed us that they have problems with away fans and that it is often their behaviour that sparks brawls," he added.
Poland's 2011-2012 season kicks off on July 29.
The issue is expected to be on the table at the PZPN's board meeting this Thursday, but may not be settled there and then.
"There's no guarantee that any decision will be made to extend the ban on away fans into the new season," PZPN spokeswoman Agnieszka Olejkowska told PAP, dismissing suggestions otherwise as pure speculation.
Police and the PZPN adopted a get-tough approach following fighting which marred the May 3 cup final between Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznan, both known for their hooligan hardcore.
After a 1-1 draw in the northern city of Bydgoszcz, Legia won 5-4 on penalties and supporters of both sides invaded the pitch. Besides assaulting police, stewards and reporters, they also smashed up seats.
Politicians including ardent fan Prime Minister Donald Tusk blasted the security services and football authorities' handling of the incident, and warned that hooliganism was a threat to the European Championships, due to be held next year in Poland and Ukraine.
At the police's behest, the PZPN on May 12 banned away fans from all four remaining fixtures in the top-flight, which wrapped up on May 29.
The decision also affected the six final fixtures in the second and third division, where play ended on June 12.
The authorities also imposed empty-stadium orders at Legia, Lech and a handful of other violence-hit clubs.
According to Polish authorities, there are between 3,000 and 5,000 hooligans in this nation of 38 million.
The brawl in Bydgoszcz revived longstanding concerns about the hardcore subculture which has arisen here since the communist regime crumbled in 1989, and apes the once-notorious English hooligan "firms".

Egypt: Al-Ahly - Zamalek - 29/06/2011

Source : The Egyptian Gazette + Reuters

13 rioters held after Egypt derby

Security detained 13 rioters suspected of throwing stones at cars on roads around the Cairo Stadium, where Egypt's derby between Al-Ahly and Zamalek was held late on Wednesday, a security official said.

"Thirteen rioters from Zamalek fans were arrested on the Nasr Road near the Cairo Stadium hours after the match. They were driving a truck laden with fireworks and broke the windscreen of some passing cars," the official was quoted by the official Middle East News Agency (MENA).
The official added that the suspected rioters would be referred to military trials.
Zamalek fans got angry after Al-Ahly players snatched a 2-2 draw with their team in a very tense match. Hossam Hassan, Zamalek's coach, accused Al-Ahly of abandoning fair play.

Ecuador : Barcelona SC - Liga de Quito - 12/06/2011

Source : Ecuavisa.com

Prior to the game, several fight occured outside the stadium, opposing rival fans.

Germany: Schweinfurt FC 05 - Greuther Fürth - 25/06/2011

Source : Nordbayern.de

A fight erupted at the train station, opposing rival supporters so train trafic stopped for 30 minutes.
About 20 policemen intervened and one man was wounded.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

1. FC Union Berlin - MKS Pogon Szczecin - Friendly game - 28/06/2011

Source : Stadtmorgen.de + Unveu.de

About 150 to 300 polish supporters made the trip with 60 cars who were escorted by police when they arrived in Berlin.
At 6.45pm, hundred of Polish fought with police who used pepper sprays and flares were threw them.
After 15 minutes, supporters entered the stadium, throwing bottles in direction of police who have baton charged them, also using pepper sprays.
Due to brawl, kick-off was delayed as other troubles occured when masked polish supporters attacked policemen and security.

During 2nd time, away fans threw flares and detonators in the pitch and the game was suspended for several minutes.

Outside the stadium, police quickly intervened to avoid a tooe-to-toe between both sides of supporters: 200 on polish side and 100 on local side.
In the same time, another group of polish have attacked a shop and police also intervened. Five men were arrested.

During the night, 150 polish fans have protested because several supporters were arrested.
A total of 20 fans were arrested and 19 policemen slightly injured.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Big fight between italian ultras at a charity tournament - 23/06/2011

Source : mail (thanks to the sender)

It 'happened yesterday afternoon on the ground of the former Fulgor Cables in Latina. The event is the fourth edition of the tournament "Ultras & beyond", a charity tournament beetween ultras from all over Italy. Many of the participating teams: in addition to Latina, the team has hosted and organized the 2011 edition, there are Juventus, Bari, Casarano, Gaeta, Foggia and many others. Above all, there are teams of Milan fans and Pro Sesto. The spark that gives the body its own beyond the chaos during the match between these two teams, among other things made by fans who know each other personally as Sesto San Giovanni is a few kilometers from Milan. Apparently a player would hit the referee for a decision in his opinion incorrect. These things happen all of a football field and in many other tournaments. But yesterday afternoon on the lawn next to the field of Fulgor cables were about seven hundred people, ultras fans from all over Italy. And the spark, for reasons unclear, perhaps because of old grievances between the sides, has unleashed a veritable chaos. The dispute involved just the largest team of supporters at the rally, those of Milan. Arrived with a double-decker bus, as recounted by several witnesses were the ones to make the masters. Suddenly have sprung iron rods and knives. The clash between the fans has resulted in several injuries, one of which reached the eye by a knife and placed on medicated by the staff of 118. Many others have been rescued from the GSP instead of civil protection, on the spot from the start of the event. Other voices, in the excitement of the moment, talking about a fan that is wounded in the thigh would be removed before the arrival of police. Have taken place on the agents of the steering wheel, the men of the Flying Squad, the police in the company of Latin America and the Traffic Police. It 'was the same commander Francis Cipriano to lead the escort that accompanied the coach of the Milan fans , where have all been identified.

Spain: Elche CF - Xerez CD - 04/06/2011

Source : YouTube